Quarterback Spotlight: Blake Sims (Alabama)

vs WEST VIRGINIA (Atlanta)

[1st 9:49] Creates space for him to throw. Rolls to the left, keeps his eyes down field, fires off a pass to DeAndrew White. [1st 2:49] Completes a quick pass against pressure on third down. His velocity is probably average to below average at the next level, but it's not poor. [2nd 11:25] Makes a great play to create space off a quick change of direction, but can't finish with an accurate throw. The ball dropped to the feet of his target. [2nd 5:50] Throwing into open space, but clearly isn't scare of pressure. [2nd 13:12] Misses a back shoulder comeback, likely due to chemistry. Does have a wide base on the play, though.

[2nd 12:05] On a designed rollout on a fourth down, Sims is unable to control his deep ball. Open on a smash concept, he had star WR Amari Cooper one-on-one on a corner route. This was his first deep attempt.

[2nd 3:58] Hits on a deep ball (dropped), but had a lot of air under it. Not sure he can hit the home run. Has a bit of a long draw.

[3rd 13:31] Here, Sims decides to throw about a 15 yard pass to the direction of his tight end. In cover three, once the boundary receiver is done with his route, the boundary cornerback is going to read the eyes of the quarterback. The tight end is just in his zone in Cover 3. Sims needs to send it off with some pop to complete it.

There's too much air under it, the linebacker from WVU sticks to tight end O.J. Howard pretty closely, and the corner comes over and hawks the ball for an interception. He just didn't have the arm to make that play.

vs FLORIDA ATLANTIC

[1st 5:23] PA rollout left, missed on another open target (barely). Beginning to wonder if he can't make throws while moving left

Makes calls at the LOS. Base continues to be a little too wide when throwing in the pocket.

vs SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI

[1st 5:22] Launches a deep ball with a too wide base and long draw. Sent deep and over the middle, it comes out with too much air under it. Defensive back tips it at the goal line (50 yards away.) Sims has a strong enough arm, but can he throw it on a rope? Is he Tajh Boyd of the 2015 class? [2nd 11:19] Throws a decent fade route, the defensive back couldn't make a play on the ball. Was a little outside, though, and Amari Cooper couldn't come down with it. [3rd 12:57] Here's a play where Sims' long release hurts him. 1st and goal, the team runs a PA rollout. The issue is that by the time he's able to get the ball out, his receiver is already planted in the very corner of end zone. If he could have gotten the ball out a little quicker, he could have potentially hit his man in stride for a touchdown. Instead, it was an incompletion. [3rd 8:05] Sims finally hits a nice deep ball in stride, nailing Cooper on a 27-yard gain. Drops right into a bucket.

vs FLORIDA

[1st 13:59] First play of the game and Sims connects deep. The running back Kenyan Drake gives the linebacker split out wide a little head shake, and he bites. The safety is out of position to cover the man going vertical and can't keep up with him. Results in a 87 yard touchdown.

[1st 7:00] Deep ball in the middle of the field thrown into decently tight coverage. Would like the ball there faster at the next level. [1st 6:05] Rollout to the right, thrown well above the head of a wide open man closing in on the right sideline. [1st 4:23] Another deep ball. A bunch of air under it, but hit in stride and show how strong of an arm Sims has. Ball goes nearly 60 yards in the air before Cooper runs it in for another 30. [2nd 11:17] One of the best passes of the season. Cooper can't come down with it, but the deep ball has a very small level of error allowed. [3rd 15:00] Hit Cooper on a perfect vertical down the sideline. Deep ball looks much better than previous games. [3rd 10:38] Base wide, long motion. Misses on a deep ball.