Alabama Football: Will Blake Sims' Shoulder Injury Be an Issue vs. Ole Miss?
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Blake Sims jogged through drills with the rest of the quarterbacks.
He watched Jake Coker, Alec Morris, Cooper Bateman and David Cornwell zip quick throws to a line of receivers and would occasionally jump in himself, taking a little bit off his throws. They were closer to lobs than darts.
That was during the media viewing period of Wednesday’s practice, and it’s looked like that for most of this week and last, when Alabama had a bye week. Sometimes, Sims wouldn’t throw at all.
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Sims is on a “pitch count” in practice, as Saban called it last Monday, while he recovers from a shoulder injury sustained against Florida. Saban compared the injury to AJ McCarron’s last year, when McCarron wouldn’t put in as many reps in practice so his shoulder wouldn’t be worn out for the upcoming game.
So the question on everyone’s mind is whether or not Sims will be healthy for the Crimson Tide’s undefeated showdown against Ole Miss this weekend?
The injury shouldn’t be an issue, according to Saban. He said as much twice on Wednesday.
“Blake has done very well in practice,” Saban said on the SEC coaches teleconference. “He hasn't had any issues this week so far in terms of being able to throw the ball. We're really pleased with the way he's progressed. He's been able to take all the reps that he's prescribed to take, so we're pleased with that.
He reiterated that again Wednesday night after practice.
“Blake’s fine, he’s done really well,” Saban said. “Hasn’t had any issues or problems. Looks like his old self, I would not know that he was ever hurt based on the way he’s practiced and the way he’s played. He hasn’t had any discomfort at all after doing it, which I think is the real key to it.”
That’s good news for an Alabama team that will need its fifth-year senior leader under center to perform at a high level on Saturday.
The Ole Miss defense is second in the country and first in the SEC in interceptions with nine. The only team with more picks than the Rebels is Louisville, which has played one more game.
The Rebels have allowed the fewest total yards and second-fewest passing yards of anyone in the conference.
It’s not like Sims hasn’t been practicing—that's far from the case.
While we don’t know exactly what his load has been like, it sounds like the team has been cautious with how much it’ll work him.
“I think as long as he’s in there on quality plays. I mean, if we’ve got a run play, we’ll let another guy go take it and let Blake get ready,” tight end Brian Vogler said. “It doesn’t really affect most of us as long as we’re making the right calls and running the right routes. The timing’s there, it’s already been built, but obviously we improve on it when he’s in there.”
To say Sims has been a pleasant surprise for Alabama this year would be an understatement.
He’s thrown for 1,091 yards, eight touchdowns and just two interceptions. He’s fourth in the country in passer rating. According to Aaron Suttles of TideSports.com, Sims is 18-of-21 passing on third down.
Sims also brings a dynamic to Alabama’s offense that it hasn’t had in a long time. He’s the team’s third-leading rusher with 141 yards.
His shoulder injury hasn’t slowed him down in that regard.
"He looks amazing to me,” defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson said. “Trying to rush against him, he's pretty fast. He's been looking good, though.”
Sims’ shoulder injury was initially concerning, and its long-term effects are yet to be determined. But Alabama is managing him well, already having some experience with a similar injury. All signs point to it not being issue in Alabama’s biggest game of the year.
Marc Torrence is the Alabama lead writer for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. All stats come from cfbstats.com.
Follow on Twitter @marctorrence.
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