2011 QB competition helping set stage in 2015

TUSCALOOSA The last time Alabama opened a season with multiple potential starting quarterbacks, it didn’t take long for one to distinguish himself.

That battle, of course, was between A.J. McCarron and Phillip Sims, a competition that McCarron solidified by the second game of the 2011 season.

First-year Florida head coach Jim McElwain remembers it well, since he was Alabama’s offensive coordinator at the time.

“You try to take the subjective part and make sure (each quarterback is) given the opportunity to see how the people (around them do),” McElwain said Wednesday during the SEC coaches teleconference. “It’s about how the people around them are affected in a positive way as well. Then you get back and watch the film and grade it and make the decision from there.

“But there isn’t any blueprint or book that says this is how you have to do it. It helps having gone through it however.”

Back in 2011, McCarron started the opener against Kent State and showed flashes of potential, completing 14-of-23 passes for 226 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions while alternating every three series with Sims, who finishing just 7-of-14 for 73 yards and two interceptions of his own in the 48-7 victory.

That performance effectively sealed both their fates as McCarron would go on to start the rest of the season and eventually help led the Crimson Tide to the 2012 BCS National Championship title while Sims transferred and bounced around the college football ranks for the next several years.

Now, four years later, the Crimson Tide is once again facing a quarterback quandary entering Saturday’s season opening game against No. 20 Wisconsin (7 p.m. CT).

The competition has raged all offseason and was only cut from a five-man race to three two weeks ago, with Alabama head coach Saban narrowing the list of candidates to senior Jake Coker, junior Alec Morris and sophomore Cooper Bateman.

But since then, Saban has kept his quarterback plans close to the vest, outside of hinting at potentially playing two of the three in the opener.

“We’re going to try to make a decision on what’s best for our team. That’s exactly what we’re going to do, what we feel like is going to give us the best opportunity to win,” Saban said Wednesday on the teleconference. “I don’t think it’s a similar approach to anything we’ve done in the past because each set of players is a little bit different, each team is a little bit different.”

Still, the experience of 2011 gives both current Alabama coaches and its fans some insight into how a quarterback competition can be successfully handled without it disrupting the fabric of the team.

“Well, I think every situation is different, yet going through what we did, it’s the same thing,” McElwain said.

“It was no different than making a decision on a guy at linebacker, it was no different than making a decision on a guy at offensive right guard — it’s the same process whatever position it is.

“Obviously the quarterback position gets a little more notoriety than those sometimes, but I think having a set way of doing it kind of puts everybody at ease as well.”

McElwain, of course, is embroiled in his own quarterback battle between sophomore Treon Harris and redshirt freshman Will Grier.

But unlike his former boss, who has declined to elaborate on his intentions for his quarterbacks just days ahead of the opener, McElwain is making no bones about it — both quarterbacks will play in the first game.

It worked itself out in 2011, which is why he’s using that experience to guide him in his first quarterback battle as an SEC head coach.

“It’s how you do it. I think sometimes externally, and the nature of the position (of quarterback), … but at the same time your criteria in how you do it has to be consistent with whatever position it is,” McElwain said. “Part of that is resonating throughout your team that these are competition battles and competition is a good thing.”

WR Cam Sims cleared medically, could return for opener

When Cam Sims returned to the practice field three weeks ago, it even caught teammates by surprise.

“Oh, it was awesome,” Alabama senior corner Maurice Smith said last month. “I didn’t think he was going to come back that fast and then to see how he’s progressed from the spring until now, I mean, it’s amazing almost.”

It’s a wonder what they’ll say if the 6-foot-5 sophomore receiver hits the field Saturday against No. 20 Wisconsin.

Sims’ rapid recovery after tearing multiple ligaments in his left knee just five months ago could be reaching its conclusion.

After removing the no-contact black jersey earlier this week, meaning he’s practicing without any limitations, Sims could be in line to play in the season opener Saturday, so long as head coach Nick Saban gives the OK.

“He’s been cleared by the medical staff, (and) we have given him work this week. (But) we have not made a decision yet as to whether he’ll play in this game,” Saban said Wednesday evening. “I think that’s a decision that I’d like to make with him, even though he’s been cleared medically.

“He has practiced out of a black shirt for several days now. We do have the monitor on him so we know how close to full speed he is, and he’s getting very close to that.”

Entering the offseason, Sims was viewed as a likely candidate to take over as Alabama’s big play option after Amari Cooper moved onto the NFL.

But the injury in late March, when he tore the ACL and another ligament in his knee, appeared to derail any hope of the second-year player from being that type of player this season.

Even Saban didn’t appear too confident in a speedy recovery.

“It will be a lot of hard work for him to get back at all for next season,” Saban said on March 30. “But we’re hopeful and we know what kind of person he is and he’ll work hard to do it.”

And much sooner than anyone really expected.

Saban: Tide ready to ‘compete’ and ‘see what’s up’

For the last month, college football players all over the country have only seen their own team’s helmet across from them.

That all changes this week and players like Alabama senior linebacker Dillon Lee, it’s about time.

“Camp was long and hard and everybody is just happy to have an opponent, someone we can focus on and get ready to play against,” Lee said earlier this week.

“Everybody is tired of hitting each other. Everyone is ready to go to Dallas and play a game.”

And with Saturday’s opener just three days away, it’s now time to take practice inward, and focus more on off-the-field work.

“I think everybody’s a little tired of practicing against each other, I think it’s time to find out where we are, go compete and play and see what’s up,” Saban said Wednesday. “We’ve had a good week of preparation, we’ve had a good day indoors, trying to get out of the heat a little bit because we’re playing inside and I think right now is mental practice for the next couple of days.”

The plan is to fly out to Texas on Friday night after one final walkthrough. But in the meantime, it’s back to the film room for the Tide coaches and players.

Because, when all is said and done, Saban believes it’ll be that extra work off the field that makes the difference on it, especially against a Top 20 team like Wisconsin.

“When you talk about what do you want to accomplish, what are you willing to do to do it, well, part of that is preparation,” Saban said. “When you get to the game everyone’s going to want to win but did you do all the things you need to do to win before you get to the game. I think that’s what we’re trying to emphasize right now to our players, and I’ve been pleased with the way they’ve done that to this point.”