Quarterback Battle Continues At Alabama Spring Game
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By Ben Bolton
TUSCALOOSA, AL—– Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide faithful came into A-Day looking for answers at quarterback. But mixed results from each of the five players competing for the job left the Alabama head coach hoping for someone to step up in the near future.
“Quarterback is the hardest position in football to play if you don’t have good players around you,” said Saban. “So we need that leadership and we need someone who can affect people in a positive way. And i think that will be something interesting to see how it develops with these players that we have.”
QB candidtate Jake Coker threw the ball the most, completing only 50% of his passes, with a pick six and a touchdown.
“I’ve seen him make some good throws and I’ve seen the guys he’s throwing too make some good plays for him,” said senior linebacker Reggie Ragland. “ArDarius and Robert Foster are going to be big time recievers. And anytime he can get protection up front from the big guys we have, and they give him time, those guys will make the plays for him.”
Coker and the other four quarterbacks each made mistakes, leaving the competition open as spring football ends. But those mistakes were caused by the defense, who was the highlight of the game, causing seven turnovers and eight sacks.
“We just really minimize big runs and big plays,” said linebacker Dillon Lee. “And always we are working on turnovers and getting the ball out. Always winning the turnover margin.”
Ragland chose to return for his senior season, foregoing the NFL Draft. He said turnovers will help his offense get more opportunities when the real season starts.
“We’re tryng to get the ball out,” said Ragland. “We’re trying to get strip attempts. We’re trying to get the ball up off of them. That’s real big especially on defense. The more we get it out there the more the offense has the ball and the more touchdowns and field goals we can get.”
Regardless of the numbers or performances, the start of the season is still months away. Saban hopes that his team’s work this spring will pay off.
“There can be no great conclusions drawn from what happened today,” said Saban. “Other than we are pleased with what we saw from some of the guys. We’ll certaintly take that into fall camp and this summer and try to build on it”
