The Alabama Crimson Tide are entering what some may say is a bounce-back season after the team was ousted from the College Football Playoffs by Ohio State. The team has a lot of stars to replace this year after players like Amari Cooper and TJ Yeldon departed for the NFL while Blake Sims graduated. While Nick Saban would not dare to release a depth chart, all eyes are on the quarterback battle currently taking place as injuries could push other players into the spotlight.
The starting quarterback position is once again up for grabs down in Tuscaloosa. Alabama needs to replace Sims who won the battle last year as the team has four quality options. Injuries could be a deciding factor as Jake Coker is at risk of learning that lesson the hard way. Saban announced on Monday that Coker underwent minor knee surgery and would miss several days of practice as a result. Coker is a senior who transferred from Florida State last season and was viewed as the favorite to win the starting job. Saban told the media that is up for grabs.
"From a quarterback standpoint, I can't really say that one guy was better than another," Saban said, via AL.com. "I think all did good things, and I think all did some things not so well. And I think that I would love to see one of these guys sort of take the bull by the horns and play with a sense of urgency that affects everybody else, that shows leadership and sort of the command and the confidence that our team needs."
The absence of Coker opens the door for the rest of the roster to earn the starting job. Junior Alec Morris, sophomore Cooper Bateman, redshirt freshman David Cornwell and true freshman Blake Barnett are the rest of the roster for the Crimson Tide. According to ESPN's Alex Scarborough, none of the quarterbacks have truly separated themselves from the pack which will be frustrating to Tide fans. Cornwell entered camp as the No.2 quarterback while Barnett is earning plenty of fans. The team's second scrimmage will be critical in deciding who could possibly be in the lead.
Replacing Sims will not be easy along with Cooper and Yeldon. Derrick Henry immediately steps into the spotlight as the top running back and Tide fans should be excited to see him get more carries this season while Kenyan Drake returns healthy and ready to play following a season-ending injury. Saban told the media that ArDarius Stewart might be the best wide receiver on the roster this season while Chris Black and Calvin Ridley are expected to impress as well.