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Here's the old guy's take on whether Mac Jones silenced any remaining critics. We'd love your thoughts below.
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Mac Jones silences any remaining critics at Alabama
People were so hungry for the next Tua Tagovailoa and everyone thought that this would surely be Bryce Young, that some were wanting to rush Young to the starting job and start a long glorious winning run with another amazing quarterback.
Now I have little doubt that Young will be that man someday, but on Saturday, Mac Jones proved why he is the man for the job right now. Jones was 18 of 24 and threw for 249 yards before leaving the game in the second half with an insurmountable lead in his pocket to give Young the playing time he’ll need to improve and mature.
And after watching Young, you could see glimpses of the star to be, but you could also see the need to improve and mature as he struggled to mount drives and look like the guy would could lead the Tide to wins in tough games. Without slurring Missouri’s reputation, but if you can’t score on Missouri, you’re not going to fare well against LSU, Auburn, and many other SEC teams.
Jones seemed to have little problem moving the chains, maintaining the ball and adding points to the scoreboard like a pinball machine.
ESPN announcers said Jones was given the keys to an offensive Ferrari, implying that it would be easy for anyone to win races in that offense. Maybe not. In comparison, Young couldn’t steer that car out of the parking lot with his first drive resulting in a turnover after his fumble gave Missouri the ball, his second a punt and his last a three and out that resulting in a field goal after Missouri fumbled the previous punt deep in their own territory.
While Young’s 5/8 passing ratio wasn’t bad, the production was. Also lacking was the smoothness that Jones possessed that Young didn’t. Jones production looked almost effortless, while Young’s seemed frantic. But please don’t think I’m down on Young. Bryce Young is a star in the making and not even Mozart played his best in his first performance. Young’s day is coming and he will be phenomenal. His ceiling may actually be much higher than Jones, but it still down the road.
Mac Jones is the guy that Alabama needed right now to lead this team. They should thank their lucky stars that he was and is a total team guy that stuck around on the bench for so long and didn’t leave for greener pastures when he found himself stuck behind Tua and Jalen Hurts.
And many people were still in denial of this fact until perhaps this past Saturday. There may still be some today, but if there are, sober up and re-watch the game.
Larry Burton is the senior writer at Touchdown Alabama Magazine and has been published in almost every media outlet for college sports. He was Bleacher Report’s #1 college football writer in reads and comments and now has slowed down his writing from that hectic pace. Follow Larry on Twitter for inside thoughts and game time comments at https://twitter.com/LBSportswriter
This article did evoke hundreds of comments... Here is a very small sample from one Facebook site concerning this story.
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Clayton Mosley
 that’s the dumbest thing I’ve heard all day. No one in college football more accurate than Tua last year but im just looking at stats.....
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ÂBrant Wilson
 I agree with the pick sixes. One of them wasn’t his fault though
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ÂBrant Wilson
 but Mac wouldn’t carry the football like a loaf of bread in the red zone against LSU
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ÂClayton Mosley
 he hasn’t played against LSU
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ÂBrant Wilson
 look man we root for the same team lol
Just say you disagree and why bro ·ÂÂClayton Mosley just saying my ‘I miss Tua moment’ came at Auburn last year. Their will be a game this year where we will all miss Tua. Hopefully D is improved enough to carry us through that game. Roll Tide
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ÂClayton Mosley
 Ummm. No not better than Tua in the long or short ball but he will hv to do for now. Mizzou is a rebuilding team so I wasnt that impressed with the offense or DEFENSE. If we want to beat CLEMSON, we gotta get better on both ends.
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They are not saying anything. Mac throws deep balls better than Tua. He over threw them a lot. Mac is always on the money.ÂÂ
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ÂÂBrant Wilson okay. So you are the type of person that calls people you don’t know dumb for little reasons on Facebook. I hope you accept that reality and grow as a human being.
Tua was good at short passes but overthrew those long vertices ALOT. Mac does that better. I watch every game for 60 minutes. I am telling you the truth.Is Mac better than Tua, so far no. But he could be we will see.All I’m saying is that there is a particular pass that he is better at than TuaI am telling you. Tua over threw those long verticles ALOT.Quick slants were his bread and butter, his timing was perfect.ÂÂClayton Mosley lol. Once again you need to rewatch all 60 minutes from last year. Tua to Smith was rarely missed. I’ve watched enough football to know Tua wouldn’t have thrown 2 pick six at Auburn but I bet you disagree with that to. By the way, not calling you dumb. Just said that’s the dumbest thing I’ve heard all day....still is
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ÂBetter hope he stays healthy if not we are bad shapeÂ
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ÂThe kid will do great just needed to shake some butterflys.ÂÂ
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ÂI am grateful for both young menÂÂ
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ÂHe sure did!!!Â
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ÂMac showed his level of experience, solid! Bryce will get there and looked like it was his first game on this stage. Not surprised, but he will be a monster for us when the time comesÂÂ
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ÂBryce didn’t play with starting o-line much so he had a lot of effort dodging rushers. Apples vs oranges!!!ÂÂ
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ÂThat pass to Jaylen Waddle in the end zone over two Mizzou defenders was a thing of beauty!!!ÂÂ
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ÂMac Jones was great ,Don,t get rid of hem, he can really throw the ball to the right guy.ÂÂ
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ÂJones going to be alright, just like from the beginning. Bryce situation going to happen when it's time and he will eventually will be alrightÂÂ
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ÂI like Mac Jones.ÂÂ
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ÂBryce did fine. Anyone remember Jalen Hurts first snap? Mac is the man - he's been thru the fire and Bryce was tossed into the fire. We all THINK we're ready for the "Big Time," but reality hits pretty hard. Bryce will look 100 times better the nex…ÂSee MoreÂÂ
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ÂBryce had dudes all over him every snap... took a lot of big hits in a short time. Mac didn’t look bad but y’all can’t say Bryce didn’t look bad eitherÂ
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ÂProud of Mac!Â
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ÂI think he did great.Â
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ÂHe had A Good Game proud for himÂ
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ÂWell bama fans nice argument.Is Jones very good or great. ThisIs a.n argument I'm happy withÂÂ
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ÂMac Jones is the real deal! RTRÂ
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ÂMac attack!! ROLL TIDE!ÂÂ
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ÂPretty much but we were spoiled with Tua.ÂÂ
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ÂBryce will do betterÂ
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ÂBoth guys are good.Jones is more experienced an as long as he wins they need to let him play.Â
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ÂMac did great!! Bryce will get there, freshman jittersÂ
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ÂMack is the man. But in Bryce's defense, the line stopped blocking when he got in.Â
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ÂNo Jones was put in with lesser players not first stringÂ
My worry is he got poppped too often. Â Â Need to keep #10 upright all year... the kid has developed nicely and seems in control and unconcerned about the rush. Dont think Bryce is there yet but a heap of potential.
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