New-look Tide: QB Jones a 'quality' replacement

Alabama quarterback Mac Jones signals during the second half of the team's NCAA college football game against Tennessee on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)

FAYETTEVILLE — In Arkansas defensive coordinator John Chavis' opinion, he faced the best offense he had ever shared a field with last season when top-ranked Alabama visited Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

Led by eventual Heisman runner-up quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and Biletnikoff Award winner Jerry Jeudy, the Crimson Tide hung a season-high 65 points and had 639 yards in their 34-point rout of the Razorbacks.

Alabama scored four times on explosive plays of 40-plus yards and proved to be the top quick-strike offense in the country.

However, when the teams meet again Saturday night in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Nick Saban's dynamic offense will likely be under new direction. Backup quarterback Mac Jones, a former four-star recruit out of The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Fla., is expected to start after Tagovailoa suffered a high ankle sprain Saturday in the first half of a 35-13 win against Tennessee.

Tagovailoa had a "tightrope" procedure on his right ankle Sunday, according to reports. Saban added Monday there is "no real timetable (for his return), but we are hopeful that in a 10-day time period he can be in active rehab.”

Arkansas would serve as the first start of Jones' young career. Chavis anticipates facing a well-rounded quarterback in Jones.

"They're not going completely change their scheme," he said. "They're going to let him do what he does well. The thing of it is there's not enough tape out there to know exactly what that is. But I'm sure they've been running the same plays in practice and I think he can (play), obviously. He's at Alabama and he's the backup because he's a good player."

In relief of Tagovailoa, the redshirt sophomore Jones completed 6 of 11 passes for 72 yards against the Volunteers. The Tide also turned to running backs Najee Harris and Brian Robinson for production, and the two combined for 145 yards and three touchdowns on 28 carries.

Alabama relying more on its stable of backs is a possibility, said Chavis, whose defense is allowing 192.8 rushing yards per game this season (13th in SEC).

Harris has rushed for at least 105 yards in three of the Crimson Tide's last four games and topped 100 yards in consecutive outings against Texas A&M and Tennessee. Robinson leads the Crimson Tide with four rushing touchdowns.

"I don't know that they will change a lot. You never know," Chavis said. "They've got three or four great tailbacks. We'll see. We've got to be ready for it all. There's no doubt about that. Even though they lost a really good player there's a quality guy there ready to take his spot."

When asked for his thoughts on Jones' second-half play on Saturday, Chavis complimented his arm strength and mobility.

"He can move around a little bit and get away from some pressures. He can do that," Chavis said. "The biggest thing is I'm sure they gave him an opportunity to do some things in the second half of that game that they're going to be doing (this weekend). Like I said, he's the next guy up at Alabama because he's a very fine football player."

Arkansas coach Chad Morris said Monday that Alabama, has few deficiencies offensively, even without its star quarterback. With a supporting cast of Jeudy, DeVonta Smith, Henry Ruggs III and Jaylen Waddle - 21 combined touchdown catches - Jones should be able to ease into almost any game.

"In the past, when you’ve looked at an Alabama team of years past, you see the bigger, 6-3-plus wide receivers," Morris said. "One of the things I’ve noticed just observing them over the last 6-7 years and here of recent, it’s gone more toward the speed aspect at wide receiver.

"These guys have elite speed and quickness and just great ball skills. That’s one thing that’s really stood out to me."

The Crimson Tide's bread and butter with Tagovailoa has been not only the deep ball but slant routes. Jeudy and company possess the ability to haul in a pass less than 10 yards downfield and turn it into a chunk play.

"They throw the slants then they’ve got the double move where they take that step inside for the slant then they come back out and they’re up the field," Chavis said. "Great skill athletes. That puts a lot of pressure on you. We’ve got to be able to defend it because I know we’re going to see it."