Tua Tagovailoa is the main ingredient. He gives Alabama panache, character, and most importantly, confidence.
No disrespect to Mac Jones, who played a great game against the Razorbacks, but the offense looked different without the old gunslinger gracing the pocket. The chemistry between the receivers and Jones did not feel the same even after a week of practice.
When Tua is on the field, he is worth two touchdowns by himself. His 75 percent completion rate, 2,166 yards, and 27 touchdowns are irreplaceable. Offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian’s unique blend of RPO and pro schemes has led to an impressive season for Tagovailoa. When the lefty quarterback is in the game, the offense runs like the Boston Symphony, smooth and pleasing.
He is the best quarterback to ever play at Alabama. Look at this video from an NFL analyst against Ole Miss last year:
College film tonight — #Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa. Ole Miss rotates to a 2-deep coverage here. Find the matchup on the seam ball. And throw a dime to split the top of the secondary. pic.twitter.com/TUnOACvn05
— Matt Bowen (@MattBowen41) January 3, 2019