Tim Tebow details how Ty Simpson, Alabama have changed since Week 1

Alabama did not look like the team that many assumed it would be in its opening loss in Tallahassee. However, over the past three weeks, the Crimson Tide have gotten much closer to that level, especially with the play of their quarterback in Ty Simpson

Legendary quarterback Tim Tebow broke down the game of No. 17 Alabama vs. No. 5 Georgia with Roman Harper and Paul Finebaum in Athens on Friday afternoon. Tebow explained that he simply felt that the team in Alabama, which lost to the Seminoles in its first game, is not the team that the Bulldogs will play tomorrow in Athens.

“It’s also just not the same Alabama team that played FSU. They’re a different team. I think they’re improving,” Tebow said. “Got to give a lot of credit to their coaching staff. Ryan Grubb as well, the way he’s been adapting offensively.”

Again, Alabama couldn’t have looked much worse in the 31-17 loss to Florida State. Since then, though, the Tide have been better in Tuscaloosa with a 73-point shutout of UL Monroe before a 24-point win over Wisconsin. They have yet to do it against a team at the level that they’ll play tomorrow, with them going on the road and opening conference play, but it’s improvement nonetheless in weeks two and three from as poor as it was in week one.

Simpson is a major part of that with three non-conference games now over for him as the starter for ‘Bama. Those reps are what Tebow thinks he only needed, as Simpson, after a fine showing against FSU, is 41-46 (89.1%) for 304 yards per game with seven passing touchdowns, and eight total scores, in the home wins against the Warhawks and Badgers.

“Ty Simpson is a different player,” Tebow continued. “He also needed some experience. It’s hard when you’re a brand-new quarterback and step into the league and compete at a high level, even though you’ve been on the bench. It’s different. Watching the game, like, from the offensive film room or the sideline? It’s not the same as behind center.”

None of that means that Alabama is going to go between the hedges tomorrow night and win over Georgia. That said, the Crimson Tide will obviously have a much better chance if the team that has played the past two games shows up in Sanford Stadium rather than the one that showed up in that first one.