More Questions Than Answers About Alabama QB Competition after A-Day
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — If A-Day was supposed to paint a clearer picture of the Alabama quarterback competition, Saturday's result ended up being more like a finger painting than a Picasso.
In other words, this battle isn't anywhere close to over.
"I think the big thing we’re working on with the quarterbacks is fundamentally what they have to do to be able to process," Alabama head coach Nick Saban said after the 30-21 A-Day win for the Crimson team. "What is the defense doing? Get a pre-read so that you have a plan in your mind this is where I’m reading, this is where I’m going, and this is the progression I want to go through. And trusting and believing that, and not start drifting around in the pocket before you give up on what your read might be."
Alabama used all four of its scholarship quarterbacks in the game with Jalen Milroe taking the majority of the reps with the White team (first team offense against first team defense), and Ty Simpson throwing for most of the drives for the Crimson team (second team offense against second team defense.)
Milroe finished 19-37 for 245 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions and a rushing touchdown. One of his interceptions came on a Hail Mary on the final play of the first half. Simpson went 12-26 for 234 yards and one interception, but also added 58 rushing yards.
The two traded interceptions at the end of the first half on back-to-back plays, but also made some nice throws throughout the game. Both overthrew some passes. Both overthrew some balls to open targets. Even though Milroe is more known for his speed, Simpson also showed off his ability with his legs on the ground.
Milroe scored the first touchdown of the game on a 35-yard dash up the middle to put White up 7-0. The White team wouldn't score again until Milroe's arguably best throw of the game on a deep ball to Emmanuel Henderson in the corner of the end zone for 36 yards late in the third quarter.
He seemed to especially develop a connection with transfer wide receiver Malik Benson late in the game. Benson was responsible for all 70 yards, capped by a nine-yard touchdown reception, on White's final drive of the game.
"Malik’s been going at it," fellow wide receiver Ja'Corey Brooks said. "Malik’s going to hustle, I know that. In the last two minutes, everybody’s tired and drained out. As you can see, he hustled and got a touchdown for himself. If he can keep that up, he can be a big part of our offense.”
Simpson targeted Jermaine Burton seven times throughout the game, but the two finally connected on a deep 57-yard pass on Crimson's final scoring drive to set up Justice Haynes' third touchdown of the game.
Alabama offensive lineman JC Latham may have said it best when comparing the two quarterbacks.
"Honestly, in my opinion, especially today, they kind of looked identical," Latham said. "Both of them, I remember the one play Milroe had the big run, the very next series Ty had a big run. Jalen has a touchdown, Ty has a touchdown. Unfortunately, J-Moe threw a pick, and Ty had one too. They both played similar. A lot of competition. The one thing I can say about that, especially in our quarterback room, neither one of them is like I'm not going to talk to you. They're both trying to help each other out."
The Crimson Tide's freshmen quarterbacks Dylan Lonergan and Eli Holstein didn't completely rule themselves out of the competition either. Perhaps the most impressive, and certainly the most efficient performance came from Lonergan. He was the only quarterback who didn't throw an interception, and had the first passing touchdown of the game when he connected with fellow freshman Haynes from six yards out.
"We wanted to get each one of those freshmen at least three series out there," Saban said. "Dylan moved the team a little bit better. I'm pleased with the progress that they're making. And I think they both have bright futures."
None of the quarterbacks were exactly aided by their receivers today. There were multiple drops by the wide receivers on both teams– including what would have been a fourth-down conversion from Milroe to Isaiah Bond late in the fourth quarter.
Even though he pointed out drops as an issue in the game, Saban is still pleased with how the group has performed in the spring, specifically mentioning Bond, Brooks, Burton, Malik Benson and Emmanuel Henderson.
"I think we've got the right combination of people at that position," Saban said. "We still need to pay better attention to detail and route running and sort of get a better chemistry between quarterback and receiver so that we can develop confidence in the passing game."
Despite not yet knowing who has the starting job, Brooks said it isn't challenging to develop the chemistry between quarterback and receivers because they have been taking equal reps with each quarterback throughout the spring.
"As receivers, we need to do our job, and the quarterback room do their job," Brooks said after A-Day.
Alabama has the pieces in place on offense to be successful, and Saban seems confident in the options he has at quarterback. But for now, options are what he has, and it won't be until the fall when we know for sure who moves from just an option to the starting quarterback for the 2023 Crimson Tide.
"As a quarterback, it's not only just the plays that you can make— and I like both guys’ athleticism to be able to extend plays and get out of trouble and make plays with their feet, which they did a couple times today," Saban said. "But at the same time, I think you've got to work on going through progressions and develop confidence in the passing game so that we can distribute the ball to other people who can make plays more effectively and more efficiently.”
