Snap Count: 5 Questions with QB Country’s David Morris on new Crimson Tide QB Jacob Coker
By Magilla
News broke Sunday that former Florida State quarterback and Mobile, Alabama native Jacob Coker announced his intention to transfer to the University of Alabama after finishing up at FSU. Coker will likely arrive in Tusaloosa around the same time new recruits do during the Summer, giving him a complete fall practice to claim a starting job. Coker will be eligible to play immediately, with 2 years to play. This news comes after Coker successfully gained release from his FSU scholarship. Soon after, Alabama’s Nick Saban and Lance Thompson visited him in Mobile, setting up the visit to the Capstone and his future commitment.
Coker graduated in 2011 from St Paul’s Episcopal in Mobile, succeeding former Crimson Tide QB AJ McCarron. Coker saw less attention as his predicessor on the recruiting front as Coker had more of a basketball background and headed a Wing-T option offense at St Paul’s. After only holding scholarship offers from Arkansas State and South Alabama, an appearence at Jimbo Fisher’s Football Camp in June 2010 landed him his biggest offer to date from the Seminoles. Shortly after, he added scholarships from the likes of Duke and Mississippi State. Rather than waiting on his recruitment to continue to florish, he pledged to lead recruiter Dameyune Craig and to Florida State. Coker’s recruitment came to an end afterwards, even a late January offer from the Alabama Crimson Tide could not shake his commitment to the ‘Noles.
During the span of his Senior year, Jacob Coker enlisted the help of a Mobile based quarterback training facility to improve upon and polish his blossoming QB skills, QB Country( Link1, Link2). “QB Country is led by former Ole Miss Quarterback, David Morris (4 year letterman -1998-2002). At Ole Miss, David was coached by three of the most respected quarterback coaches in Football, Noel Mazzone (current OC at UCLA and well known for his training of NFL QB’s), David Cutcliffe (current Duke Head Coach) who was Peyton Manning’s OC at Tennessee & Eli Manning’s Coach at Ole Miss & current Duke OC/QB Coach, and Kurt Roper(current Florida Gators OC).” We reached out to Mr. Morris to possibly receive some further information regarding Coker, this is what we received:
1) When Jacob Coker came to you at QB Country a few years back, what was he trying to focus on improving? What did you see personally that needed improvement?
DM: Jake came to me to focus on two things initially….quarterback training and recruiting assistance. Jake is a great athlete but at the time, was somewhat green. So we worked hard on the basic fundamentals of the 3 and 5 step game with a goal of trying to create muscle memory. At quarterback, We train and educate about separating our body at the hips. We train below the hips and above the hips. Ultimately they compliment the other. So with Jake initially it was about the basics. He’s a fluid athlete so he caught on quickly.
2) Have you worked out since with Coker? If so, how has his progression been?
DM: Me and Jake train every off season. He’s become a technician. Feet are great. Arm is accurate and strong. And he’s become a Studier of the game and position.
3) If you could, what quarterback would you compare Coker’s game to?
DM: Jake reminds me of a Joe Flacco. Big physical, fast twitch guy who can really throw it…..but Jake is a point guard type athlete. So athletically he’ll create more plays than a Flacco.
4) Seeing that Jacob Coker will likely miss Spring practice for his future team, will Summer and Fall be enough time for Coker to display his talents? Is there a specific offensive system that would accelerate his chances?
DM: He has a full plate in finishing school and learning a new offense. But he’ll be focused and get it done.
5) Most importantly, what type of person on and off the field will his future school be getting?
DM: A worker. A humble worker. Jake is a great teammate. Off the field he’s low key. He’s a leader. And he’s a great person….I love being around Jake. He’s simplistic.
Thank you David Morris for taking the time out to answer our questions regarding Jacob Coker. QB Country’s official site is QBCountry.com, and you can follow them on Twitter at @QBCountry.