This Hurts

Is it just me or does anyone else think Jalen hurts Alabama? That’s right, Jalen Hurts continues to be the Crimson Tide’s biggest liability. He was last year and, after watchin’ this year’s opener, he’s still not the QB he can and should be. Most of ‘Bama’s pass plays end up with either Hurts runnin’ out of the pocket to heave one downfield or tuck it and continue matriculatin' for as many yards as he can get! He rarely tosses it on time in the pocket.

Go Long!

It’s hard to believe Saban dudn’t have any retrievers who can get open enough every now and again for Jalen to squeeze one off in rhythm. Every pass play seems to end up bein’ one of those backyard jobs where you break the huddle with instructions to “get open and I’ll find ya”. This kid seems like a great person and he's obviously an unbelievable athlete... but those things don't necessarily translate into bein' a great, or even really good, QB.

Frankly, Jalen was the weak link last year that finally got exposed in the National Championship Game. Bama’s defense and special teams had been so superior in their other 14 games the offense’s mantra was, “Just don’t fumble or throw a pick”. (FYI - in 2016 Bama’s defense had 16 INT’s, 7 returned for TD’s – 17 forced fumbles, 1 returned for a TD – 3 punt returns for TD’s).

But Climpson was dead set on tryin’ to make young Jalen beat’em through the air and when Bo Scarborough went down with a broken leg in the 3rd well, then… Bob’s yer uncle and Climpson takes the hardware back to the shores of Lake Hartwell. Hurts ends up havin’ to fling 31 passes and completin’ only 13 for 131 yards and a TD. 

You reckon' he's open?

And 68 0f those 131 yards (or more than half fer those of you who are mathematically challenged) came via the TD pass and run to TE O.J. Howard. Climpson blew the coverage so badly on this play I thought they took a moment to go audition for the horn section in the Tiger band.  I swear former 'Bama QB Bart Starr coulda completed that one and he's 83 years old!! 

Take a gander fer yerself: OJ Howard TD vs Clemson 2017 

RIP Walter Becker

Now fast forward to this year’s opener vs FSU. Here are the results of FSU’s last 11 possessions and the reason why Jalen is still just asked not to F--- It Up on offense:

PUNT, PUNT, PUNT, BLOCKED FG, PUNT, PUNT, BLOCKED PUNT, FUMBLED KICKOFF RECOVERED, INT, INT, PUNT

Hey, these FSU 2nd half results might make a good Steely Dan tune if they're arranged with the right beat! 

At the start of the second half Bama’s up 10-7 and thanks to their defense and special teams (see above) their last 3 scorin’ drives began at the FSU 6, 11, and 31. This results in a FG, an 11-yard TD run by Damien Harris, and another FG. Purty impressive for the ‘Noles defense. Not so good fer an offense that’s s’posed to be part of the best dad gum team in the nation (forgive me Bobby Bowden).

"Dude, I'm open"!!

Hurts was 10-18 fer 96 yds and a TD. Better completion percent than his last game against a worthy opponent but, once again, over half his total yards come from one throw, a 53 yard TD to Calvin Ridley. And guess what? BINGO, you got it… total busted coverage by FSU secondary and Ridley was runnin’ open like Lawrence of Arabia in the Nefud Desert! 

Check it out: Hurts to Ridley TD vs FSU 2017

No caption necessary

Bama’s gonna be tough to beat again this year just ‘cause their D and Special Teams are SOOO GOOD. But it’d be nearly impossible to whoop'em if Nick can find someone to show Jalen how to play like a college QB and not some Harry High Schooler who thinks chicks only dig a cool set of wheels and the long ball!