Jumbo Package: Will pocket passers continue to have a place in college football?

Happy Thursday, everyone. We will open up with Lane Kiffin, who has some interesting insight on the dual threat QB revolution.

“I don’t think it’s dead. I would put (Alabama quarterback) Mac Jones in that category and they just won a national championship, basically blew out everybody they played,” Kiffin, a former Alabama offensive coordinator, said. “I think it works, obviously. They set a lot of records there. No matter who your quarterback is, you need to have the right pieces around them. And so, if you have a pocket passer, you’re going to need to stretch the field more, because you’re not going to run the guy as much. And that’s what they had at Alabama with the great receivers.”

I have long been on the record as saying that a true dual threat QB is a luxury, a piece that can take a team from pretty good to championship caliber. It is important to remember, however, that you can live with a QB who can’t run well as long as he is an elite passer. The reverse hasn’t been true since the wishbone days. Any player who can read defenses, and deliver the ball on time and accurately, will have a place in the game for the foreseeable future.

This is an interesting question for Alabama in particular, with two QBs who couldn’t possibly be more different in style will be duking it out for the starting job.

Tyson is now up to 228 pounds, and though he might not be getting the “monster” distinction just yet, we’re still in the early stages of watching what he can become. He should get significant reps in Alabama’s spring game, which is set for April 17. Without a 2020 spring game because of COVID, we’ll see more of Tyson in live action than we have during his entire Alabama career to date (his lone action was a handoff at the end of the Western Carolina game in 2019).

Can he make those “wow” throws deep down the sideline? Will it look like the game has slowed down for him? Is he the best decision-maker in the quarterback room? We should hopefully get an answer to those questions soon.

The offensive line is a work in progress, particularly with Emil Ekiyor sidelined.

Alabama has moved starting right tackle Evan Neal to the left side to take over for departing Outland Trophy winner Alex Leatherwood. Meanwhile, sixth-year senior Chris Owens replaces Rimington Trophy winner Landon Dickerson at center after filling in for him during last season’s playoff. The three remaining first-team slots have been filled by new faces as sophomore Javion Cohen takes over at left guard while redshirt junior Tommy Brown lines up at right guard and sophomore Damieon George Jr. lines up at right tackle.

Meanwhile, Alabama’s second unit appears to consist of redshirt sophomore Amari Kight, redshirt sophomore Tanner Bowles, junior Darrian Dalcourt, sophomore Seth McLaughlin and true freshman JC Latham from left to right.

That Latham is already on the second team considering the depth on hand is noteworthy. I still think he will be starting in the fall.

Keilan Robinson was seen taking reps at WR.

That’s an interesting development.

Last, Alabama fans will be interested in this announcement.

Similarly, Jahvon Quinerly, who closed the 2021 season with increased offensive production, has expressed on Twitter that he does not intend to pursue the NBA or other professional options at this time. J.D. Davison, a five-star point guard, also seems set for Tuscaloosa even though he would be welcome in any of the one-year developmental leagues.

That means that if Burnett chooses Alabama, some sort of move will have to be made to create space.

Burnett had a rough freshman year in Lubbock, but the talent is there. We’ll see how it goes.

Thats about it for now. Have a great day.

Roll Tide.