Questions at Quarterback: Alabama, Texas A&M Face Uncertainty Under Center

Quarterbacks have been noticeably absent from the follow images and pictures launched by Alabama Monday and Tuesday. This does not imply the quarterbacks did not follow. It was simply one other method of the Alabama coaches not tipping their hand at who would possibly begin below middle this week for the Crimson Tide. 

But it surely’s not simply Alabama with questions at quarterback heading into this highly-anticipated matchup towards Texas A&M. The Aggies additionally face uncertainty after beginning quarterback Max Johnson left the sport within the fourth quarter of A&M’s 42-24 loss to Mississippi State. Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher stated Monday that Johnson is day-to-day with a hand damage. Haynes King got here in to switch Johnson. 

It is the identical verbiage utilized by Alabama head coach Nick Saban to explain Bryce Younger’s standing, after the Heisman-winning quarterback left within the first half of Saturday’s highway win over Arkansas with a shoulder sprain.

This leaves each applications having to organize for 2 quarterbacks all week lengthy. Based on Saban, that is is one thing the employees is used to coping with.

“We do not actually know the circumstances of the scenario however we’ve got to organize for each guys,” Saban stated Monday. “I imply, we do that so much, particularly when the skillset of the 2 guys is a bit of bit completely different. We now have no method of realizing if 13 (Haynes King) performs, if they’ll do one thing completely different with him. We simply have to organize for what we all know they’ve completed up to now and be prepared to regulate within the sport if there’s one thing completely different.”

Statistically, Johnson and King are virtually even on the season by way of 5 video games. Johnson has 517 passing yards and three touchdowns, whereas King has 510 yards and three touchdowns. The largest statistical outlier is available in interceptions. King has thrown 4 interceptions, together with two towards Mississippi State.

For Texas A&M, the Aggies have to organize to probably face two completely different kinds of quarterback in Younger and his backup Jalen Milroe. The redshirt freshman got here in for Younger within the second quarter towards Arkansas and completed with a landing each by way of the air and on the bottom. He additionally flashed his working means with a 77-yard scramble on third-and-15 that shifted the momentum of the sport within the fourth quarter. 

Earlier than Arkansas, Milroe had performed in three video games this season prior and 4 video games throughout his true freshman marketing campaign. Previous to coming into for Younger towards the Razorbacks, he had solely performed late in video games when the Crimson Tide already had a double-digit lead. 

His first vital minutes in SEC play got here right down to a pressure-packed scenario. The as soon as 28-point lead had dwindled down to 5 by the fourth quarter, but Milroe maintained his poise on the highway to guide Alabama to victory at Arkansas. 

Proper guard Emil Ekiyor Jr. stated that “playmaking” is Milroe’s talent. The offensive linemen must be extra conscious of staying with their man and ending a block due to what Milroe would possibly be capable to do as soon as a play begins breaking down. 

Alabama senior security DeMarcco Hellams goes up towards Milroe in follow every week and highlighted extra of his skillset whereas speaking to the media Tuesday. 

“Milroe could also be a quarterback, however he’s at all times going to be top-of-the-line athletes on the sphere,” Hellams stated. “He’s quick, he can throw. He’s positively a problem for a protection to include as a result of he brings an awesome side on the sphere throwing and working, so he’s positively an issue in each these.”

Outdoors linebacker Dallas Turner additionally goes up towards Milroe in follow and stated his explosiveness and athleticism make him tough to defend. Due to the completely different kinds of quarterbacks Alabama has on its roster, it truly makes it simpler for the protection to organize for 2 completely different A&M quarterbacks based on Turner.

“I imply, I really feel like we see all the pieces in follow from the fellows we’ve got in our QB room,” Turner stated. “So I really feel like we’ve got only a constant exhausting work in follow and a whole lot of sport movie that I can see a whole lot of keys and stuff like that I can use on Saturday.”

When requested if Alabama had any particular packages on offense designed for Milroe, Saban stated the coaches do, however joked that he would possibly as effectively name Fisher this week and inform him the sport plan if he was going to disclose it to the media.

Regardless that Younger will probably proceed to be listed as “day-to-day” all the best way up till Saturday’s kickoff, gamers like Will Anderson Jr. have full belief within the teaching employees’s plan and whichever quarterback finally ends up getting the beginning. 

“Milroe has been doing job,” Anderson stated. “He stepped up huge time for us within the sport towards Arkansas. Bryce was there on the sidelines and being the good chief that he’s, serving to everybody and serving to the offense get going. They’ll proceed to do no matter they received occurring that facet of the ball, however it should be good for us no matter they do.”

Whereas uncertainty looms over the quarterback scenario for each groups, Alabama gamers and coaches have displayed full religion in whichever participant will get the nod below middle. 

“Everybody on the offense has the utmost confidence in Jalen, all of the coaches have the boldness in Jalen,” Ekiyor stated. “That’s what’s so nice about Alabama. One nice participant goes down, one other nice one comes up.”