Perhaps the most crucial week of Alabama spring practice is the stretch between the first and second scrimmages. There's a baseline now.

That means something for the four quarterbacks still competing for the starting job. This saga is long from over but there are early differences emerging.

"I think the guys that have the most knowledge and experience played the best," Nick Saban said. "When I say that, I'm talking about Cooper Bateman -- who's been in the system the longest -- and David Cornwell. They played the best."

Passing statistics from the closed scrimmage were not provided.

The division of reps in practice hasn't changed leading up to Saturday's second scrimmage in Bryant-Denny Stadium. Bateman's the only one of the four to play in a college game while Cornwell's drawn strong reviews all spring.

Redshirt freshman Blake Barnett and true freshman Jalen Hurts remain a factor.

"The two younger guys, even though they demonstrated that they have a tremendous amount of upside in terms of the way they played, their consistency in performance because of their confusion, lack of knowledge, poise under pressure, whichever you want to talk about -- which is not uncommon or surprising for young guys the first time they go out there," Saban said. "They probably weren't quite as consistent as the other guys."

Saban went on to say all four would get to continue to get a full opportunity for the remainder of spring practice.

Tight end O.J. Howard is the most experienced target for the passers. The senior will be playing with his fourth different starting quarterback this fall.

"Actually, I'm used to it now," he said. "Like you said every year's been a different quarterback, it's the same situation, so basically we're used to it when we come (into spring) without a quarterback and have a competition. We're used to it. The only thing that we do is go out there and run the routes and let those guys gain confidence in us and trust, and get our timing down. We're definitely used to it now."