HE WAS BURIED on the Alabama depth chart, way down deep where the sun never reached, so Mac Jones' most urgent reason for existing in this moment was to make Nick Saban's defense better, more fearsome, the ilk of defense that wins championships five times in nine seasons.
Jones knew well his mission as scout team quarterback for this particular drill: Hail Mary, heave the ball deep, no matter what, no question. But not a single player on that fearsome, championship-winning defense was covering his friend Derek Kief, so why not, Jones figured.