This is because we have been treated to only a handful of really meaningful and memorable type clashes thus far amidst a ton of blowouts by power teams against cupcakes and just flat out dregs. Hopefully with the new playoff system beginning this season, ugly mismatches and matchups against directional schools and other FCS teams will soon be a thing of the past.
Nick Saban's Alabama Crimson Tide (which is ranked No. 2 by the coaches and No. 3 in the AP Poll, although polls are now fairly insignificant in the playoff world which we live in now) definitely fits the bill as one of those mystery teams. Although the Tide arguably has as much or more talent as any team in the nation, uneven and inconsistent performances thus far in wins over West Virginia and Florida Atlantic have generated much debate, analysis and even some harsh criticism, with many observers and fans already tagging Saban's team with the dreaded "overrated" label.
Although Alabama has yet to really put forth a complete game where it really played "like Alabama," or at least somewhere close to the standard that it has set for Saban’s program over the past 6 to 7 years, I hardly feel that it is time for Crimson Tide fans to hit the panic button. Southern Miss (a 47-point underdog), truly one of the most horrid teams in college football over the past couple of seasons, presents the Tide another golden opportunity Saturday to iron out a few more wrinkles and play a lot of players before the meat of the season begins the following week against the Florida Gators.
Perhaps by the time Will Muschamp's Florida team arrives in Tuscaloosa for the key SEC clash against the Tide on Sept. 20, the Alabama quarterback competition between senior Blake Sims and junior Jake Coker will finally be settled, and the gnashing of teeth from some Bama fans and even some media types, will finally subside as well.
Much like the A.J. McCarron/Phillip Sims quarterback battle which dominated discussion about the 2011 edition of the Crimson Tide team, the current race between Blake Sims and Coker to outright claim this starting job for this season has led to a variety of debates and intense discussion on numerous sports shows and also on various social media outlets. It has already led to the overall Bama fan base being split into camps for both sides of the competition. During some of those discussions, the debate has gotten particularly nasty.
This is the dilemma that a coach such as Saban faces when he allows the competition for the team's starting quarterback, obviously the most important position for any team as he is basically the face of that team for the most part, to proceed into the regular season. Not only does he have to deal with the lingering and continuous questions about the situation from media types and a never-patient fan base, but he also must hope that the situation does not translate into division with his team.
I will, of course, give Saban the benefit of the doubt when he said that the inconsistency of both quarterbacks during fall camp prevented him from naming a starter before the opener against the Mountaineers in Atlanta. However, I also have no doubt in my mind that if a quarterback has at least a week before the season begins with the designation as the starter, it gives him at least a semblance of quality time to establish a certain chemistry with his fellow starters on offense. It also allows him to gain an enhanced level of confidence knowing he is going to be "the guy" heading into that season opener. Of course that would be priceless for any field leader.
But the quarterback situation is what it is in Tuscaloosa, and even as recently as Wednesday, it was a prime topic of conversation on Paul Finebaum’s SEC Network show. The situation has also netted results from both of the two gifted athletes during game action that have been pretty solid and some that have been, well, not so great.
Sims, who by all accounts has been a tremendous team player despite all of the position changes he has been forced to endure while at the Capstone, is apparently well-liked by all of the players and all the coaches. I also think his overall attitude and his exhaustive efforts to improve as a complete quarterback were pivotal factors in Saban beginning the season with the Gainesville, Ga. native in the starting role. Of course Sims also had an edge over Coker in terms of confidence, and comfort and familiarity with the Crimson Tide offense, simply due to the fact that he has had a huge advantage relative to time spent learning the offense whereas Coker did not arrive on campus until the fall. Coker is still learning as the season progresses and he seemed to get more comfortable even as the game against Florida Atlantic progressed.
While some media commentators and even game announcers seem to view Sims as the second coming of Joe Montana or Peyton Manning (and the question of why commentators such as Andre Ware and others on ESPN have been so lightning quick to jump to Sims’ defense and to be extremely critical about Coker is something that I am sure many of us have our own thoughts about) his play, thus far, has been solid and perhaps better than expected, but not spectacular by any means. He has been very solid in executing very medium and safe type passes and screen throws to weapons such as the incredible Amari Cooper while also avoiding trouble on numerous occasions with his nimble running ability. There is no denying Sims’ athletic ability and that athleticism has never been questioned. For the most part, Sims has also kept Alabama’s offense moving at a nice tempo.
Of course, we have also seen a little of the Sims that many of us know very well, with a few bounced passes, an interception in the opener against West Virginia, a portion of the opening game where Sims became a bit rattled and Coker was summoned to begin warming up and the botched exchange with T.J. Yeldon in the Florida Atlantic game that cost the Tide a probable touchdown. With Sims, you can always expect some rough patches as despite his improvement, he is still not a prototypical quarterback and not a great fit for the Crimson Tide’s pro-style offense.
When Coker finally saw his first real action of the season in the second quarter of the game against Florida Atlantic, it appeared that things were moving at warp speed for the Florida State transfer. He seemed overwhelmed with it all as he struggled getting plays off and overshot a few passes, not to mention his inexcusable blunder near the end of the first half when he allowed time to expire in the half without the Tide getting any points on the scoreboard. That mistake of course proved harmless against a lowly directional school such as Florida Atlantic, but perhaps it might prove fatal against an opponent such as Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss or Texas A&M.
Although I respect Sims and the perseverance he has shown by sticking it out and paying his dues to gain a shot at the starting position, I also have a little empathy for Coker. After apparently coming perilously close to gaining the Florida State starting job heading into the 2013 season before eventually finishing second to eventual Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston, media types from all over, and myself included, basically assumed that he would arrive in Tuscaloosa and immediately claim the job with little challenge from Sims. Coker was immediately subjected to all kinds of ridiculous hype and frenzy before he ever threw a meaningful pass in a crimson jersey and FSU coach Jimbo Fisher only added to that by stating that he was head and shoulders above any quarterback Saban had coached at Alabama. Never mind the fact that Greg McElroy and McCarron were good enough to guide the Crimson Tide to a total of three national titles. That pressure was evident early in the Florida Atlantic game for Coker, but as he settled down, gained a little confidence and survived a few tirades from both Saban and offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin, he showed a great deal of that touted potential. He made a few plays with his legs, but fans wanted to see “the arm,” and that was also very evident on several deep passing attempts. It would have been nice to see a few more actual touchdown drives with Coker at the helm, but still the team seemed to respond well enough with him in the huddle after the initial sluggish start.
So what does this all mean for the Crimson Tide quarterback battle since we have seen a mixture of the good and not so good from both candidates?
First of all, and not only as a passionate Alabama fan, but also as an objective sports analyst, I have total confidence in Saban, Kiffin and the staff to make the correct decision regarding the right man for the job, and I have no doubt that the situation will play itself out sooner than later.
Secondly, despite the success that Sims has enjoyed in the starting role, and the dramatic improvement he has made as a field leader, my feelings about who should lead the Crimson Tide on the field as the season progresses have not really changed. As Alabama gets into the meat of a schedule which includes the likes of Florida, Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss and Texas A&M, I feel that the Tide will need a prototypical quarterback who is more capable of putting pressure on a defense by consistently stretching the field. It also needs a quarterback who is more capable of consistently utilizing all of the Tide’s offensive playbook as well as all of its weapons. Alabama simply needs a quarterback who is an overall better fit for Saban and Kiffin’s pro-style offense.
That quarterback is Jake Coker.
