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Saban: "It's not out of the question that we'll find a role for both guys" (Tua & Jalen)
Posted on 3/2/18 at 7:52 pm
Posted on 3/2/18 at 7:52 pm
Alabama could play both Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa | ESPN
quote:
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Alabama coach Nick Saban isn't in a rush to figure out who his starting quarterback will be in 2018. He said both Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa welcome the competition as the defending national champion Crimson Tide prepare to start spring practice in two weeks.
"The most important thing is to play the best guy, and if both guys can play winning football, it's not out of the question that we'll find a role for both guys in fairness to both guys," Saban told ESPN on Thursday. "I don't know that there's any more to it than that."
Tua Tagovailoa (13) and Jalen Hurts celebrate a third-quarter touchdown against Georgia in the CFP National Championship Game.
Tagovailoa came off the bench as a true freshman last season to help Alabama erase a 13-0 halftime deficit and defeat Georgia 26-23 in overtime to win the Crimson Tide's fifth national championship in the past nine years. Tagovailoa threw three touchdown passes in the second half and overtime, including the game-winning 42-yard strike to DeVonta Smith on the final play of the game.
Hurts, who is 26-2 as Alabama's starter in his first two seasons, struggled at times to throw the football consistently last season. He was just 3-of-8 for 21 yards in the first half against Georgia before giving way to Tagovailoa.
Saban said he has met with both quarterbacks and assured them that there haven't been any predetermined decisions going into the spring.
"All I've told both players is that they're both going to have the opportunity to compete, and that's all any competitor ever wants," Saban said. "We've won with both, and the kids on our team respect both guys."
Making the quarterback battle even more intriguing is that the Tide will have a new playcaller on offense, Mike Locksley, and a new quarterbacks coach, Dan Enos. Locksley is entering his third season on Alabama's staff and has a good relationship with both quarterbacks.
"We like the talent we have around the quarterbacks, and I'm excited to see our offense grow under Mike and Dan," Saban said. "There will be new challenges, but those guys also bring different ideas and a different way of doing things, and with younger quarterbacks, you can't do enough teaching."
Saban said he pulled Hurts aside after the championship game to reassure him that he would remain a very important part of the Alabama program, regardless of how the quarterback situation shakes out. Hurts will be a junior in 2018.
"I told him, 'We would have never gotten here without you, and even though it wasn't your time [in the championship game] and we needed Tua to give us a spark, that should not be anything but a learning experience for you in terms of what you have to do to be a more consistent player in the future,'" Saban recounted.
While Hurts wasn't the most polished passer a year ago, he still finished with 17 touchdown passes and just one interception and added eight rushing touchdowns thanks to his ability to create and put pressure on defenses with his legs.
As for Tagovailoa, Saban said the Crimson Tide went into the College Football Playoff fully expecting to play him if they needed a spark in the passing game. In fact, prior to the team leaving for New Orleans to face Clemson, Tagovailoa received first-team reps for a few days while Hurts was sick, and the offense had some of its best practices.
"We knew we had two guys ready to go," Saban said.
Some will suggest the Crimson Tide are heading toward a major quarterback controversy, but Saban doesn't see it that way. He would much rather have two quarterbacks who have proven they can win on a big stage as opposed to having one and then nobody else.
"We're always looking to create competition on the practice field, and it shouldn't be any different at quarterback," Saban said.
This post was edited on 3/2/18 at 9:13 pm
Posted on 3/2/18 at 8:07 pm to Funky Tide 8
People shouldn’t melt. Saban has to keep Hurts around for a security blanket. The first quote points to Tua being the man moving forward.
Posted on 3/2/18 at 8:09 pm to CapstoneGrad06
You're using common sense and logic. That doesn't fly in Hurts/Tua threads
Posted on 3/2/18 at 8:10 pm to TidalSurge1
Saban will say all the right things to keep both guys dialed in, but Tua is the man. I wouldn't mind if a package is developed for Hurts--sort of a short yardage/goaline/wildcat type package. But if it's anything more than that, Saban will have mutany on his hands from both players and fans. We saw what Tua did in the natty and every other time he played. There's no going back.
Posted on 3/2/18 at 8:16 pm to CapstoneGrad06
i have said it before but i would like to still see Jalen involved in the offense in some form or fashion.....just not the starting QB....more like a Braxton Miller role
Posted on 3/2/18 at 8:17 pm to TidalSurge1
quote:
the kids on our team respect both guys
The players’ body language when Jalen is doing his thing says otherwise.
Posted on 3/2/18 at 8:22 pm to 14&Counting
I think Jalen serves as backup for 2018. Has a role in the offense at h-back. Then grad transfers after the season. Alabama would still be in good shape for 2019 depth wise with Taulia and Tyson coming in.
Posted on 3/2/18 at 9:11 pm to TidalSurge1
Like I said awhile back, Saban will use every drop of the off-season for a competition. Media will go nuts, Saban keeps both guys around etc.
Posted on 3/2/18 at 9:39 pm to TidalSurge1
I think Finebaum pretty much nailed it when he said "he'll drag this on as long as possible because he does not want to lose Jalen Hurts before the season...even begins"
Posted on 3/2/18 at 9:45 pm to CapstoneGrad06
quote:
I think Jalen serves as backup for 2018. Has a role in the offense at h-back.
The "finding a role for both guys" could be something like that.
Posted on 3/2/18 at 9:52 pm to John Milner
quote:
The "finding a role for both guys" could be something like that.
Look we all know Tua is the guy but if you could weave a role in for Jalen in the offense....Tua at QB, with Jalen in H-back, with our running game, and our other playmakers......it is going to be very difficult to stop
Posted on 3/2/18 at 11:21 pm to 14&Counting
Yeah I think Trey Burton is the prototype for what I'd like to see happen with Jalen. Kind of an Hback/RB/QB hybrid. He's definitely a great athlete.
Posted on 3/3/18 at 12:36 am to 14&Counting
There's going in inveitbaly come a game where either a defense just has Tua's number, its a misfit or he has an off night. Having someone like Jalen Hurts to turn to ain't too shabby at all.
Posted on 3/3/18 at 1:04 am to Lordofwrath88
And when that game comes, we'll rely on the defense to win it for us.
Posted on 3/3/18 at 1:33 am to TidalSurge1
I think he means Hurts will have a role at quarterback.
Posted on 3/3/18 at 6:36 am to John Milner
Nick did the same with Blake and Cooper....hold on and hope they start fall practice. We need Jalen as the backup for 2018.....Bigly
Posted on 3/3/18 at 8:08 am to JoseyWalesTheOutlaw
quote:
We need Jalen as the backup for 2018.....Bigly
It would be nice, and I think we can create a role for him in our offense. That said, if he leaves we'll have Tua, Minshew (ECU transfer) and Mac Jones. That aint half bad.
Posted on 3/3/18 at 8:30 am to tider04
I wonder just how it was Minshew came to his decision between The Tide and 10RC. I see 10RC has the grad transfer QB from Stanford heading their way (this summer) so who did Pruitt want more? Is Nick telling Minshew more about the QB situation than we know? JMO but I believe Hurts is all in for the stater or he is gone and I can see his side as well. From a selfish point I want him to stay. Which QB did Pruitt want the most?
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