Writers note: This article consist mainly of opinion. If that is a problem, save yourself the time and do not read or comment this post.
Following a devastating loss to Utah, many Alabama fans have found themselves looking forward to next year.
The table is set for another great season, all except for who will be the field general, a.k.a. quarterback.
The two guys that will be battling for the position are redshirt Greg McElroy and redshirt freshman Star Jackson.
Greg McElroy capped a 36-0 victory over Auburn with an impressive 34-yard touchdown pass to Marquis Maze.
Star Jackson was redshirted his freshman year, so he has not seen the field during a game yet.
I was at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, and watched both quarterbacks warm up. Greg McElroy has one problem concerning him, and that is his feet. He does not have much speed, which is something that can add a whole new weapon to an offense.
Star Jackson has bulked up since he was signed by the Tide, and appeared to have some zip on the ball when he threw to his receivers. His speed is his greatest weapon, running a 4.56. That is not exactly wheeling it, but for a quarterback that is pretty good.
The opinionated part of the article comes when I say that I would much rather see Star Jackson named the starting quarterback. It has been ages since the Tide has had a versatile quarterback that can move the ball.
Not only moving the ball but being able to move around in the pocket is something that past Alabama quarterbacks have not been able to do.
It would not be bad to see McElroy take the throne, considering he is more mature and has a lot more experience that Jackson.
One fact remains: The best man will play. Nick Saban has declared this many times before.
Please leave your thoughts on who you would like to see starting and why.
9 comments Last one added about 1 month ago — Leave a Comment
Jared Cox 6 months ago
I'm with Saban, I want the best man to play. But it would be nice to see a QB with some elusive ability, I hated seeing JPW get sacked for huge losses cause he couldn't get away from anyone. And was it just me or did JPW always seem to retreat too far back, especially in Shotgun formations, instead of stepping up in the pocket?
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Damon Wildman 6 months ago
We need an offensive threat at QB! JPW was a field manager at best and Greg McElroy looks to me to be in the same mold. We have got to get some play makers on offense besides just Julio. I am afraid if G Mc winds up our starting QB next season it will be because coach Saban has whiffed and whiffed bad on recruiting QBs since he's been here.
I believe though that Star Jackson will be our starting QB from game 1. He gives the offense the better option to having a threat from that position whether its from his arm or feet. McElroy has nice touch on his passes and is smart and will make a great steady back up in my opinion that can come in a game and maintain the status quo without getting you beat. But his arm strength is less than JPW's and that's not good considering JPW's arm strength was only average at best.
JPW and G Mc were Shula recruits who I doubt would have even gotten an offer from coach Saban. Why Shula didn't recruit better QB's I don't know. Being a QB coach in the pro's you would have thought he would have had plenty of talent wanting to play for him. Maybe he recruited QB's similar to his talent level when he was a QB at Bama out of his own ego, I don't know.
But we need a Saban recruit playing QB and the sooner the better. Saban wasn't going to play Star this season simply because we had a senior returning QB with a vast more experience but I do believe Star was the most talented QB on the team. Had the season not gotten off to the great start that it did and JPW had not of been so lucky on the injury front I do believe we would have seen Star play this year. But thankfully we didn't need Star and he got a year of development under his belt and still has 4 years of eligibility.
If Star can't get it done and incoming soon to be true Freshman McCarron can't either I believe we will be in trouble next season. Not trying to knock on McElroy but with the revamped offensive line we will be breaking in next season I am afraid that with McElroy's average foot speed and arm strength defenses will just pin their ears back and come after him much like Utah did to JPW.
We need a QB with much more talent than what we had in JPW and what we have with Greg McElroy. But hey! If I am proven wrong it won't be the first time! ROLL TIDE!
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Tim Lister 5 months ago
Well I do think Saban will play the best man. Star Jackson is going to be a great player but the other guy has experience over him. So we will have to wait and see. However, as said above it has been a long time since the tide have had a versatile quarterback. I think that in Sabans offense you must have a scrambling quarterback. Look back to his Michigan State and LSU days. There your proof lies.
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b skip 5 months ago
If Star's arm/accuracy becomes a concern, lets implement the "wild tide" formation. Put Mac back there with Ingram, Upchurch and Jackson. Add Julio on the side and that could spell trouble.
Goodbye traditional alabama offense... hello National Champs!
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Keymonni Miller 5 months ago
Well i think that Star Jackson should be the starting quaterback, just because I've actually seen him play in high school and it was like man amongest boys. Also him combine with Coffee and Upchurch in the back field, would be unstoppable. To me Greg McElroy will not be able to go against Florida, or LSU, or the rest of SEC and they're fast D-line and and linebackers. But whatever Saban Chooses will be straight with me and the rest of the Bama fans since u took us to another great season and next year we would like to win the championship actually.
GO BAMA,
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Steve Heaton 4 months ago
I think that with Star's natural abilities he WILL be the starting QB at Bama. The question is when? McElroy knows the offense well, but if Star can learn to play at this level he should get the nod ASAP. As far as no recent elusive QB's at the Capstone...How bout Tyler Watts?
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craig rogers about 1 month ago
well, I watched greg McElroy throughout HS, and he was amazing. he set the Texas all time record for most TD passes in a season, and only played 65% of the downs, as he platooned with the coaches son. he also was a guest at the Elite 11 as a Jr in the summer when chase daniel was there, and Greg won the passing drills contest on the last day of camp beating the entire Elite 11. this guy is smart and can deliver the ball. his foot speed was good in HS, and should be OK in college with a decnt line
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jared hawkins about 1 month ago
where do you people get your info. first of all G-Mac had more rushing yards in his senior season than star. also he is very smart. star is a great athlete but we don't run the spread or the option. we need a pro-style QB that knows how to stay in the pocket, G-Mac can put the ball on the money and has a way better arm than JPW. macelwain goes for this quick passes and pitches. trent richardson can do the running. also having an inexperienced line teams will blitz more and when that happens a QB needs a talented TE to bail him out. that's where colin peek comes in. we'll be fine, G-Mac will be the starter and has two years of eligibility left so with A.J. here in the fall I say star won't see the feild. same reason as kodi burns for awbarn, he can't learn the offense. I take that back, he could see playing time as a slot receiver or speceal teams. i could be wrong about star but greg has more proof to support my argument about his abilities than star
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Hank Gray about 1 month ago
I wrote this article prior to the A-day game. I think now it's without question that gmac will be the starter. Wrong about star!
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