Oh, I think they knew there was a possibility Tua would play, but how much scouting had they done on him? Saban didn’t expose him all that much before the game.
Tua played more snaps this year than I remember any second string QB playing. He played enough for Kirby to know tendencies. With the short week for preparations, I am sure Georgia did not have time to do a thorough job. But Kirby said he had no doubt Tua would come in. Kirby knows Saban better than anybody.
Tua and Jalen play so differently. I wonder if Kirby went into the locker room at halftime and told his defense to prepare for Tua.