Alabama Football: Tua must do more than dazzle, he must lead

SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 07: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts against the Clemson Tigers in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Levi's Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 07: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts against the Clemson Tigers in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Levi's Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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The sensational Tua Tagovailoa must do more than dazzle in 2019. Tua must lead Alabama football back from a shocking loss.

Last week, Nick Saban borrowed a story from Cleveland Browns, head coach Freddie Kitchens. The former Alabama football quarterback, speaking at Saban’s coaching clinic said there are five choices in life. Individuals can choose to be bad, average, good, excellent and elite. Saban repeated the statement to the 2019 Crimson Tide team.

Alabama football had an excellent football team last season. Until it mattered the most, the Tide appeared to be an elite team. In the end, it was something short of elite.

Alabama football insiders have said this year’s team is intent on a mission to redeem itself from the national championship game loss. Seeking a different ending to the 2019 season and achieving that ending exist miles apart. What lies between is a long grind of preparation.

The grind requires demanding leaders among the players. Young men who also lead by example. Tua Tagovailoa must be one of those leaders.

For all his sensational play last season, Tua came up well short of great against Clemson. He must be better in 2019 and as important, he must lead teammates to elite performance. There are indications he understands the need to be more than a great quarterback.

First, he has to make himself better and learn the new wrinkles brought by Steve Sarksian to the Alabama football offense. Alex Scarbrough, writing for ESPN said Tua understands mistakes made last season.

"he has no problem (critiquing his play last season) …his eyes moved too fast at times. He’d get through his progressions so quickly that he’d miss things. Keeping his eyes in tune with his feet, he said, is one of the biggest things he’d like to improve upon this offseason."

Alabama football will not discard Mike Locksley’s RPO schemes but Sarkisian will want Tua to better see all the field to assess the best option. With four immensely talented receivers and two running backs with pass-catching skills, Tua will have an abundance of options to assess.

Much has been made about the new offensive line being more physical and more suited to busting open holes. They will also have to be adept at protecting Tua. He can’t read the whole field while under duress. Keeping Tua injury free is also essential. Tua must help by not stringing out plays too long and taking too many hits in the process.

Watching Tua’s evolution in Sark’s offense should be a joy for Crimson Tide fans. The pair have a history and appear to have a close connection. Sark’s offensive schemes seem even better suited to Tua than a heavy-RPO offense.

Tua has so much talent. His growth as a quarterback need not be large. Growing into leadership may be the tougher task but every indication is, it is one he can also master.

Next. Ranking Saban's Tide Starting QBs. dark

Discussing a need for Tua to improve as a QB should keep a stat in perspective. Last season, he slightly edged out Kyler Murray for the top passer rating. Tua’s 199.4 rating was a new college football record.