Rankin column: There's more than meets the eye with Alabama quarterback battle

Duane Rankin | Montgomery Advertiser

Show Caption Hide Caption Tide not 'surprised' by Tua Alabama players talked about how they're not surprised with the way freshman quarterback Tua Tagovailoa played in Monday night's College Football Playoff title game in Atlanta.

Before raving about Tua Tagovailoa’s epic moment that Monday night in Atlanta, G.W. Carver High grad Lyndell "Mack" Wilson shook his head when asked about the play before.

“Tua is going to be Tua,” said the Alabama junior linebacker from Montgomery. “I was happy they were in some type of man-to-man and they didn’t have a safety over the top and Tua, he very rarely throws a bad ball. So, I kind of knew it was money. I had to lean over and take a good glimpse and see.”

Tagovailoa took a sack to send Nick Saban nearly through the Mercedes-Benz Stadium roof only to find DeVonta Smith in the end zone on the next play to complete Alabama’s 26-23 comeback overtime triumph over Georgia in the College Football Playoff title game.

And Saban went from infuriation to pure elation.

“I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in my life,” he shouted minutes after the game. “Ever.”

More: Saban's QB decision will be 'for the good' of Alabama

Saban will have to live with emotional highs and lows like that if he chooses the sophomore from Hawaii over Jalen Hurts as his starting quarterback this season.

Tagovailoa may be the first quarterback to really test Saban’s controlling ways.

To get Tagovailoa’s very best in January, Saban may have to live with a three-INT game which Alabama barely wins in September.

The quarterback competition will likely continue all the way up to Alabama’s first offensive play Sept. 1 against Louisville in Orlando, Florida, — and maybe deeper into the month.

Hurts is 26-2 as a starter. He had a great college football debut and made exciting and clutch plays in his two years at Alabama, but didn’t deliver in consecutive national championship games.

Tagovailoa did after replacing him at halftime in Atlanta. He went 14-of-24 through the air for 166 yards and three touchdowns, connecting with Smith to stun the SEC champions on the game’s final play.

Now Saban must choose between a dual-threat veteran who values the ball, is tough and runs like a running back, and a fearless young gun with great arm talent and underrated mobility who was the ultimate difference maker in the national championship game.

Hurts could once again account for nearly 3,000 yards and close to 30 touchdowns this season. That would give Alabama a legit shot to repeat as national champions.

Still, Saban knows two things: Clemson and Georgia exposed Hurts’ passing flaws, and Tagovailoa pulled Alabama out of a 13-0 halftime hole against his former longtime defensive coordinator’s defense.

This could be feast or famine for Alabama if Tagovailoa wins the job.

His freshman sample as Hurts’ backup was impressive — 49-of-77 passing, 636 yards, 11 TDs, 2 INTs with 27 rushes, 133 yards, 2 TDs. With his skill set and Alabama’s talented receiver unit, Tagovailoa is fully capable of breaking several of these Alabama single-season passing records in 2018:

- Attempts: 462 — John Parker Wilson (2007)

- Completions: 263 — Jake Coker (2015)

- Completion percentage (min 200 completions): 70.9 — Greg McElroy (2010)

- Passing yards: 3,487 — Blake Sims (2014)

- Touchdowns: 30 — AJ McCarron (2012)

Alabama may have to feature the pass more for Tagovailoa to shatter those marks, but based on his performance against Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs, he’d be worth the effort to change things up.

The offense looked completely different with him slinging it around that January night, but it was just one game.

Correction. One half and one overtime series.

Could Tagovailoa consistently play like that over the course of a season when teams will have more film on him?

His strengths — arm talent, pocket patience and willingness to find the third or fourth option — may also lead to him taking unnecessary risks resulting in sacks and turnovers, things Saban doesn't tolerate.

Tagovailoa’s throwing hand should be good after injuring it in spring ball. Alabama loves his talent, but the trade-off could be he’ll make more mistakes than Hurts.

If Tagovailoa takes the opening snap, will he have a record-setting season or underperform to the point Saban turns to Hurts to save the day?

That whole scenario presumes Hurts is even available. You should know by now what his dad said when asked what’ll happen is Hurts doesn’t win the job.

“He’d be the biggest free agent in college football history,” Averion Hurts told Bleacher Report earlier this spring.

Saban would have to stick with Tagovailoa if Hurts left during the season like Blake Barnett did.

Barnett started the 2016 opener, but Hurts replaced him, accounted for four touchdowns in the 52-6 demolition of Southern California and started the next game.

By the end of September, Barnett bolted.

Saban may lose another quarterback regardless of who he chooses in 2018. You should know by now what Tagovailoa said back home in May about his true freshman year.

“I wanted to leave the school,” Tagovailoa was quoted in a Hawaii News Now report. “So, I told myself if I didn't play in the last game, which was the national championship game, I would transfer out.”

Alabama talking quarterbacks Alabama coach Nick Saban talks about the quarterback competition and Tua Tagovailoa's thumb injury.

Saban always preaches the importance of the quarterback winning the team. After Saban’s response to what Tagovailoa said, it’s probably in their best interest to stay quiet this summer to help their chances.

“Anything that they do that brings attention to themselves probably erodes the opportunity for that to happen,” Saban said in June.

Saban probably won’t make them available to the media during preseason camp. That’ll keep the outside noise down some. Saban can control the narrative, but Tua Time is in full swing in Tuscaloosa.

If Tagovailoa wins the job, Saban may end up losing his mind or winning another national title — or both.