Nick Saban will surely start Marcus Randall over JaMarcus Russell against Auburn. Even though Randall had a great game tonight Russell wasn't half bad himself. True, it was against an inferior Arkansas State defense. Even though Russell is clearly the better QB, Saban will start Randall because he won't want to put all that pressure on Russell. The pressure of knowing all week that he will be the starter for the first time in his first game back in his home state of Alabama and the pressure of responding to the media about being the starter. Randall will start and play at least the first series. That not only takes the pressure off of Russell but if lets him get his head into the game from the bench before he has to take the field.
He'll play as long as he excels. If LSU needs a spark, then Russell will appear. You're right about taking the pressure off. It's the smart move in a situation such as this...Most of the talking heads on the ride home agree with you... I see Russell coming in...I see him coming in early...Not because Randall may or may not excel...But, if Randall does succeed...We may need to get Russell into the game early just to get his feet wet in case the old "arse puckering time" comes later on when things get ratcheted up before Randall makes a misstep or we need a spark of some sort.
Saban will stay with MR for 2 more weeks or a lost. It keeps teams off balance. Saban's concern about the defense.
Don't understand ANY of the thinking here. Why wait for a f*cking loss before you put in the "answer" to this season? Russell starts or else look for Auburn to put 8 in the box, stop our running game solid, and Randall will get his "deer in the headlights" look when he throws his first 4 passes incomplete. Don't want to go thru that bullsh!t again. Saw the movie the first time. Was not impressed. Come to grips with reality.
Dude, Randall is going to start. There is no question. They will both play. If Russell was going to start he would have started tonight. You think Saban will start Russell because he looked good against freaking ASU? I know what you are saying, I agree with you, it's a matter of time before Russell is our starter. But he ain't starting this game. Starting Russell puts a TON of pressure on him that a freshman doesn't need. First SEC or any road game for that matter in a hostile environment. Pressure of playing in your home state. Hearing about it all week leading up to the game. All pressure he doesn't need. He is going to play no matter what, and off the bench will be a lot easier.
When Randall looks like sh!t in the first quarter against a revved up Auburn team lookin for revenge, then come talk to me. Russell having to come in and save the day again. Do we really need to go thru this AGAIN? Will you then concede that Russell needs to be the starter?
If Randall can't get the job done Nick will have a quick hook. I don't know that what I said about Randall starting is going to happen. Its just my speculation but it makes sense to take as much pressure off of Russell as possible going into the first SEC game against a ranked opponent. It this was 3 or 4 more weeks into the season no question that JR would be the starter.
I already said it's a matter of time, read my post. This isn't the time though. This isn't as much as what I think as what IS going to happen. When/If Randall looks like crap, he's gone on a extremely short leash and Russell is in. Listen, I agree with you. Randall scares me and Russell will be starting for this team this season. But I really don't want to see him do that in this game and neither does Saban. How do you know he won't look like a deer in headlights? They are both going to play, and play significantly. I don't see the big deal. As soon as Randall messes up, he's out. If he doesn't mess up, Russell still probably plays. Randall isn't going to get a whole half if he plays poorly. Saban will make the switch much earlier.
Russell already has a swagger about him. Even against OSU, once he got his feet wet (literally in this case), he had a confidence about him that he knew he would get the job done. And I be damn if he didn't do just that. He is confident and poised in the pocket. He has awareness and escapability in the pocket that I didn't even realize he would have, especially this early. All I am saying to anyone even remotely suggesting we let Randall start until we see that it isnt' working is, that you can't afford to let an Auburn, GA or FL get up 10 or 14 points you before you put in the kid. It's asking too much. Start him from the opening gun. Watch him in all of his brilliance and glory. That's all I am saying. It gives us our best chance at winning. Isn't that the entire point to choosing players to start for your team?
I really don't disagree. I just think starting Russell puts a ton of pressure on him. He could very well handle it fine, and it wouldn't surpise me. I don't see Saban doing it though. I'm just 99% sure that Saban will start Randall. I think we are going into this game totally with a two QB system until somebody emerges. Chances are it will be Russell, but I think not starting him makes things a lot easier for him.
