Jumbo Package: The lesson of Tua Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts — character counts

Dolphins’ GM Chris Grier explained to B/R the smokescreen that the Fish put up for months re: Tua, and, ultimately, why No. 13 was the pick all along.

“It’s how he carried himself. And how everyone talked about him. Our guys did a lot of work on him, going back to high school. We felt like he had a lot of intangibles that we like, that you look for in leaders of programs. We would spend time talking to some of the other Alabama players, and they just raved about him as a person.

“And again, at the end of the day, it’s a challenge that’s going to determine if he’s good enough to be your franchise quarterback. But a lot of other intangibles are there, and that’s what got us excited.”

Character counts.

Fans, coaches, teammates, sponsors and especially kids in the stands are going to love Tua.

I miss him already.

—

Speaking of character, while the Eagles are being widely panned for taking Jalen Hurts in the second round (overall 53rd pick), it tells you a few things:

1. Hurts can compete immediately, or at least add some explosiveness and creativity to the Pederson’s offense; and,
2. The Philly front office has little faith in the long-term health / interest / ability of Carson Wentz; and,
3. Like Tagovailoa, Jalen’s character also counted for a whole lot to the management through process:

“This is one of the great college football players of the last four years. He’s one of the greatest character guys in the draft. This is one of the great leaders in this draft. This is an asset to any football team,” Roseman said. “He’s a good football player and he’s an asset to our organization

Damn, I miss Jalen too.

As frustrating as his untapped potential was, we were really #blessed to have one of these guys on the roster, much less both...at the same time. They make the game a better one.

Jalen video too?

Why not...

NO! YOU’RE CRYING!

—

TT13 has begun the media circuit. And he spoke at length on Monday about how to grow through adversity, and how the criticism and doubts affected him throughout his career.

“I would say that’s been my entire life: adversity.

* * *

“And then my sophomore year, I ended up getting injured with my knee and ankle, and then the following year, it was the same thing. ... The biggest thing with adversity has been, ‘What’s next? What can you do to better the situation and move forward from it?’”

—

Now that those two men have moved on to the next chapters in their lives, the future is now: It is almost certainly time for Mac Jones to show us what he can do. The lithe redshirt junior has been hitting the weights during the ‘Rona. “A warrior” is how he’s being described this offseason.

Jones is doing everything he can to make the most of quarantine life, and its showing. The 6-foot-2 quarterback is now up to 212 pounds, up seven pounds from his listed weight on Alabama’s current online roster.

“He doesn’t even look like the same person from when we were growing up,” Lundgren says with a laugh. “Obviously he’s grown height, but he’s put on a lot of weight. And it’s good weight, too. It’s all muscle. He’s really starting to fill out and look like a Division I quarterback. He’s obviously playing like one.”

But, let’s spitball about the QB competition though, shall we?

Jones has easily been the biggest beneficiary of the cancelled spring. EE stud Bryce Young will have missed an entire six-month cycle of conditioning, reps, and live snaps in the A-Day game. And don’t expect Taulia Tagovailoa to just lay back and cede the job to Jones either. ‘Lia has a far greater ceiling than Jones does. Though, like Young, he has been hamstrung in the competition by missing a whole semester’s worth of work.

Was Jones good in relief for Tua? Sure. But, let’s be honest about two things. 1. Jones likely benefitted more from the system and talented supporting cast than Tua, and 2. it’s not like Jones faced a murderer’s row.

• Michigan was 44th in QBR allowed in 2019 and 35th in YPA allowed.
• Mississippi State was 105th in QBR allowed and 124th in YPA allowed.
• FCS Paycheck Slaughter
• Auburn, the best of the bunch, was 8th in YPA allowed, but just 32nd in QBR allowed.

Jones was picking apart decent-to-bad passing defenses, surrounded by four first-round WRs, the freakish Najee Harris, and an offensive line that will likely place three in the first round when it’s all said and done.

So, yes, Jones was quite good in his appearances last season. We can’t take that away from him. But the context counts. And this will be a competitive quarterback battle in the fall...assuming, well, you know.

—

Welcome to the fam, Baby Gump!

That’s a big damn baby.

Ed Orgeron has probably already offered.

—

The Seattle Seahawks parted ways with mammoth guard D.J. Fluker yesterday, and are the ‘Hawks fans ever sad about it. Field Gulls did a great piece on what a character Fluker has been, how much of a fan favorite he was, and just how physical his feud was with Ndamukong Suh.

Seriously, the gif of Fluker pancaking Suh is downright erotic.

—

Alabama Hoops is adding a really tough OOC neutral-floor game this fall, when it travels to Atlanta to face the Clemson Tigers.

Alabama and Clemson have created a modern rivalry on the gridiron, meeting four times in the last five years in the College Football Playoff. The Tide and Tigers have split the four meetings, 2-2. Now the two schools have agreed to face-off against one another on the hardwood. According to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports Alabama and Clemson will play on December 12 in State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

Can we be done with all things Clemson already?

—

After overcoming early injuries, Jonathan Allen is having quite a productive little career exiled on that godawful Redskins team. He has been rewarded accordingly, as DC exercised its 5th year option on Allen.

The fifth-year option will give Allen a big raise for the 2021 campaign. His salary will be the average of the third through 25th highest-paid players at his position.

Washington had until Sunday to pick up its option on Allen’s contract. By doing so, the Redskins guarantee Allen’s salary if he is hurt and can’t play in the 2021 season. On the first day of the NFL’s 2021 business year in March, Allen’s salary will become fully guaranteed.

Allen seems like the kind of dude Ron Rivera would love, doesn’t he?

—

And, finally, BOL takes a stab at the Crimson Tide’s potential NFL draft selections next April.

— SNIP! —

Landon Dickerson, OL — Redshirt senior

Dickerson only spent one season at Alabama, but he was an important part of what was one of the best offensive lines in the country. Last year, Dickerson started the 2019 season at right guard before moving to center once Deonte Brown was eligible to return to the starting lineup, and that showed not only Dickerson’s versatility but how much the Tide coaches thought of him to make sure he had a starting spot somewhere on the offensive front. If he stays healthy and produces a year similar to this past season, he will definitely be drafted.

—

That’s it for today. Have a great one.

And, please, feel free to take our poll today in honor of Baby Gump.