Alabama Football: After 3 Weeks, No Question Blake Sims Should Be the Starter

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — There was never going to be a bold announcement or proclamation. Nick Saban was never going to hang up a banner or put out a press release announcing who the winner of Alabama’s quarterback competition is.

It didn’t happen in 2011. AJ McCarron and Phillip Sims split reps against Kent State, McCarron started and played the whole game against Penn State, and then just…kept starting.

And it’s happening this year, too.

Blake Sims played all but two garbage-time snaps against West Virginia, split reps with Jake Coker against Florida Atlantic and wasn’t pulled until the end of the third quarter against Southern Miss when the game was long out of hand.

But Sims is Alabama’s starting quarterback, and through three games the fifth-year senior has shown that he is the best man for the starting quarterback job and has earned the right to lead the Crimson Tide in their SEC opener against Florida.

“Obviously, Blake is our starting quarterback right now,” wide receiver Amari Cooper said, according to Ken Rogers of the Dothan Eagle. “He’s playing more than Coker is playing—and he’s playing well. Both of them are playing well. They’re doing everything that coach (Lane) Kiffin is asking them to do.”

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The best thing Blake Sims has going for him right now is his understanding of the offense.

He gets what Nick Saban wants out of a quarterback—efficiency, ball control, game management skills—and translates that well on the field. There have been some teachable moments, to be sure, but overall he’s looked very comfortable in calling plays, getting the ball out quickly and operating with confidence.

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Coker is still learning the ropes in that department.

In two straight games, he’s taken a sack on 3rd-and-goal, one that nullified any chance at points since it was at the end of a half. Those are the kind of mistakes that makes Saban pull his hair out.

Sims has also been incredibly efficient.

Sims is third in the country in completion percentage (75) and 12th in yards per attempt (10.1). He is also the sixth most efficient passer, per ESPN’s Total QBR.

And he’s getting it done when it matters the most:

While Sims hasn’t put up the monster numbers that quarterbacks around the country have—he checks in at No. 69 in passing yards per game with 215.3—he’s running the offense how Saban wants it run.

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And he gives the Alabama offense an extra dimension that it hasn’t really had under Saban.

Sims has regularly used his legs to pick up extra yards when there’s nothing open downfield. He’s averaging 7.29 yards per rush and has already scored two touchdowns with his feet, both coming in the red zone.

He’s also had some highlight-worthy plays in the process:

“The ability to extend plays. That’s something as a defensive coordinator that’s very difficult to deal with as far as off-rhythm plays,” Florida coach Will Muschamp said on the SEC coaches teleconference Wednesday. “The protection breaks down, the routes are covered and he’s able to extend the play. He’s an accurate thrower. He’s got a high percentage of completion, a guy that continues to improve to me, game in game out. He’s 3-0, and that’s the most important thing.”

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The knock on Sims has been that he hasn’t shown the ability to throw the ball downfield consistently and that all of his yards come after the catch on quick throws to playmakers like Cooper.

But to criticize Sims for that is to criticize Saban and offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin for a game plan that has utilized the weapons it has on offense and taking advantage of the defenses it is facing.

Sims hasn’t thrown downfield because he hasn’t had to. And the Crimson Tide have put up 568.3 yards of offense per game, good for 12th in the country, in the process.

His teammates say that if and when that time comes, Sims will be able to make those throws:

Besides, Alabama’s successful quarterbacks have never really been relied on to sling it around. According to Sports-Reference, Greg McElroy averaged 8.6 passing yards per attempt, while McCarron averaged 8.8. That’s significantly less than Sims’ current 10.1. (And it’s not like those two didn't have plenty of success with screen passes in big games anyway.)

Not a lot of people thought Sims had a real chance at winning Alabama’s quarterback competition when Coker’s transfer came with such high reviews.

But three weeks into the season, it’s clear Sims is the best man for the job. Even if it didn’t come with much fanfare.

Marc Torrence is the Alabama lead writer for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. All stats come from CFBStats. All recruiting information comes from 247Sports.

Follow on Twitter @marctorrence.