Spring Quarterback Battles
– Auburn | LSU | Notre Dame | Ohio State | Texas

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The quarterbacks and the offense didn’t look as smooth as Nick Saban’s salmon mousse sport coat, but they weren’t as bad as the head coach made them out to be in his post-session analysis.

This is a very talented, very inexperienced team, and for that reason alone the starting quarterback job might go to Jake Coker by default.

The former Florida State transfer seemed like a mortal lock to take the job last year after Blake Sims was a disaster in the spring game, but everything started to change in fall camp and the Tide came within a game of playing for the national title. Coker might not be a special passer, but this year he’s good enough to help get the young team through the rough patches.

At least, in theory, that’s how it’s supposed to work.

Coker completed 14-of-28 passes for 183 yards and a score, but the focus is more on the one pick-six thrown – and a few misfires – than on the good things he did. Meanwhile, big junior Alec Morris completed 7-of-11 throws for 60 yards getting plenty of work with the No. 1 team. Even with the reps Morris received, David Cornwell is the No. 2 guy in the pecking order despite mainly facing the starting defense and completing 12-of-24 passes for 110 yards and a score with two picks.

The Crimson Tide offense, overall, needs tons of work, but wide receiver isn’t going to be a problem. ArDarius Stewart showed glimpses of his upside catching eight passes for 118 yards and two scores – including a nice 40-yarder from Coker – and Robert Foster caught six passes for 125 yards.

The line needs to be stronger after allowing eight sacks – touches for sacks – in the spring game, while the running backs will have to carry the offense for a little while. But first, the quarterbacks have to prove they’re ready to

The pecking order as of the immediate moment: 1) Jake Coker, 2) David Cornwell, 3) Alec Morris