Alabama football returned to the practice field on Wednesday for the first day of fall camp. A starting quarterback has still yet to be named, but head coach Kalen DeBoer was pleased with the improvement of all three quarterbacks over the summer.
“Yeah, I think they've all taken steps through the summer," DeBoer said. “And you can see they are definitely more comfortable with the install. A lot of it's the reps they get with the play concepts they have, but the footwork, and just the confidence with that. And some of the new things that we've added in, so Ty and Austin, those things are still new this spring. And they've now become very comfortable with, and it's subtle stuff.”
Ty Simpson has been labeled the starter if the season were to start today, but it was true freshman Keelon Russell who caught DeBoer's eye, making the biggest improvement leap over the summer.
“But probably Keelon's going to be the one that you're going to see the biggest jump naturally, and I feel like that was good," DeBoer said. “I mean, he's making quick decisions and not sitting there thinking too much. But I felt all of them did.
DeBoer highlighted Simpson for thriving in the offense by connecting on the “gimme” throws: short passes that maybe aren't as exciting but are needed to keep the drives going.
“I think Ty, we've talked about all the quarterbacks, but just the gimme, the ones that are just should be 100% making those plays all the time," DeBoer said. “And I really felt like he did that. He got probably more opportunities just because of the way the plays developed. To have more of those gimmes, and those gimmes add up. Gimmes are five-yard gains that turn into 15 and 20, and sometimes explosives. And they keep the chains moving.”
No matter which quarterback gets the starting job, DeBoer is happy with the direction the position is heading in.
Alabama will open the season August 30 against Florida State at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee.
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