An Open Letter to Nicholas Lou Saban Jr, Part III

Get fricked.

Haha not trying to be an a**hole. Some people jumped on me pretty hard 2 weeks ago, and by God if Tua didn’t come in, and then make huge connections with Jeudy/Smith/Ruggs.

I might have been correct...just own up to it.

I’ll give you that, I did say that. The gap between Tua & Jalen was even larger than I thought, and I knew it was pretty damn large.

I personally don't think the difference was static and it really leads to an interesting question of offensive / roster management strategy. Do you play the best player for your team at the current time or do you play the guy who seems to be the future and have more potential and try to develop him?

Looking back on it, it seems that Hurts fit in horribly with the Daboll system and, to my eyes, regressed over the course of the year for whatever reason. That said, he was the safe bet as he wasn't going to make game changing turnovers and mental mistakes.

Hard to say where Tua was all year in terms of his development. The aversion to him playing was never his throwing ability (at least I don't think it was but my memory sucks so i could be mistaken) but more the word was he didn't take care of the football well and, as a freshman, was prone to typical freshman mental errors.

Again, it just lends itself to the question of where Tua was in regard to his development in those areas over the course of the season and general roster management strategy.

This isn't meant to be argumentative or further the Tua vs. Hurts during the regular season debate - I just find it to be a pretty interesting case study which, in the end, worked out for another NC run.

Great Points Sneaky.

My view..

Jalen has all-world athletic running ability at the QB position (speed/quickness/power), with very below average ability to throw a football or make reads.

With that skill set along with a 5-Star at every position around him, it’s enough for Jalen to look like an All-American against the lesser teams of the world (Mercers, Tennessee’s, Ole miss, Vandy’s), but when the big boys come around (2016 sec title vs Florida, 2016 vs Rnd 1Washington, 2016 Rnd 2 Clemson, 2017 Iron Bowl, 2017 Rnd 1 Clemson, 2017 Title game UGA) & the opponent is good enough to not let you beat them being 1-dimensional, Jalen would struggle & did struggle every time.

Bottomline, agree or disagree, a change was needed & the GOAT made the switch at halftime. With the way so many offensive 1st year guys stepped up (Tua, Najee, Smith, Ruggs III, Leatherwood, Jeudy etc), I’ve never been more excited for the future of Bama football.

quote:

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With the way so many offensive 1st year guys stepped up (Tua, Najee, Smith, Ruggs III, Leatherwood, Jeudy etc), I’ve never been more excited for the future of Bama football.

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No doubt about that. I certainly didn't anticipate Hurts being that ineffective - I think there is a better player within him but by the end of this season, it seemed the pressure got to him, again not sure if Daboll did a good job highlighting his strengths as well, and in the end the last three performances are what happened. A change had to be made at half time and it worked out.

I really can't wait for this spring game / next season to see what Tua looks like after all the first team reps as well as to see him in a normal game situation - not coming in after being down. he got us within 1 score but then UGA went right back up with the long TD pass. We should have a really good oline next year so, hopefully, we get that great downhill run game with Tua coming over the top and making the defenses stay honest. Very curious to see what form the offense takes next season (and really hope Daboll doesn't leave so we can have some much needed consistency in the offensive gameplan).

I also find the it interesting to think about if Saban hadn't made that change, stuck with Hurts and we go on to lose the game - many of the talking points are "the bama dynasty is dead, two straight losses in the NC game, Saban is too attached to senior leadership" but now he is the undeniable best ever (I say along with Bear but many are saying outright).

Its just funny how one half of football, coupled with two injury riddled seasons and a loss in the NC game the prior year to one of the all-time great qb's can alter perception to such a degree. Making it and losing to Clemson is now ok and a positive trait given that it is bracketed with two NC's - you see the same thing with Brady now that he has won two, the two losses to the Giants are now positives whereas going into the Seatlle game, it was a Brady is 3-2 in super bowls, has he lost it debate.

I hope the game plan is what Saban envisioned as the game plan all along.Keep the D’s guessing & be able to beat them many different ways.

Pass Plays 50% of the time
Run Plays 50% of the time
Mix in Tua runs here & there.

Robert Foster played well in the NC...