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Alabama Football: Unlocking the key to the Tide QB situation

By Ronald Evans

TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 09: The Alabama Crimson Tide take the field prior to the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game against the Clemson Tigers at Raymond James Stadium on January 9, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 09: The Alabama Crimson Tide take the field prior to the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game against the Clemson Tigers at Raymond James Stadium on January 9, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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Alabama football does not have a QB controversy. It has a situation filled with opportunity and challenge. A QB expert explains what will happen and why.

Amidst the clamor surrounding SEC Media Days, a familiar voice shared some clarity about what to expect from the Alabama football QB situation. Some fans are disenchanted with Gary Danielson after his many years of exposure to the SEC. He is sometimes described as annoying as he analyzes a game live. We admit he can be whiny about referee calls. Chalk that up to the voices in his ear who believe the game action does not provide enough drama.

Make no mistake, Gary Danielson knows football. His specialty is understanding quarterback play. The former NFL QB understands more than the x’s and o’s of QB play. He understands what is going on in their heads.

Tide 102.9 talked to Gary at SEC Media Days and we suggest listening to all of the ten-plus minutes. The entire video is provided below.

What Nick Saban said about the QB situation at Media Days

After responding to a question about Jalen Hurts being on the Tide roster on Sept. 1st with a “Well I have no idea,” Nick said,

"We’ll create a role for one or both of those guys on our team, and they’ll all have to make a decision based on what that outcome is as to what their future is, you know, at Alabama."

Nick Saban always knows more than what he says. The rest of us will know in due time and not a day sooner. Saban said more than the one sentence quoted but that one sentence tells the story. In our opinion, it means Jalen and Tua have a chance to earn the starting QB role in fall camp. That competition may continue into an early game or two.

Tua’s spring injury slowed down the competition. Our guess is without the new redshirt rule, Saban might be inclined to play both QB’s pretty much equally against Louisville. Jalen might even get the start.

The new rule makes the situation more complicated. Jalen is on track to graduate in December. He can play in four games this season and transfer with an immediate two years of eligibility. If he is not the starter, it would be understandable for Jalen to be careful about those four games. Saban might even choose to save him for a late-season replacement to an injured Tua. We don’t know what is in the head of the young man or the Tide coach.

What Gary Danielson said

Danielson did not rule out Jalen winning the starting job. He is just not convinced Jalen could hold on to it as the season progresses. The man who knows QB’s said this about Jalen and Tua:

  • Jalen knows how to throw and how to be a good leader. He is tough and courageous.
  • Jalen doesn’t know how to play quarterback. He doesn’t understand how to distribute the ball and see cracks in the defense before they appear.
  • Gary also said that such QB subtleties are sometimes un-teachable. A QB has the instinct or doesn’t.
  • According to Gary, Tua clearly has those instincts and the arm to make the plays.
  • Tua will take more chances and make more mistakes. He will also make more big plays.

Danielson is confident Tua will be the main Tide QB in 2018. He also believes Tua’s skills are rare and that Nick Saban will adjust his style to accommodate those skills. As Gary correctly said, the 2018 Alabama football team can win nine games whoever plays QB.

Danielson said in the other three games, Saban may well choose to rely more on his offense than his defense. As Gary put it, Nick would go into those games saying we are going to score 42 points and daring the other team to be able to score more.

Since Nick has been in Tuscaloosa, four opponents have scored 43 or more points on the Crimson Tide. Alabama football won two of those four games. Nick Saban is not going to give up his love for tough defense. No matter how good the QB, Alabama football will not choose to turn into a Big 12 team. Nick Saban will utilize all the tools available to him and one of those potent tools is Tua Tagovailoa.

Next: The Tide is loaded at WR with youth and talent.

Thanks to Tide 102.9 for the excellent interview with Gary Danielson. He is a bright and perceptive college football analyst when some CBS producer is not distracting him.

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