Saban plans on playing both Tua and Jalen for the rest of the season

I don’t even know what the frick to think.

Well, there’s a good and a bad. Good thing is we’ll have 2 good QBs all year in case of an injury. Bad news is this likely eliminates any chance of Tua winning the Heisman, bc Saban will take Tua out late in the second or early third quarter every game

quote:

---

Saban plans on playing both Tua and Jalen for the rest of the season

---

It's like he lost a bet to kiffin or someone he hates over whether he can win a title while playing jalen.

I don't see anything wrong with it, he hasn't really pulled Tua until the game was out of hand except for maybe the first game.

It's not bad for Jalen. Hell, he is getting more snaps than Tua.

It helps keep Tua from being injured if we can sub in a very competant QB when we are up by 30 at the half.

Jalen's offense is also better at running out the clock and keeping the D off the field if he is being productive.

If we do get in a bind and need to play Jalen early for some reason he is ready to go and not stale.

About the only one it really hurts is the wide receivers.

I mean, should we never play Waddle just cause we have Jeudy, Smith, and Ruggs?

And it's great for recruiting, it shows QBs that even if they are behind on the depth chart they can still earn a chance to play a good deal.

As far as Mac Jones goes, we still have La Laffeyette, Tennessee, Arkansas, Citadel.... You get my drift.

I too think this is a win-win. It also makes other defenses have to prepare for Jalen, which takes prep time away from being ready for Tua.

Saban makes 8 million a year. I'm pretty sure he knows what he's doing.

Mac Jones is the only guy that sorta loses from this. Tua misses a few more reps but he wouldn't normally be in much longer or throwing a whole lot with the leads we are having. Jalen gets to play more, play with the 1s and contribute to the team for one last run. Saban has two guys that can win and doesn't have to leave Hurts on the bench.

There is a thread of truth in the whole seniority discussion. Saban plays the guys he trusts to do things the way he wants them to, who have done everything they ask in practice, understand the playbook, be in the right position, etc. - I think if you read into his comments in that article and over the years he says as much.

All that plays a part in them having the seniority plus it sets an examples for the younger guys to also do all those things. I see it as a way he manages he rotating locker room with so many new faces each year. Those factors also go in to why a "more talented" guy may not be the best starter for the team.

Where I disagree is with the idea some people have that Saban regularly sits younger players who are better (not more talented) solely because another player is more senior. Sure it happens from time to time I'm sure, probably due to not knowing how those young guys will perform in action, being nervous about benching someone, sticking in a young guy and him not performing and then having to go back to the guy you just benched, but not as often as some people think.

Regarding the article, I don't see it as Saban saying he is going to us a two qb system - basically just announcing that it seems Hurts is going to be around all year and putting down the redshirt rumors. I anticipate the majority of games to be like the first three - which is great IMO, no reason to risk Tua when already up big. In closer games I doubt we see Hurts in early or anything.

Maybe if Tua gets rattled going in to death valley, Hurts gets a series so they can talk with Tua and get him back on track. Maybe work in some specialty packages or trick plays if they think it will help the offense. Will be interesting to watch going forward.

Healthy Tua > Heisman Tua.

Tua wins Heisman in 2019 anyway.

Hurts if he grad transfers after the season can redshirt and play 4 games in 2019 and then play an entire 5th season in 2020.


Wherever he goes he's not going to get the development and support he will this season with Enos and the rest of the staff.

I'd be fine with having Jalen in a normal backup role. But, the way it has played out so far, it's been like parking your $100,000 luxury vehicle mid commute to borrow someone's 30 year old Yugo to drive the rest of the way.

I guess it will be different if a game is close, but that's the whole point. With Tua playing we're going to be up 4 TD's on almost everyone midway through the second quarter. I don't care much about individual awards, but frick, it would be nice to actually watch the team play to its full potential instead of taking a mercy knee before halftime.