Following the 2008 season, Alabama said goodbye to quarterback John Parker Wilson. Wilson’s tenure as starting quarterback encompassed a time in Alabama football history that contains some of the most tumultuous years in the history of the program. He started for two different head coaches (Shula 2006, Saban 2007-2008) and though at times impressed, much of the Crimson Tide fan-base wanted someone else to step up and step in behind center. No one ever displaced him and in 2008 we saw the maturation of a quarterback when Wilson led the Tide to a surprising 12-2 season.
In the Iron Bowl of that season we caught a glimpse of who would eventually succeed John Parker as quarterback of Alabama. With the Tide up 29-0, redshirt sophomore Greg McElroy stepped in behind center. Just a few plays in, McElroy threw a perfectly placed bomb to wide receiver Marquise Maze in the end zone to bring the score to the final of 36-0. Starting in the spring of 2009, McElroy grabbed a hold of the starting position and never let go. Although struggling for a couple of games during the 2009 season he was able to lead the Tide to a perfect 14-0 record, winning a SEC and BCS championship titles and garnishing SEC Championship Game MVP honors along the way. In 2010, while trying to compensate for an inexperienced defense and a subpar performance from the offensive line the Tide was only able to put together a not too shabby 10-3 record and a Capital One Bowl appearance.
Alabama loses a starter at quarterback who put together a 24-3 starting record in two years. Not only was McElroy a great leader on the field but also has been the face of program the past two years, making appearances on ESPN look like a walk in the park. The next quarterback of the Tide will be stepping into very big shoes. Coach Saban and his staff will attempt to alleviate the pressure on the incumbent; however, the new signal-caller will need to be able to win games should the running game be shut down.
A.J. McCarron (RS So.):
A.J. McCarron came in with the recruiting class of 2009, rated a four star recruit by Rivals. He took a redshirt his first year but by November (prior to the LSU game) had cemented his role as the backup quarterback to McElroy. Had McElroy been injured in the course of the 2009 season it would have been McCarron, and not Star Jackson, who would have stepped in to lead the offense. Although Star may not have been what we all thought he was, it says a lot that a true freshmen was able to earn the trust of Saban and his staff enough to be put in such a role over a more experienced player.
Fortunately, the time never came in 2009 that A.J. was needed to step in as the starter. 2010 brought about McCarron’s first season as the official backup quarterback. He would see time at quarterback in eight games going 30-48 with three touchdowns and zero interceptions. Although a very respectable stat line for any quarterback, McCarron would draw the wrath of his coach in a couple of situations where he would go for the big play when there was none, instead of checking down for the safer completion.
McCarron comes into his third season in the program poised to win the starting job. Listed at 6-4, 190 pounds, he could still use to put on a little muscle in order to ensure that his body lasts through the grueling physicality of an SEC schedule. Of the two prospects favored for the job, McCarron brings the most college experience to the table which could give him the edge over redshirt freshmen Phillip Sims.
Phillip Sims (RS Fr.):
Another highly recruited and rated quarterback prospect, Phillip Sims came into the Alabama program with the 2010 recruiting class rated as a four star prospect by Rivals. An early enrollee in the spring of last year, Sims impressed coaches and fans alike during spring practice and the A-Day game. However, as has become customary with Saban recruited quarterbacks, Sims took a redshirt this past football season as the third string quarterback.
Some rumors arose near the end of the season that Sims was homesick and was looking at transferring following the end of the season. These rumors were put to rest however; as his father said that Phillip was here for the long term whether he won the starting job or not. Listed at 6-2, 214 pounds, the size is there, although some extra weight around his middle has arisen some concern about his conditioning. Other than that there are really no faults to attribute to Phillip Sims. Although some think he is a dual-threat quarterback he is a self described passer first. He does display a little more mobility in the pocket than McCarron and is able to make a few more plays with his legs. The arm is there in both accuracy and power and his ability to read defenses is very advanced for his age and experience level. It will surely be interesting to watch these two talented quarterbacks fight for the starting job.
Philip Ely (Fr.):
A three star recruit coming out of high school in Tampa Bay, Florida, Philip Ely doesn’t come with quite the hype which the previous two quarterback recruits have garnished. Ely has already been compared to Greg McElroy in that the size or arm strength may not be at the level of Sims or McCarron but the football IQ and arm accuracy are.
A 6’ 1”, 188 pound prospect, Ely is most likely on the outside looking in for this year’s quarterback battle. He will be going up against more talented and more experienced adversaries and will most likely be looking at a redshirt year for 2011.
In my opinion it will be A.J. McCarron who will begin the 2011 season as the starting quarterback for the Crimson Tide. His experience as backup and the fact that in his freshmen season he was able to climb the depth chart should serve as cues that he understands and is able to execute the offense effectively. Although Phillip Sims is very talented, it should serve as an indicator that Phillip was not able to upend McCarron as backup this past season. However, I could be wrong, but how can you not pick a talent who sports the same haircut that great Alabama quarterbacks such as Brodie Croyle and John Parker Wilson have worn before him. When all is said and done, though, it will be interesting if the loser of the battle chooses to stay on as backup or will end up transferring for a job elsewhere.
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