Through two days of fall camp, Alabama has not yet found its starting quarterback. In a post-practice interview, new Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb stressed the importance of that changing. Soon.
When asked when Grubb would like to have a starting QB named, he answered "yesterday." Fall camp just started, but Alabama plays a football game 30 days from now, and would ideally like to start giving more targeted reps to a starting quarterback in the next week or two. Grubb also stressed that Alabama wasn't to that point yet.
"You've got to let it run its course," Grubb said. "It's not there yet, and we've been through this before, more than once and you've just got to let it run its course. We've got a pretty detailed plan on how we'll figure those things out and information that we share with the guys every day, and when it's the right time, we'll be ready to pull the trigger."
Ty Simpson still leads in the Alabama QB battle
Nothing has changed since the end of spring practice. Alabama has a pecking order in the QB room, currently in order of seniority. Redshirt junior Ty Simpson, redshirt sophomore Austin Mack, and then true freshman Keelon Russell. Whether that remains the order moving forward will be hashed out over the next few weeks of practice.
Grubb mentioned that Simpson had "better command" than Mack and Russell through two practices. That's to be expected considering Simpson is the most seasoned quarterback in an unseasoned room.
Despite all signs pointing toward Simpson being the starting QB, the job has not yet gone to him. Grubb explained why.
"He's gotta do it every day, between now and Florida State," Grubb said. When we start that preparation, and just whoever that person is, has gotta come out and be able to show that it's clearly him. And that's what this football team needs, and all three of those guys know that."
"So long as Ty can do that, or one of the other guys, that's gonna be the player that's gonna start at quarterback."
It's not a secret that Alabama has to get more consistency out of the QB position. It's the single most important question facing this time. Otherwise, the Crimson Tide is loaded. The skill-guys are talented and deep. The offensive line features three potential All-Americans and two others who should be steadying presences. The defense could be the very best in the nation.
But if the QB play remains as inconsistent as it was last season, this team will find itself in a similar position as a year ago on the playoff bubble. If Simpson, or one of the others, can be consistent and elevate the play of the offense, then this team is every bit good enough to win the National Championship.