Kalen DeBoer breaks down Alabama quarterback battle ahead of A-Day
Second-year head coach Kalen DeBoer provided an update on Alabama’s quarterback battle after the Crimson Tide’s third and final scrimmage on Thursday in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
“All of them are getting better, which is what you hope and need and expect,” DeBoer told Tide 100.9 FM. “And for us as far as like – I know people want to know a decision and things like that – for us, it’s just we don’t feel like they’re to the point where there’s separation, where there’s a ceiling that they’ve hit. And I think it’d be pretty foolish to make a decision right now.
“We have plenty of time still to work through it and let these guys continue to work through the summer. Obviously, that takes us into fall camp where they’ll get some more reps.”
Ty Simpson, Austin Mack and Keelon Russell are competing for the starting job behind center, but Alabama hasn’t settled on one quarterback 12 days into spring camp. That’s not surprising considering the transfer portal window will open soon, and Alabama wants to keep all three on campus. But DeBoer spoke highly of the Tide’s signal-callers on Thursday.
“They’re all three very talented and love the direction they’re going,” DeBoer said. “Similar as far as being able to pass and that kind of being the priority as far as what they do, but also different in a few things with just how they get the ball moved down the field sometimes and what their favorite throws are and so forth.
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“That keeps us from having to – because they are so similar – having to worry about changing who we are, what our philosophy is. We’re just gonna let these guys continue to compete. They do it in a healthy way. They’re there for each other, but they’re also competing. Love what they’re doing. A lot of positives.”
Alabama will close out its spring season on Saturday, April 12, with an A-Day practice inside Bryant-Denny Stadium. It will provide fans with their first glimpse at Russell and how Simpson and Mack have progressed. Although DeBoer and company have kept things close to the vest this spring, the coach shared what he is looking for in a starting quarterback.
“I think a lot of it is we want that playmaker,” DeBoer said. “I don’t want just a game manager out there. If we’re gonna win at the level we want to win at, we want a guy that’s gonna produce, make the big plays. And obviously, there’s a piece, too, where you can’t make the big mistakes. We all know that, especially in the critical moments, whether it’s in the red zone, end of games, the half, things like that.
“So we’re just doing a lot of teaching. Nick Sheridan and Ryan Grubb just do an amazing job working together, guiding these guys in the right direction.”
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