What Kalen DeBoer said about Alabama QBs after first spring scrimmage

Alabama held its first full scrimmage of the spring on Thursday morning, which featured 115 plays. The first and second teams each played 50 snaps, while the threes received 15.

Stats weren’t released from scrimmage No. 1, but the first question posed to Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer was about the quarterbacks, as expected. He shared his thoughts on how Ty Simpson, Austin Mack and Keelon Russell performed in the game-like practice.

“As far as just accuracy, there was maybe two balls – one was a really short pass that you really want to see completed, and then one that was an opportunity for an explosive play that we missed,” DeBoer said. “Otherwise, I would just probably guess that we were somewhere where you want to be percentage-wise. I don’t know 60-65 percent between the three of them. 

“All of them are getting their opportunities to lead with the different groups – ones and twos, in particular. I thought they handled the checks and the things as far as managing the game. That’s a lot of it. And then going out there and making plays. 

“So I feel like they were more comfortable today, and I think a lot of it is you put in a specific set of calls that they feel good with, so you can have a successful scrimmage, and I think the offensive staff did that for them.”

Simpson is the most experienced quarterback on the Alabama roster, having served as Jalen Milroe’s backup the last two seasons. But Mack and Russell aren’t slouches and will be given opportunities to win the starting job this offseason. The staff is in no hurry to publicly name a starting quarterback, and all three have had their moments this spring.

But is DeBoer starting to see any separation after seven practices and one scrimmage?

“I think it’s pretty consistent from where it was from the beginning,” DeBoer said. “They all bring something a little bit different to the table, even though it’s not like maybe a runner and a passer. It’s guys doing their thing and what their strengths are – catchable balls and things like that that they do really well. Making maybe field throws. One guy that does that a little bit more. One does a little better job of scrambling. 

“I think they’re all learning from each other, though, and taking something from each other’s game and applying it to theirs and seeing that there’s always a way to make this play happen or that play happen.”

DeBoer then shared more on how he thought the quarterbacks looked Thursday and just how much the Alabama coaching staff has placed on each of their plates throughout the spring.

“I thought they did a good job keeping their eyes downfield and hit some explosives, and kept the chains moving on some third and fourth downs that were critical,” DeBoer said. “That shows good composure.

“We threw a lot at them the first couple of practices, and now, I think they’re getting into a groove. And again, we dialed back a little bit for the scrimmage, and we’ll keep throwing stuff back on them. The installs were heavy from both sides. So offense is installing, defense installing, and then you’re facing what you’re seeing, not just what you’re supposed to execute on your side. 

“So today was good. Kept it not at an elementary level, but not at the expert level either, as far as what we were putting on their plate.”

Alabama will return to the field on Monday, March 31, for its ninth practice of spring camp.

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