Alabama Spring Game Results: Passing Game

If anyone was hoping to see a definitive answer to who the next quarterback at Alabama will be they didn't get it. What over 92,000 fans at Bryant Denny and the ESPN audience did see was two young quarterbacks prove why they were both very highly recruited out of high school.   

Some expected the more experienced AJ McCarron to win the job outright but Phillip Sims proved he has come a long way during his redshirt season.

Both McCarron and Sims played with the first and second team offense producing the following stats:

AJ McCarron 21 of 38 for 222 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

Phillip Sims 19 of 38 for 229 yards with one interception.

Both players had some bad plays. AJ McCarron let a promising drive go to waste when a mishandled snap in the red zone that ended up being a touchdown in the other direction.

Phillip Sims underestimated a streaking Jarrick Williams who stepped easily in front of the throw to take the interception. From that position on the field most DB's will take that particular play for the pick six.

There were some clarifications however.

Neither of them are Greg McElroy. The offense was not as efficient and smooth running as when the experienced, heady McElroy was in charge. His experienced will be missed as well as his knack for getting it done.

Both quarterbacks can make throws Greg McElroy could not. The offense can stretch the field more effectively with either quarterback under center. Both can be more accurate under more conditions than McElroy.

Phillip Sims looks better under duress. Sims is not a dual threat quarterback but showed he can run the ball when need be. He was also noticeably more accurate when on the run than McCarron.

Sims can cock and fire very quickly from multiple positions and do so accurately to a receiver on the move in coverage. Some of his throws under these circumstances were pure NFL quality passes.

Sims throwing motion comes off lower than McCarron. Sims had a number of passes that were batted at the line of scrimmage. AJ has a more standard over the top motion and is taller so his throws come out at a better angle.

AJ showed more touch on his passes in some situations. His fade pattern to Brandon Gibson was one of the best passes of the day. He later dropped perfect passes to Trent Richardson and Eddie Lacy on the sidelines for long gainers. 

McCarron's touchdown pass to Trent Richardson was simply perfect. That particular play may be nearly impossible to defend if its run that perfectly.  

McCarron was not effective once he left the pocket and threw more balls away. Sims was able to produce some yardage in those situations.  

The battle between the two is going to be close no matter how you look at it. Alabama can win with either but to develop the kind of timing needed one will have to be chosen, at least initially. Once the season gets under way things could change due to production, mistakes, and injury.

As for receivers some young ones got into the act Saturday:  

Brandon Gibson 5 catches 53 yards

Keiwone Malone 3 for 53 yards

Kevin Norwood 3 for 53 yards

Kenny Bell 3 for 49 yards

Gibson continues his solid spring performances. Could this finally be the year he continues that production into fall? I believe his final season will be a good one.

Kevin Norwood showed some real tenacity running after the catch and appears to be growing in confidence. 

Kenny Bell has the look of an every down type of player. His third-down work was excellent.  

Alabama's two established starters at wide receiver didn't need to prove much and Marques Maze was dinged up during the game.

It's clear however that Alabama misses Julio Jones. Both quarterbacks seemed to miss that big aggressive receiver that can make the tough catches and get five to eight extra yards with it. Julio could do that and none Saturday were able to fill that roll completely. 

The door remains open for newcomer Duron Carter who arrives this summer to fill that roll. He's not as fast as Julio but is similar in size and as a similar style of play. True Freshman Marvin Shinn also has the size to fill that roll.

Alabama has some fast receivers that are good in space, we saw that Saturday. Alabama has running backs that can be dangerous catching passes out of the backfield. They have experienced tight ends who can be reliable targets over the middle and on the sideline. Alabama has some options at quarterback.  

All that is lacking is a true possession receiver and a left tackle to solidify protection.

Alabama showed one more wild card Saturday and that is quarterback Blake Sims. Sims will eventually fill numerous roles at Alabama but this season he looks to be filling the emergency quarterback roll.

Far from being a player you hope you never have to use Sims has skills that are unique on the roster. He did not run any wildcat Saturday but when he took off and ran in the face of a rush we saw that explosive speed and quickness that others have been talking about.

Look for Sims to have a nice package of wildcat plays to give defensive coordinators one more headache to deal with and to prepare for against Alabama.  

In a pinch Sims can run the standard offense and he was given a chance to do that Saturday. If it gets to him Alabama would be somewhat limited in what they can do, but they wouldn't be helpless.  Sims has a much more diverse skill set than some emergency options used on the past.

What we saw Saturday was more of an evaluation. Once the season arrives a smaller group of players will take the primary rolls and hopefully develop the kind of chemistry needed to win in the SEC.