Every spring or fall or both, Alabama football fans expect the Crimson Tide will have a quarterback battle. It is not always for the QB1 role, but a battle for QB2 is no less intense. Nor is it less important given QB2 is always one play away from being the guy to lead the Crimson Tide toward another Championship.
Last fall, with Bryce Young settled in as the Crimson Tide starter, the QB2 competition was between Paul Tyson and Jalen Milroe. Fortunately Young stayed healthy the entire season. Not totally, but somewhat by default, Jalen Milroe won out and Paul Tyson transferred to Arizona State.
Many Alabama football fans loved Tyson’s lineage to Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant. Perhaps more Tide fans loved Jalen Milroe’s athleticism. Though a foot race never settled the question, some inside and outside the program contended Milroe was the fastest player on the team. Some fans thought Milroe’s running skills should have been utilized with a special offensive package.
The use of a special package never happened. According to Tide Offensive Coordinator, Bill O’Brien, during the fall Milroe became ready, if needed, to run the same offense as Bryce Young.
Some Crimson Tide fans believe early-enrollee freshman, Ty Simpson has a chance this spring to leapfrog Milroe and become QB2. Simpson may become an exceptional Crimson Tide QB in his career but he will not sprint past Jalen Milroe this spring. It is almost as unlikely that Simpson can overtake Milroe on fall camp. That’s not a slam against Simpson. It is a statement about the developing potential of Jalen Milroe.
More important than a separate package for Milroe, is getting him enough game experience to run the standard Tide offense. He is more than capable as a passer. His running ability is exceptional. Jalen Milroe might not have the deep ball touch of Bryce Young or the field vision to check off to second and third receivers as well as Bryce – but he is more of a dual-threat. As QB1, Milroe would likely be the best QB running threat in the SEC.
2022 Alabama Football QB Depth Set
All of the above explains why Alabama football will not have an intense quarterback battle this season. Bryce is QB1; Jalen is QB2, and Ty Simpson is QB3.
Alabama Crimson Tide fans wanting some quarterback controversy will have to wait until next spring. After Bryce leaves for the NFL, Simpson will be ready to battle Milroe – and another young gun will arrive and try to make it a three-way battle.