Can Tua Tagovailoa lead Alabama again to No. 1 in 12 months 2 as starter?

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Tua Tagovailoa met with the media Monday afternoon carrying worn-in, loose-fitting home slippers, and he cracked jokes about being the first-team holder on Alabama’s official depth chart, which was launched earlier within the day. Getting the ball down and spinning the laces out is not simple, the star quarterback defined, going into element about how there must be a slight tilt for the maintain to be excellent.

“You already know,” he mentioned, “I spend extra time training my holding than I truly do my throwing.”

The remark drew just a few chuckles from reporters earlier than an Alabama staffer piped in, making it clear that it was solely a joke. However at that time the bit was off and operating. A grinning Tagovailoa added, “I actually suppose that is the toughest factor I’ve ever needed to do.

“It was actually exhausting getting this job,” he mentioned sarcastically. “I simply actually wish to thank everybody who has been supporting me all through this complete course of with attempting to get the holding place. I simply thank my Lord and savior, Jesus Christ. It was exhausting. However we made it by, guys.”

And similar to that, having nailed the punchline, he left.

Tua Tagovailoa threw for simply shy of four,000 yards and completed because the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy final season. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Photographs

It was a small second within the grand scheme of issues, after all, however it was one you could not have pictured a 12 months in the past. Again then, Tagovailoa headed into the season opener listed because the co-starter at quarterback with Jalen Hurts. Again then, he wasn’t even chatting with the media — a lot of whom puzzled whether or not his valiant efficiency off the bench to win the nationwide championship as a freshman was a one-hit surprise or an indication of issues to return.

It was clearly the latter, as he beat out Hurts for the beginning job, threw for simply shy of four,000 yards and completed because the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy. The lefty from Hawaii set the school soccer world on hearth and prompted Hurts to switch to Oklahoma, the place he’ll begin the Sooners’ season opener towards Houston on Sunday.

However a second-place end within the Heisman voting, in addition to a second-place end within the ultimate Faculty Soccer Playoff rankings, has led to a distinct set of expectations for Tagovailoa that go effectively past depth charts. As he prepares with No. 2 Alabama to tackle Duke (three:30 p.m. ET Saturday on ABC) in a return to Atlanta — a spot the place he has had the best of highs and the bottom of lows — he faces what would possibly seem to be an absurd query: Can he be higher this time round?

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On the one hand, we’re speaking a few quarterback who threw an eye-popping 43 landing passes and solely six interceptions. Miami Dolphins followers are tweeting #TankForTua, and ESPN’s Todd McShay lists the junior as his No. 1 total draft prospect.

However alternatively, you may take a look at these six interceptions intently, parse them out, and ask whether or not they need to have been even fewer. You return to the SEC championship recreation towards Georgia in Atlanta, the place he rolled his ankle and struggled, finishing 10 of 25 passes, together with his fourth interception all season. Alabama wanted a Hurts bailout to return from behind and make the playoff. You then go to the CFP Nationwide Championship towards Clemson at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, the place Tagovailoa threw his fifth and sixth interceptions of the season, together with a brutal pick-six that arrange an embarrassing 44-16 defeat.

Positive, he wasn’t 100% wholesome. However does that specify how careless he was with the ball?

Relaxation assured, it isn’t solely the media and followers who’ve been nitpicking his efficiency late final season. Alabama coach Nick Saban went to SEC media days in Hoover, Alabama, after which ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut, this summer season and delivered a message about his quarterback that targeted largely on bettering his persistence and limiting pointless turnovers. When a Tagovailoa move try towards Clemson flashed on display throughout one interview, Saban defined how the play was truly designed for him to throw beneath when the cornerback bailed, however as a substitute he threw deep to Jerry Jeudy and was picked off.

“That is a sign a man is attempting to make performs and he is attempting too exhausting,” Saban mentioned. “And I feel Tua has to only keep affected person and take what the protection offers. And I feel when he does that he is the best participant at his place within the nation.”

That concept of not forcing something would not precisely jibe with whom Tagovailoa has been up to now, although. For his first landing move final season, he spun and blindly threw into the tip zone to Jeudy for six. And that wasn’t something new. As a freshman backup, he scrambled wildly towards Vanderbilt and hurled a landing to DeVonta Smith.

That confidence bordering on conceitedness confirmed up once more that season through the nationwide title recreation when he took an virtually unforgivable sack in time beyond regulation to arrange second-and-26 and later joked with Saban that he wanted extra room to throw the successful rating.

“If there are photographs that I will take downfield — even when it is on the primary play — do not count on me to not take it,” Tua Tagovailoa says of this season. AP Picture/Ben Margot

It is inconceivable to separate Tua the quarterback from Tua the gunslinger. Again at media days, Tagovailoa conceded Saban’s level and mentioned he wished to be taught from his errors, however on the similar time he added that, “If the shot is there, I’ll take it. Do not count on me to return and throw a checkdown.”

On Monday, he was requested for the No. 1 factor he wished to enhance upon, and he hit those self same, acquainted notes.

“Taking what the protection offers me — that is the most important factor,” he mentioned. “However no matter that being mentioned, if there are photographs that I will take downfield — even when it is on the primary play — do not count on me to not take it.”

He added, maybe for his coach’s sake, that, “You by no means go broke taking a revenue.” However it’s a must to ponder whether he’ll be content material with small returns when he is so accustomed to massive positive aspects.

Saban preaches that an offensive possession is profitable when it ends with a kick, whether or not that is a punt, a area purpose or an additional level. And, frankly, it is no secret which outcome Tagovailoa would moderately be part of because the first-team holder, capping off seven-point drives.

Going again to Atlanta, he’ll be confronted by conflicting feelings: the second that propelled his profession in addition to the second that planted doubt throughout an in any other case pitch-perfect season.

Will a distinct quarterback emerge this time?

“Properly, I imply, soccer is rather like life,” Tagovailoa mentioned of going again to Mercedes-Benz Stadium. “That is simply how it’s, you understand? You are going to have items, you are going to have bads. However this is a chance for me to be taught from each the nice and unhealthy, sort of carry them collectively and transfer ahead from it. I am hoping this Saturday will not find yourself just like the final, the SEC championship recreation. Hopefully it is going to be higher.”