The University of Alabama Football and Crimson Tide Sports Source
April 18, 2024
June 11, 2015
2015 Football - quarterbacks
Much has been made of the quarterback situation in Tuscaloosa - much like last year it's the tipping point for the football team. And much like last year Jacob Coker is the front runner for the job. The question is will Coker get the keys and will he ever drive the car?
Since his arrival on campus or at least since it was determined he would transfer he has been billed as the heir apparent. The problem is Coker has never lived up to his expectations. The quarterback situation could well be a red herring. No one and I mean no one expected Blake Sims to be the starting quarterback last year. He was just plain awful in the spring game. None of the quarterbacks in the spring game grabbed the lead in the quarterback derby – so where does that leave the Tide?
The short answer is pretty much the same place as last year. The difference is that perhaps this year the Tide will have a much improved secondary and an awesome front seven. With a defense that can shut down opponents. It might allow the quarterback competition to continue – if necessary through the first four games.
That might also give the running game a chance to get unleashed. Derrick Henry and Kenyan Drake are proven commodities in the backfield and IF Bo Scarbrough heals in time for the season the running game could seriously cause problems for anybody.
The Tide opens with Wisconsin in Dallas, followed by Middle Tennessee, Ole Miss and LA Monroe in Tuscaloosa before a trip to Athens, Georgia. With a solid defense and running game all that is really necessary from the passing game is the threat. Throw in a few successful play action passes and defenses will have to respect the pass.
Lane Kiffin worked wonders last year and honestly given what he had to work with he deserved much more credit than he got. As bad as the Tide’s secondary was last year – and let’s face by the end of the year it was awful – Kiffin had to know that the Tide would have to score some points to win games. With all due respect to Blake Sims he was not the best quarterback in the SEC and though he owns lots of records at Alabama – in the end his limitations did him in.
This year Kiffin has better material to work with. Blake Barnet is probably the most talented quarterback on the roster and the freshman has a legitimate shot a taking the starting job. Saban has never shied away from starting freshmen. A freshman quarterback – with a stout defense and serious running game to lean on might not be a bad option.
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