Sizing up Tide QBs heading into last pre-SEC litmus test

Duane Rankin
Montgomery Advertiser

This should be the final audition for Blake Sims and Jake Coker to show why they deserve to be the guy to lead the Alabama Crimson Tide's offense for the rest of the season.

Both will get a chance Saturday to dissect a Southern Miss defense that allowed five touchdown passes in its 49-0 season-opening loss at Mississippi State and 295 rushing yards in last week's narrow 26-20 win over Division I-AA Alcorn State.

The Eagles (1-1) can't stop the run or the pass.

So No. 3 Alabama (2-0) will have its way with them, but after this game, Nick Saban should have enough game data to choose a permanent starter heading into the Tide's SEC opener Sept. 20 against Florida (1-0) at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

So here's what Sims, a fifth-year senior, and Coker, a Florida State transfer, need to do Saturday in making what should be their final case to start the rest of the season.

Blake Sims (6-0, 208, Sr., Gainesville, Ga.)

Numbers: 2 games, 36-of-47 (76.6 percent), 478 yards, 2 TDs, INT, 171.81 pass efficiency rating.

Strengths: Throws ball on time on short and intermediate routes. Can buy extra time with his legs and pick up yardage (nine rushes, 58 yards, TD). Sims seems to be gaining confidence in his play.

Weaknesses: Has struggled with accuracy when throwing on the run or throwing downfield. He needs to continue to improve on getting offense set and spread the ball around to other receiving targets.

What he must do Saturday: Find his third and fourth receivers in progression. If Southern Miss plays press man against Amari Cooper, who has 25 of the Tide's 51 receptions for 319 yards, he needs to able to find someone else or connect with Cooper downfield. Hit his deep passes.

Jake Coker (6-5, 230, Jr., Mobile)

Numbers: 2 games, 15-of-24 (62.5 percent), 202 yards, TD, 0 INTs, 146.95 pass efficiency rating.

(Disclaimer: Coker only played two plays in the season opener against West Virginia, handing the ball off the Kenyan Drake both plays).

Strengths: Can throw deep. Has size to stand tall in the pocket and throw. Coker has some fire in him, as evidenced by him pushing a Florida Atlantic defender after getting hit out of bounds last week.

Weaknesses: Misread coverage on end zone fade to Cooper that would have been a score had he put ball in right spot. Doesn't have a firm enough grip on the offense. Clock management is a concern.

What he must do Saturday: Finish drives with touchdowns, not field goals. Play more in a rhythm with the offense. Coker must make the type of throws Sims hasn't and deliver the ones Sims has with the same timing and accuracy. Show considerable improvement from Game 2 to 3 like Sims did from 1 to 2.

At Alabama, the quarterback primarily is asked to manage the game, not be the difference in it. Saban wants to run the ball and play defense. He has the backs in T.J. Yeldon, Derrick Henry and Drake to handle the run and the talent on defense to be very good on that side of the ball.

The quarterback must make plays, but he has to know the offense well enough to check out of bad plays or check into better plays. AJ McCarron made his money doing that so a running back didn't get blown up in the backfield or the receiver could take advantage of a cushion at the line of scrimmage.

Right now, new offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin is taking on more than he probably should. He's had to be really hands-on with the quarterbacks. At some point, Alabama needs Kiffin to just call plays and not constantly concern himself with making sure Sims and Coker are doing everything right.

There is a high risk/reward component to making this decision. If Saban chooses Sims, he's going with the guy who knows the offense better than Coker, can make plays and has been fairly accurate.

That's the reward. The risk is when Alabama plays a team that can hold up against the run and plays press man, can Sims find receivers downfield or will he make mistakes in trying to force the issue?

If Saban chooses Coker, he's going with the guy who has an NFL arm, size and can scramble a little bit.

That's the reward. The risk is Coker doesn't know the offense well enough, a problem that will become magnified when playing against the better teams. That could decide the outcome in close games.

Saban didn't need a permanent starter to open this season 3-0. He needs one to win the SEC and earn a spot in the College Football Playoff. The one that gives the Tide the best chance to achieve those goals will start next week against Florida — and for the remainder of the season.