Posted on 12/03/2018 12:15:35 PM PST by blam
He has played through pain, but no one can question the excitement and efficiency that Tua Tagovailoa provided Alabama’s offense this season as a first-year starting quarterback.
The sophomore has mesmerized fans, compelled media pundits and commanded respect from his contemporaries in the Southeastern Conference. In terms of statistics, Tagovailoa has put together a record-setting year. He became the fourth signal-caller of the Nick Saban era to account for a 3,000-yard passing season; joining former Tide standouts AJ McCarron, Blake Sims and Jacob Coker.
Tagovailoa’s output of 3,353 yards has him second all-time in school history for passing yards in a single-season, falling behind Sims’ mark of 3,487 in 2014.
RELATED: Nick Saban updates injury on UA quarterback Tua Tagovailoa
In one of the most dominant performances in the Iron Bowl, the native Hawaiian turned in a single-game record six touchdowns. His five scoring tosses tied a single game mark as he delivered Alabama to a 52-21 win over Auburn. While his touchdown to interception ratio of 37 to four is quite remarkable, Tagovailoa’s 42 total scores is a single season school record.
Despite not needing more numbers to prove his star power, Tagovailoa is tied for second all-time in career touchdown passes with 48 – putting him in the same category with Jalen Hurts and another former Tide star, John Parker Wilson. For his efforts, the former five-star and Elite 11 champion was named SEC Offensive Player Of The Year on Monday via the Associated Press.
He also joins Jonah Williams (OT), Ross Pierschbacher (center), Jerry Jeudy (WR) and Quinnen Williams (DT) as a first-team All-SEC selection. Alabama carried an SEC-high eight players on the list, with Isaiah Buggs (DE), Raekwon Davis (DE) and Deionte Thompson (S) on the second team.
Tagovailoa was voted Offensive Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player by his teammates on Sunday at Alabama’s annual awards banquet in Birmingham. He is expected to be in New York City this weekend as a finalist for the Heisman Memorial Trophy. While he’ll be able to rest for the next two to three weeks, he is ready for Kyler Murray and the Oklahoma Sooners to start the College Football Playoff on Saturday, Dec. 29.
Tua accomplished all of the above by essentially playing only three out of four quarters in each game of the season. Roll Tide!
Before the SEC playoff game with Georgia, I read that he played 68% of the plays this year.
What was interesting is that those other 3 quarterbacks named (3000+ yards), only one made it to the NFL, and he’s just some poorly-paid backup quarterback.
I'm reminded of Jim Plunkett who sat on bench for most of nine years at New England and SF.
He came off the bench in 1980 and lead the Oakland Raiders to a Super Bowl victory and again in 1983.
(My first wife went to HS with Plunkett and when I asked her about him, the only thing she could say was that he was ugly)
There was another thread recently about Alabama’s chances of beating the worst team in the NFL, and consensus was it would be an NFL blowout. This pretty much illustrates why. 8 All-SEC players might make a good NCAA caliber team but when you are up against a team where every single player was All-something in whatever conference they played in it’s not even going to be close.
Have you seen the Jets and Giants play?
Doesn't matter. The Jets and the Giants are playing other NFL teams and they suck but either one would destroy Alabama.
Just FYI, the Jets and Giants rank number 27 and 24 of worst teams. The latest power rankings put the Arizona Cardinals and the Oakland Raiders at the bottom, followed closely by the San Francisco 49ers.
What was interesting is that those other 3 quarterbacks named (3000+ yards), only one made it to the NFL, and he’s just some poorly-paid backup quarterback.
September 2, 2018: Oakland Raiders acquired QB AJ McCarron from the Buffalo Bills for a 2019 fifth-round draft pick.
March 15, 2018: Buffalo Bills signed QB AJ McCarron to a two-year, $10 million contract.
December 9, 2014: Cincinnati Bengals activated QB A.J. McCarron from the non-football injury list.
August 30, 2014: Cincinnati Bengals placed QB A.J. McCarron on the non-football injury list.
July 21, 2014: Cincinnati Bengals placed QB A.J. McCarron on the non-football injury list.
May 22, 2014: Cincinnati Bengals signed QB A.J. McCarron to a four-contract contract.
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/McCaA.00.htm
I would gladly hold a clipboard for $5 million a year.
I thought Georgia was very well-prepared for Tua, not so much for Hurts. It was the flip-side of the National championship game and exactly why I wanted to see Hurts play earlier in the SEC championship.
If Tua only played 68% of the snaps, his stats would’ve been off the charts if he’d played even 90%. There’s always next year.
Roll Tide Roll
The Giants have lineman who can’t block one was a number one pick.They had a defensive back a number one pick who couldn’t tackle or cover a receiver. I understand your point and agree but the game wouldn’t necessarily be a blow out.By the way there was a time when the college all-stars played a preseason game against the NFL champs and held their on.
Some pretty experienced Vegas oddsmakers respectfully disagree with you.
Even the worst NFL team would be a 28 point favorite
I don’t mean to be contentious but such a game would never be played but Vegas doesn’t have a perfect record remember New England was a near 20 point favorite against the Giants in the 2008 Super Bowl they where slightly off.
Georgia knocked Tua right out of first place for the Heisman. BOOMER SOONERS!!!
"In drawing Oklahoma, Alabama drew the easiest route to make it to the finals. Out of 130 division one teams, Oklahoma’s defense is so bad only 22 teams are worse in total defense. But against the pass, Oklahoma is dead last, seriously, dead last. Soak that in for a second, no team in football’s division one is worse than the Sooner’s in defending the pass. It’s hard to imagine Alabama not scoring on every single possession. No other team that’s ever been in the playoffs has been dead last in one of the most important stats in football."
And Clemson will be waiting in the wings no doubt. Georgia will get a chance to show Notre Dame why they didn’t belong next year on the 3rd Saturday in September in hot Athens, GA.
A couple of days later, Gonzaga beat them 89-87. What happened? The Zags have just one freshman playing significant minutes for them. The rest of the rotation consists of two redshirt seniors, and several players in their third year with the program.
Not sure what happened to the $10 million contract, his current contract I think is for $900k. Didn’t think about whether some other team was still having to pay him.
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