Alabama Football: Jimbo Says Pound The QB’s, Nick Disagrees

Nick Saban and Jimbo Fisher think differently about quarterback practice. Alabama football uses caution to protect QB’s from injury. Fisher does the opposite.

Last week Nick Saban explained the routine use of black non-contact jerseys for Alabama football quarterbacks. Healthy Alabama quarterbacks are protected from being hit during practices and scrimmages, including the A-Day game.

Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher takes a very different approach with his quarterbacks during practices and scrimmages.

Saban explained his decision during a post-practice scrimmage media session broadcast by rolltide.com.

"“I don’t think it’s worth getting a guy hurt in practice trying to prove the point that we’re going to make them a little tougher, especially at the quarterback position,” Saban said. “We try to do it with some controlled drills so that they do get hit. We really have limited the quarterback runs in the spring and are really focused on trying to develop a better passing game.”"

Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher explained his different approach as reported by the Tallahassee Democrat.

"During the first scrimmage of the spring, FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher turned Deondre Francois and the rest of the quarterback unit live. “I’ve done it every year. I’ve done it every year I’ve ever coached in the history of my life.”"

In fairness to Jimbo, he did acknowledge his decision increases the risk of injury but he believes the benefits to players on both sides of the ball outweigh the added risk of injury. Jimbo is candid and colorful when talks about football as the Democrat reported.

"He doesn’t want his defense holding back either. “Knock the piss out of him,” Fisher said."

Saban realizes quarterbacks need some contact during certain practice drills, but he does not believe the QB’s should prove their physical toughness in practice. In Saban’s mind, the injury risk is not balanced by any reward.

Alabama football does use contact drills during practice to develop ball-control skills. Saban explained those drills rolltide.com.

"“One of the things that we do, if the quarterback is going to run the ball … we do like turnover drills before practice that are basically tackle and strip drills, we’ll put the quarterbacks in those drills. So, in a controlled situation, they’re getting hit”"

Is Saban the wiser of the two coaches? To some degree, are they both correct? The bold practice approach used by Jimbo may have something to do with making Jameis Winston and Deondre Francois better quarterbacks.

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This spring a Florida State backup quarterback did suffer a concussion injury in a scrimmage. Evidently, Jimbo is comfortable with the risk-reward inherent in his decision.

For Alabama football, protecting Jalen Hurts and his eventual backup seems like a no-brainer decision. Even so, Alabama fans remember Hurts had some ball control issues in 2016. Jalen put the ball on the ground eleven times last season. Four of those miscues resulted in turnovers.

Considering all the ramifications, contact versus non-contact for QB’s is a coaches’ judgment call. Saban wisely plays it safe. No one can question the physical toughness of Saban quarterbacks, J.P. Wilson, A.J. McCarron, Blake Sims, Jake Coker and Jalen Hurts.

Alabama football fansite bamainsider.com also reported not all Alabama quarterbacks earn the no-contact treatment in practices:

"“Our scout team dudes — our quarterbacks — they wear black jerseys. A’Shawn and J. Reed never cared about that,” Former Alabama linebacker Ryan Anderson said last season."

Alabama fans will remember that Jalen Hurts also impressed his teammates with his ability to take a pounding during last season’s fall camp. Even with Saban’s more cautious approach to quarterback training, unproven players still have to cross a toughness threshold before they win the respect of teammates.

Next: SEC Coaches on a Hot Seat

Alabama football fans, weigh in with your opinions. Who has the correct approach to quarterback practice, Nick or Jimbo? Send us your thoughts through Facebook or Twitter.