Alabama Football: What it means as Mac Jones is National Player of the Week

Alabama Football has no quarterback controversy as Mac Jones is named National Player of the Week.

The Alabama football fans who love a quarterback controversy must wait for next season. Mac Jones is the man in Tuscaloosa and nothing short of injury will change that. Bryce Young is likely to become a Crimson Tide superstar. Paul Tyson is far better than many Crimson Tide fans realize.

Both younger quarterbacks need to be developed this season in case Mac goes down. Their development process, in terms of game action, is more complicated this season. There are FCS or Group of Five games affording Crimson Tide backups considerable playing time. They will have to be patient, along with Bryce-loving, Alabama football fans.

Before the 2020 season started, the dialog about Crimson Tide quarterbacks was very different from today. Mac Jones was mostly viewed as capable, but with limitations. His talents were summarized by the unflattering label of ‘Game Manager.’ He was the Crimson Tide quarterback who could lead his team to many victories, but not to a Championship.

Some Alabama football fans still believe the skill sets of Bryce Young are what the Tide needs to win championships. It is clear Nick Saban and Steve Sarkisian don’t share that opinion. Across college football, there is a quickly growing narrative that Mac Jones is good, very good, even potentially Heisman Trophy good.

Let’s consider the facts for that argument.

• This week, Maxwell named Mac Jones the National Player of the Week. The same group will name a National Player of the Year. Tua won the Maxwell National Player of the Week award twice.
• This week, Mac Jones was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week.
• Mac’s 435 passing yards against the Aggies moved him to No. 4 in the Crimson Tide Record Book for the most passing yards in a game.
• Based on ESPN’s Quarterback Ratings (QBR) and the Passing Efficiency Rating (PER), Mac is statistically the best quarterback in the nation in multiple data points.

When Nick Saban was asked to comment, he said,

"Mac’s matured. And that, I think there’s a lot more confident now. I think he knows what he has to do to stay focused and play the next play. And he’s, you know, he played within himself very well in the first two games and that’s something that we want him to continue to do so I was pleased with the way he responded after the tip ball interception on Saturday."

Mac Jones has matured. He can also be expected to continue to mature and be a better quarterback from more game experience. A new narrative may take hold – Mac Jones can lead the Alabama Crimson Tide to a Championship.

Two big reasons for Mac Jones’ success are Jaylen Waddle and Devonta Smith. The Tide signal-caller should also be credited with the patience to wait his turn to lead the Alabama football offense.