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Nick Saban won’t rule out playing both Tua Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts next season
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Considering the performance Tua Tagovailoa put on in the National Championship Game to help lead Alabama to yet another title, most assume he’ll be the starting quarterback when the Crimson Tide take the field in the Sept. 1 season opener against Louisville.
Lost in the excitement of Tagovailoa’s performance in that game was the fact he made a few poor decisions against Georgia. He was intercepted once after confusing a run play for a pass play and threw at one of his receivers while they were clearly run blocking down the field. In another instance, Tagovailoa forced a pass in the end zone that could have easily been intercepted. Fortunately for the Tide, it wasn’t, and it turned into a touchdown instead.
That play could have sealed Alabama’s fate and represents the danger of turning loose the rising sophomore immediately next season for Nick Saban. The Alabama coach prefers his teams to be led by outstanding defensive efforts and a risk-adverse, yet efficient offense usually led by the ground game. Considering how outstanding Jalen Hurts is with his legs, it’s not the foregone conclusion many think it is that Tagovailoa will begin the season as the team’s starting QB.
If you don’t believe that, just look at what Saban told ESPN’s Chris Low on Friday when discussing his quarterbacks.
“All I’ve told both players is that they’re both going to have the opportunity to compete, and that’s all any competitor ever wants,” Saban said to Low. “We’ve won with both, and the kids on our team respect both guys.”
The Alabama coach added these additional thoughts on the subject, suggesting both quarterbacks could play in 2018.
“The most important thing is to play the best guy, and if both guys can play winning football, it’s not out of the question that we’ll find a role for both guys in fairness to both guys,” he continued.
While both QBs excel on the field in different ways, Tua with his arm and Hurts with his legs, it’s easy to imagine a scenario in which both play next season — or possibly at the same time in some trick play formations. You can read the full ESPN story, including more comments from Saban here.
Thing to remember about Bama's QB situation, and Saban noted this when we talked, is you can't fool the players. They know who's the best QB, and that will play out spring/preseason. He has no plans to play two, but isn't against it if both prove they can play "winning football."
— Chris Low (@ClowESPN) March 2, 2018
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Michael Wayne Bratton oversees the news coverage for Saturday Down South. Michael previously worked for FOX Sports and NFL.com
