🏈 Team likes what they see with Coker

[aoterrell22]

SEe if i do this hide thing right.
[HIDE=3,9,4,2,5]
Coker’s new teammates like what they see
By Lamar Lovejoy

HOOVER, Ala. --- He has not taken a snap in an SEC game yet, but transfer Jake Coker has certainly caught the eyes (and ears) of his new teammates. Coker, who arrived in Tuscaloosa in May after leaving Florida State, has apparently done well for himself, especially in seven-on-seven work.

“Jacob’s done a great job since he came in May,” said senior wide receiver Christion Jones, speaking at Thursday’s final chapter of the 2014 SEC Media Days.

(Coker’s) been doing an awesome job with our wide receivers, with our coaches (in newly allowed off-season teaching sessions), learning, and doing all the little things right, trying to become the quarterback that we want him to be.

"It’s a competitive job for him as well, and he understands that, because we’ve got three or four other guys who can also help us win. They all compete, and are doing a great job, doing everything the coaches are asking them to do, and it’s fun watching them.”

Others who are competing for the signal-calling job at Alabama are senior Blake Sims, redshirt freshman Cooper Bateman, and true freshman David Cornwell.

Junior wide receiver Amari Cooper said Coker “seems like he has been steady, since the first day of seven-on-seven. He looks great. He has a strong arm, and he takes control of the huddle. You can tell he’s experienced (in a college system). I’m ready to see how he plays in the fall.”

However, Cooper said Coker has competition, especially from Sims.

"Blake seems ready," Cooper says. "He’s going all out, every day, like he wants the job.”
Junior safety Landon Collins has been on the other side of the ball against Coker in pass skeleton drills the past six weeks.

“He looks great,” Collins said. “He’s reading his keys, and getting the ball to where it needs to be. He’s doing his thing, and he’s been very productive.

“Each player (competing for the quarterback job) has different techniques. We just play with each other, and if one goes down, we have to know the other’s techniques and his keys that he throws to, and what he’s best at.”

All three Tide representatives spoke of the importance of upperclassmen’s leadership on the ’14 team, whether from captains or from others.

Said Jones, “It really doesn’t matter what my title is. I would rather just be titled as a leader of the team. My role on the team has changed. I do consider myself a leader, and I’m going to try to lead this team with the other leaders such as Amari Cooper and Landon Collins, and try to mold this team onto a different type of path. That’s something we mishandled last year. We will try to keep the team focused the whole season this year.”

Jones was referring to his team losing its final two games in 2013.

Cooper said the team’s leaders have a great example in their head coach.

“Coach (Nick) Saban is a great person," Cooper said. "He is a great leader. When he talks, you want to listen to him. He’s a great servant, and a blessing to other people. That’s what I take from him.”
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[bama alum]

Said Jones, “It really doesn’t matter what my title is. I would rather just be titled as a leader of the team. My role on the team has changed. I do consider myself a leader, and I’m going to try to lead this team with the other leaders such as Amari Cooper and Landon Collins, and try to mold this team onto a different type of path. That’s something we mishandled last year. We will try to keep the team focused the whole season this year.”

One easy way to keep their focus is to remind them of last night's ESPY's. :flaming: uke::flaming:

The receivers really, really like Coker. And apparently, the press like to pelt Coach Saban today with questions about him, too.

 

[PhillyGirl]

If half of what we have heard about Coker is true, he's gonna be a star.

 

[planomateo]

One easy way to keep their focus is to remind them of last night's ESPY's. :flaming: uke::flaming:

Ironic isn't it, winning games you shouldn't win all season, then losing the game when you should have won. But hey, they got an ESPY.

Win an ESPY or win the a Natty.

 

[BAMANEWSBOT]

There was a rhythm to the questions Alabama players faced at Thursday's SEC Media Days. A theme developed, especially for the two receivers.

The mystery man in the center of the Crimson Tide's biggest question mark was unavoidable. What's the deal with Jacob Coker? They came every few minutes for receivers Amari Cooperand Christion Jones. Together, they offered some insight into topic of the summer that's been short on actual information.

Coker's teammates gave a few impressions of his talent and personality from the unofficial action in Tuscaloosa. Regardless of who wins the job, it's clear there will be a much different quarterback in Bryant-Denny Stadium.

The voluntary workouts orchestrated by team members precede fall camp as front-runners Coker and fifth-year senior Blake Sims work on the little things. Sims stepped to the forefront in the spring before Coker arrived following a transfer from Florida State.

Coach Nick Saban again said the loud outside voices who give Coker the edge are misinformed. The receivers didn't sound ready to pick a favorite either.

But there's potential with the new guy.

"He definitely has sparks that he brings to the table that's shown that he can be one of the greatest quarterbacks to play here," Jones said. "But I can also say all our quarterbacks show those sparks at moments that they can be that quarterback. It's just going to be all about being consistent and coming out every day and competing and being consistent with your performance."

The former Seminole has a very strong arm, Cooper, Jones and safety Landon Collins each said independently. There's also a considerable size difference with Coker standing 6-foot-5 and Sims at 6-feet even. That creates a different arm slot and angle from which the ball arrives.

There are also the intangibles. Quarterbacks have to take charge on the field and departed three-year AJ McCarron was not shy out there.

"Right now he's not that vocal because he's still learning the plays," Jones said. "He's still working on trying to progress to be a starting quarterback. He's vocal, but it's more asking questions and trying to get better."

Chemistry is another huge factor that several receivers said was very strong with Sims throughout the spring. Developing that bond with Coker is part of what makes these 7-on-7 summer drills so important.

"It's a process that we're trying to develop with him, because we have a lot of quarterbacks that are competing for the job," Jones said. "We have a lot of quarterbacks that's in the pocket at different times. It's hard to just call out one quarterback that's getting the chemistry. We are all trying to get all together in the same chemistry. We're just trying to mold them into how we run routes and set the timing to how we see things on our side and how they see things on their side, to put it together and make it better."

It's an expedited acclimation period since Coker had to finish up classes in Tallahassee this spring.

"I think it's pretty difficult, but it seems like, from the first day of 7-on-7, he was ready," Cooper said. "So I can tell he's a pretty experienced player and I think he's ready."

Saban also touched on the experience factor in all of this. Coker spent three years in the Florida State program under Jimbo Fisher — a Saban disciple who operates his team much like they do in Tuscaloosa.

"There's a process that every player has to go through, in any system, to be able to play at that position," Saban said. "As much as you would like to accelerate or speed up that process, you still have to go through it and it takes time. But, an older player who has knowledge and experience, can relate and probably do it more quickly than a younger player because he's been though a college system, and one that's not so dissimilar to ours because we do a lot of the same things."

Off the field, Coker is still adjusting to his new environment.

"He's a cool guy," Jones said. "He's laidback. Right now, because he's here early, he's only like three months in. He's still kind of laidback, shy, won't talk too much. But that'll come out soon."

And when there's a fifth-year senior competing with a teammate they're still meeting, questions about cohesiveness are obvious.

Jones said there's no need to worry.

"It's not about picking sides," he said. "One thing about coach Saban and his resume, he's going to play the best players at that time. Whoever is chosen, it will be nothing for the next man to come in and play. It's all about being ready at the moment, because no matter who our quarterback is they're going to have to play. We're going to have to choose one at the end of the day.

"No matter who it is, our job as an offense and as a team, is to build their confidence and get them ready to go."

Continue reading...

 

[MissingRing]

I'm encouraged by the player comments about Coker. Naturally, they wouldn't say anything negative about him, but I get the sense that Coker is beginning to fulfill their expectations.