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I wish Bama could take credit for developing Jalen Hurts, but if we are honest, it can’t
Posted on 1/22/23 at 8:59 am
Posted on 1/22/23 at 8:59 am
Lifelong Alabama fan and grad here, but when Jalen Hurts left Alabama, he was not close to an NFL caliber QB. In fact I doubt he would have been drafted, or at best, he was a late round developmental gadget player project. In both of his seasons as a starter, he faded in the biggest games late in the season, struggling to pass the ball downfield with any consistency.
Saban is as much to blame as anyone for that. Hurts was Kiffin’s attempt at opening the Alabama offense with Saban still not quite ready to let it go wide open. The title game against UGA is when Saban realized he had to, and unfortunately Jalen wasn’t the guy to do that as he had been trained for two years to fear the turnover more than to find the big play. Hurts would have thrived in the modern Alabama system but he was at Bama for an odd blend of mixed direction from old school Saban and new school Kiffin.
Hurts handled it with ultimate class and we will forever be proud of what HE has accomplished and claim him as part of the Bama family. But Oklahoma and Lincoln Riley made him into an early 2nd rounder that is now a top 5-10 NFL QB.
If Bama can get credit for anything it is putting him through a lot of adversity to build resilience. I also think the year on the bench under Mike Locksley and the new Bama offense began the process of opening up his skillset and resetting his mindset to gain confidence. You could see it in the SEC title game that he was a different QB.
Saban is as much to blame as anyone for that. Hurts was Kiffin’s attempt at opening the Alabama offense with Saban still not quite ready to let it go wide open. The title game against UGA is when Saban realized he had to, and unfortunately Jalen wasn’t the guy to do that as he had been trained for two years to fear the turnover more than to find the big play. Hurts would have thrived in the modern Alabama system but he was at Bama for an odd blend of mixed direction from old school Saban and new school Kiffin.
Hurts handled it with ultimate class and we will forever be proud of what HE has accomplished and claim him as part of the Bama family. But Oklahoma and Lincoln Riley made him into an early 2nd rounder that is now a top 5-10 NFL QB.
If Bama can get credit for anything it is putting him through a lot of adversity to build resilience. I also think the year on the bench under Mike Locksley and the new Bama offense began the process of opening up his skillset and resetting his mindset to gain confidence. You could see it in the SEC title game that he was a different QB.
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Posted on 1/22/23 at 9:05 am to MillerLiteTime
Sure...
He had just won the SEC Championship, almost willing it to happen (like some of his games this season) - in a startling reversal of what happened in the National Championship with Georgia.
But sure, 6 months with a new team, scheme and program made all the difference in the world.
LMAO.
He had just won the SEC Championship, almost willing it to happen (like some of his games this season) - in a startling reversal of what happened in the National Championship with Georgia.
But sure, 6 months with a new team, scheme and program made all the difference in the world.
LMAO.
Posted on 1/22/23 at 9:07 am to MillerLiteTime
I don’t recall ever seeing anyone argue that Bama developed Jalen Hurts into an NFL QB.
Posted on 1/22/23 at 9:07 am to MillerLiteTime
quote:
Lifelong Alabama fan and grad here, but when Jalen Hurts left Alabama, he was not close to an NFL caliber QB
He wasn't close to an NFL caliber quarterback when he left Oklahoma either. He was the exact same quarterback at both schools. The only difference was this. Defense in the Big 12 is optional. That's it, that's all.
He could be contained in the SEC. Not so much in a league that plays defense optional football.
Jalen Hurts was coached and developed at Alabama. The only thing Oklahoma did for him was put him in a league that wouldn't challenge him the way the SEC did.
Nothing about his game changed when he went to Oklahoma.
This post was edited on 1/22/23 at 9:09 am
Posted on 1/22/23 at 9:09 am to MillerLiteTime
quote:
But Oklahoma and Lincoln Riley made him into an early 2nd rounder that is now a top 5-10 NFL QB.
The system at OU did that. Remember the same system did it for Murray, Mayfield, and Hurts all transferred into a system made to generate stats with a HC that left them in late in the game to get those stats.
Riley has recruited two QBs so far and has been 50/50 with them. Williams is doing well again in the same type of system but he failed with Rattler who has done better at USCe than when under Riley at OU. Rattler was a Heisman hopeful under Riley.
Hurts stayed at UA as a backup because he still needed development which he got. He landed his final year in a QB stat friendly offense and conference.
This post was edited on 1/22/23 at 9:11 am
Posted on 1/22/23 at 9:14 am to MillerLiteTime
Tide fans harassed Jalen when he left and said Tuna / Mac were both better, now they pretend he’s “their guy” 
Clowns being clowns
Clowns being clowns
Posted on 1/22/23 at 9:14 am to MillerLiteTime
I think Jalen deserves a lot of credit for putting in the work to become what he is.
Posted on 1/22/23 at 9:17 am to Pandy Fackler
quote:
Jalen Hurts was coached and developed at Alabama. The only thing Oklahoma did for him was put him in a league that wouldn't challenge him the way the SEC did.
He learned to pass the ball downfield at Oklahoma. Hurts has been a slow, but consistent developer, improving every season throughout college and the NFL with the lone exception when he regressed from his freshman to sophomore season at Alabama. He played scared at Alabama, afraid to make a mistake if he threw anything further than a check down pass.
Posted on 1/22/23 at 9:18 am to MillerLiteTime
Hurts completed 52% of his passes as a rookie
Sirianni and the Eagles “developed” him
Sirianni and the Eagles “developed” him
Posted on 1/22/23 at 9:23 am to MillerLiteTime
He still hasn't developed much as a QB. Philadelphia was just willing to build their entire team around Jalen's strengths.
Their offense is run-dominant, and they run lots of RPOs. Really the offense in Philadelphia is extremely similar to the one that Jalen ran with Lane Kiffin.
Jalen still isn't a QB who's going to beat teams with his arm, and I'd be shocked if the Eagles make it to the super bowl for that very reason.
Don't forget that the Eagles have played NOBODY this season. Literally no one. They played the Cowboys when Dak was hurt. They haven't faced a single explosive offense all season. They've just been feasting on mediocre to bad teams.
Their offense is run-dominant, and they run lots of RPOs. Really the offense in Philadelphia is extremely similar to the one that Jalen ran with Lane Kiffin.
Jalen still isn't a QB who's going to beat teams with his arm, and I'd be shocked if the Eagles make it to the super bowl for that very reason.
Don't forget that the Eagles have played NOBODY this season. Literally no one. They played the Cowboys when Dak was hurt. They haven't faced a single explosive offense all season. They've just been feasting on mediocre to bad teams.
Posted on 1/22/23 at 9:23 am to WilliamTaylor21
This guy right here embodies what the Yeldon screen pass did to the LSU fanbase.
Posted on 1/22/23 at 9:26 am to Glorious
quote:
Hurts completed 52% of his passes as a rookie
Sirianni and the Eagles “developed” him
Recap:
- Eagles, developed his precision
- Oklahoma, taught him how to be a QB
- A1abana, called him a piece of shite / traitor
Nice work everyone
Posted on 1/22/23 at 9:27 am to WilliamTaylor21
Most Bama fans have very selective memory regarding Jalen. They loved him his freshman season but then got concerned when the passing offense struggled in the last 4 or so games. That was excused as being a freshman. Then the same thing happened in the last third of his sophomore year and Bama fans were almost unanimously calling for Tua. It was universal respect for Jalen as a person and competitor but there was also consensus lack of trust in him to be the guy to lead Bama to national titles. I will openly eat my crow as someone who never imagined Jalen Hurts being an NFL starter or even a quality backup while he was at Bama.
Posted on 1/22/23 at 9:28 am to WilliamTaylor21
quote:
Recap:
Jalen Hurts was undefeated against LSU as an Alabama QB.
Oof.
Posted on 1/22/23 at 9:31 am to Tuscaloosa
Damn, I had to upvote and agree with Tuscaloser, and it's happening more often lately. I'm scheduling an appointment in the morning, first thing...
Posted on 1/22/23 at 9:33 am to TideSaint
quote:
Jalen Hurts
Ended his college career with a 35 point loss to LSU
Posted on 1/22/23 at 9:34 am to MillerLiteTime
quote:
If Bama can get credit for anything it is putting him through a lot of adversity to build resilience. I also think the year on the bench under Mike Locksley and the new Bama offense began the process of opening up his skillset and resetting his mindset to gain confidence. You could see it in the SEC title game that he was a different QB.
Ad yet that's not considered development? Jalen said he specifically came back in 2018 because he wanted to continue to improve as a pocket passer under Dan Enos. And you are correct, he was much better about his reading and reaction in the pocket. The Georgia game was one of his better attempts at looking like the QB we see today.
But frankly, Keeping Jalen in the pocket and not having him circle out to his right at the first sign of a rush was instinctively hard on him. Even at Oklahoma. How do you really get better instinctively as a passer when you think you can make any play with your legs?
Now, for a major dose of reality. I've watched all the Philadephia games since Jalen's arrival and he has simply gotten so much better at staying in the pocket and learning to throw the football, THIS SEASON. Earlier before this season even the Eagles didn't see this version of Jalen Hurts. But guess what, they also have the best OL in football, and they bring in some guy named AJ Brown to run with DeVonta Smith. Hurt's long ball is crazy accurate and has been all season. Everyone is frankly surprised and happy for the guy. But Phillie is just as surprised as BAMA fans at the growth and command we are seeing in his 3rd year.
Posted on 1/22/23 at 9:34 am to MillerLiteTime
quote:
He learned to pass the ball downfield at Oklahoma.
Very easy to do when the WRs are running wide open in an offensive happy conference.
Also if you have actually followed him you would have looked at the stats. He threw for close to 4000yds at OU in 2019 but almost 70% of those yards came in the early part of the season when they played teams without a pulse and no defense. Against teams that played defense his QB rating was around 130. His rating QB rating against LSU was 100. Tua had a 168 rating against LSU.
The same reason Riley left OU once it was announced they would joining the SEC. His system works well against offensive happy leagues but not against teams that play defense. QBs will always do well in it as a plug and play wanting to pad stats but against a team that plays defense not so much. Utah plays defense and beat them twice this year.
This post was edited on 1/22/23 at 9:39 am
Posted on 1/22/23 at 9:34 am to WilliamTaylor21
quote:
A1abana, called him a piece of shite / traitor
Can we get one thread of honest discussion without the trolling and derailing? You have a Bama fan being as honest as he can and admitting where Bama’s faults are with Jalen. No need to pile on with some imagined narrative that Bama fans as a whole thought of him as a traitor. If anything, they were happy for him to leave and do well at OU because we near unanimously wanted Tua more, which I’m openly acknowledging.
Posted on 1/22/23 at 9:34 am to MillerLiteTime
quote:
He learned to pass the ball downfield at Oklahoma. Hurts has been a slow, but consistent developer, improving every season throughout college and the NFL with the lone exception when he regressed from his freshman to sophomore season at Alabama. He played scared at Alabama, afraid to make a mistake if he threw anything further than a check down pass.
You don't watch Big-12 football. If you did, you'd know how defensive backs play in that league and how soft they are on the defensive line.
When he played in the Big-12, it was about as close to 7v7 football as you could get.
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