Will Alabama's new coordinator mean a new quarterback to fit his style? Read and see. (Photo-New England Patriots)

What Alabama’s New Offensive Coordinator Means to Jalen Hurts

By: Larry Burton

Jalen Hurts is lightning in a bottle. He can be explosive and turn a game around in a single play. But usually it’s with his legs and not his arm. Watching him struggle throwing the ball in the second half of the national championship game was like watching someone scrape their nails on a chalk board.

Hurts signed with Alabama in hopes that Lane Kiffin could develop him more as a pocket passer and now that is gone. It remains to be seen what Alabama’s new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll can do that. Reading his pedigree, there’s no standout quarterback that he developed and he’s never worked with a dual threat quarterback.

Also there’s the question of Daboll’s pedigree in offensive philosophy. He’s a pro style offense, something that Saban was comfortable with during most of his years of coaching himself. Daboll hasn’t run a hurry up, spread or read and react offense, things that Hurts did last year and most of his life.

While Hurts leadership, drive and playmaking ability is not in question, his drop back throwing is. In the second half of the game when he had to shine, Hurts went 3 for 9 for 14 yards. They punted six times in the second half and the offense for the most part wasn’t even mediocre. He finished the day with a quarterback rating of 25.2. So it’s not just an opinion that says he stunk as a passer, his stats proved it.

So with Alabama bringing in two stud quarterbacks who apparently can throw the ball and may fit the new system of the new offensive coordinator, this move to a different offensive coach and a predictably different style may not work in Hurts behalf.

Given that Saban has gotten over starting a true freshman quarterback new to the system it would behoove Hurts to get his passing game in order. Neither one of these two freshmen show that this could have happened to them, but that is conjecture. What is not conjecture is that folks who have watched Mac Jones throw to folks on campus are not just impressed, but very impressed. He came to campus this month as an early enrollee.

Jones describes himself as the consummate “game manager” who is used to taking snaps under center, handing the ball off and making progressive reads from the pocket and delivering accurate passes. This is exactly why Saban went after him so hard.

Then there’s Tua Tagovailoa, the hype on him is red hot and he’s an early enrollee and going through spring practice puts him in the same boat that Hurts was in last year by doing the same thing. You don’t get to be the nation’s number one prospect for no reason. Tua certainly has the upside that can roll Hurts for the job.

But will he, or will Mac Jones? That remains to be seen, but if Hurts doesn’t step up his game in the passing department and step it up big, he could easily be rolled for the job and either be looking to transfer or change positions to slot receiver or a Kenyan Drake type running back.

Hurts was Kiffin’s main man but with a new coordinator, there’s no favorite coming in. Hurts starts with a clean slate as does his competition with Daboll and if last season’s quarterback battle proves anything, you should know that the best man will win and that while Hurts past season will always be a special one, it will mean nothing in earning him the job if the others outperform him in the spring, in fall practices and in the early games.

Hurts is certainly a man the players are behind and believe in and while Saban says that is very important and that is one big plus on side of the sheet. But since the other two show a better throwing style and may be better suited to Daboll’s offense, he certainly has a minus to overcome. He could easily lose his starting job.

While no one is advocating that or predicting that, it is worth speculating that should he lose the starting job, it is unlikely he’d stay and play a backup / situational QB role like being the “Wildcat” quarterback.

All these scenarios will make for an interesting spring and an even more interesting early fall, where Saban has shown that a quarterback battle will last for at least a game or two into the season.

So buy the popcorn and get ready, this is going to be a battle worth watching.

Larry has been published in almost every media outlet for college sports and now primarily writes here for Touchdown Alabama. Follow Larry on Twitter for inside thoughts and game time comments at https://twitter.com/LBSportswriter

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