Alabama Football: Competition between QB2 and QB3 not done deal

Alabama football has a QB starter, Mac Jones’ immediate backup is not clear.

In this unusual Alabama football offseason and preseason, something ordinary is happening in Tuscaloosa. A young quarterback savant is championed to become one of the all-time great Crimson Tide QBs.

The same set of expectations and anticipations have happened many times before. The ‘new guy’ is so elite, some fans believe he should be quickly elevated to the starter. The current new guy, Bryce Young deserves the high expectations set for him. He came out of Mater Dei High School as the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback in the nation. At the 2019 Elite 11 Finals, Young was outstanding, outshined, only slightly, by C.J. Stroud.

For following in Tua Tagovailoa’s footsteps, Alabama football got the best guy in Bryce Young. As long as he stays healthy, his future leads to stardom. But, he is a true freshman, who with the loss of spring football did not get a big boost from an early enroll.

It is possible Young could win the 2020 starter job by the season opener. Nick Saban believes in fielding teams with the best players. Sometimes they are true freshmen. Bryce will get a shot. Rumors are he is already sharing first-team reps in 7v7, 11v11, drills. As could be expected, his reviews are mixed. A young man with tons of talent, not yet able to consistently perform at a high level. He has the ‘wow’ factor and also the ‘not there yet’ factor.

Beyond Young’s learning curve challenge, he has to beat out two very good quarterbacks. From all reports, offensive players look at Mac Jones as their leader. He has much-needed experience filling in for Tua. He has a strong arm and is more athletic than some believe. He has proven himself to teammates as physically and mentally tough. Bryce Young may, during the 2020 season, beat out Mac Jones. Don’t count on that happening in game one.

Some Alabama football fans may be surprised to learn Paul Tyson is contending to be QB2. Tyson’s claim to fame is as the great-grandson of Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant. He deserves attention for more than the family legacy. He is a pocket passer and with little dual-threat in his game. But he can throw the football. He has the strongest arm among the trio of QBs. His arm is accurate as well as big.

Tyson has two other advantages over Bryce Young. The first is his time being taught by Steve Sarkisian and fully understanding the Crimson Tide offense. Tyson has another ‘bigger’ advantage. He is a shade over 6-feet-5, compared to maybe six feet for Young. The Crimson Tide is loaded with 6-feet-6 and 6-feet-7 offensive linemen. When Tyson drops back he can see the field clearly. That advantage is no small thing.

With all his attributes, Paul Tyson many never be a Crimson Tide starter. But don’t be surprised if he comes out of fall camp as QB2.

For all three quarterbacks, schemes will be a factor. Young is closest to what Sark is looking for in a QB. But the 2020 Alabama Crimson Tide, with its powerful offensive line and deep roster of running backs, may return to more power football. Mac and Tyson can shine inside that offensive approach.