🏈 Will We Miss Jake Coker?

[uofarolltide]

The more I watch highlights and footage from last season, the more I realize how valuable Coker was. He made a lot of great throws and gutsy plays in critical moments. He was as solid as they come, and totally unflappable.

As we look at our options at QB this year, I think we'll be lucky if we can trot out a guy as good as Coker. He proved himself a championship caliber QB.
I just watched him drill Mullaney running a crossing route 20 yards downfield in tight coverage vs. Georgia.
I think people take him for granted, and the fact that he actually was really good throwing the football.

Do we have a guy who can make throws like Coker? I've seen Hurts flash some brilliance. I've seen Barnett make some nice throws. Haven't seen much from Bateman or Cornwell.
Do we have a guy with mental toughness and confidence like Coker? Hurts again, seems to have it. Idk about the others.

I'm just saying. People think Alabama can win a championship with some nobody at QB, and that's just not true; McElroy had all of the intangibles imaginable. AJ McCarron was pretty damn good, and could start in the NFL. Coker, like I said, had great mental toughness and routinely made some really nice throws.

Like Blake Sims, I don't think Bateman has the "it" factor; too shaky. I really hope that we have a QB who can routinely make midrange passes in tight coverage, can manage the game, and never lose composure. We'll need that level of QB play at least.

 

[TUSKtimes]

The more I watch highlights and footage from last season, the more I realize how valuable Coker was. He made a lot of great throws and gutsy plays in critical moments. He was as solid as they come, and totally unflappable.

As we look at our options at QB this year, I think we'll be lucky if we can trot out a guy as good as Coker. He proved himself a championship caliber QB.
I just watched him drill Mullaney running a crossing route 20 yards downfield in tight coverage vs. Georgia.
I think people take him for granted, and the fact that he actually was really good throwing the football.

Do we have a guy who can make throws like Coker? I've seen Hurts flash some brilliance. I've seen Barnett make some nice throws. Haven't seen much from Bateman or Cornwell.
Do we have a guy with mental toughness and confidence like Coker? Hurts again, seems to have it. Idk about the others.

I'm just saying. People think Alabama can win a championship with some nobody at QB, and that's just not true; McElroy had all of the intangibles imaginable. AJ McCarron was pretty damn good, and could start in the NFL. Coker, like I said, had great mental toughness and routinely made some really nice throws.

Like Blake Sims, I don't think Bateman has the "it" factor; too shaky. I really hope that we have a QB who can routinely make midrange passes in tight coverage, can manage the game, and never lose composure. We'll need that level of QB play at least.

Thank goodness you didn't call him a game manager. He was clutch and will always be one of my favorites for his good nature and determination. As tough as a 2 dollar steak and he gave as good as he got. Games that will stand the test of time for me is smoking Georgia in the rain, running over dudes in aggieland, the drive against tennessee, and when the stage got huge in the playoff was the best QB on the field against sparty and downright relentless against Clemson. Some of those runs he had for first down and Houdini-like escapes won games and a championship.

 

[planomateo]

I always enjoyed watching Coker's toughness and competitiveness. Easy to root for a guy that plays with reckless abandonment like he did in a few of those games. He just wouldn't quit, sure he ate some sacks he shouldn't have, but he certainly gave us a hell of a show!

Kinda ironic he's battling Barkley for the 3rd roster spot at Arizona now huh, considering we open with USC.

 

[jdpas29]

I will especially miss closing my eyes and imagining that Elvis IS alive and he's doing the post-game interview!

 

[BamaFan334]

I loved his heart and never give up attitude. That's simpky someyhing you can't teach, and most likely can't even recruit as you will never know until a game is on the line. I will not miss his long ball though. If we had a guy that could throw to Ridley and Stewart consistantly, we would have killed everyone last year.

 

[Tidestalker]

Last 2 games he came through... Although some rough moments in the Title game. He brought a lot of good things to the table, but at times that offense was hard to watch.. Always running and shifting around right before the snap, he's pointing and looking at the sidelines out of confusion... Calling late time outs... They were they in rhythm but the RB was so damn good that he made up for a lot of issues. His timing on short throws and his ball were never consistent. By the end of the year he was a solid QB, but I never felt like he was irreplaceable like AJ or even Blake.

 

[bradenob]

Dang TS, why the buzzkill? LOL

Of course Jake will be missed - would have been good to have him for another year, but he still had lots to improve on. Had some trouble getting us to convert when we needed it (thrid down conversion was atrocious last year) - the Tennessee game never should have been that close, but hey, give Jake credit on the winning drive. Jake hung tough, and he could make good throws. Bateman, from what Phil Savage said, has not shown he can throw the 25 yard pass accurately - Coker could throw a bullet. Bateman should be faster than Jake was, but dang Coker could be deceivingly elusive - not sure about Bateman there. Coker's decision-making seemed at best on par with B Sims, and nothing close to what we got used to with AJ - Bateman has to improve on that, and he has to improve from how Coker did in terms of NOT taking the sack! Coker was tough, mentally and physically - with Bateman, that remains to be seen. Bateman HAS to have the leadership that Coker had, or he'll be lost. He also HAS to be able to hit an out route 25 yards and in - these receivers are no good to us if we don't get them the ball!

I feel that Barnett and Hurts can both sling it - they can get it to our amazing receivers. They have confidence. They are fast. They show leadership. Can they make good decisions? Can they take care of the ball? The experience factor is important. That is what may separate Bateman from them, at least at first. But if they continue to improve, and Bateman doesn't LEAD the team, and CAN'T make the deeper throws, they will get their chance.

 

[Crtuneman]

The biggest problem I had with Coker was that he sometimes held the ball way too long. He always believed that he could make a play if he just waited long enough, and he would try to run instead of throwing the ball away and lose 15 yards. Outside of that I thought he made pretty good decisions and showed decent accuracy. Not great but decent. He'll definitely not make it in the NFL. Too slow.

 

[Sid Youngleman]

Yes. Especially at Christmastime.

 

[It Takes Eleven]

Tough, gutsy, competitive player - sometimes slow to recognize or adapt during play - but I'm grateful for his time in an Alabama jersey.


Huge play standing in as long as he could, knowing his legs were going to be taken out, and throwing before the receiver gets separation.


You don't have to have blinding speed (it helps), but if you're fast and large you can make things happen. Yes, he looked downfield too long at times, but by remaining engaged with his receivers he made a big play at an important time of the aubrun game.

RTR,

Tim

 

[JoshB]

Yep, we will miss him right until the new QB throws his first 80 yard bomb to Ridley...

 

[TerryP]

The biggest problem I had with Coker was that he sometimes held the ball way too long.

This reads like comments on Greg. (Come to think about it, didn't people complain that AJ threw it away too often? Seems like it.)

I liked the way Greg stood in the pocket. I hope Cooper follows the same path. Of course, I tend to look at the efficiency aspect more than most. What was it Greg ended up with ... something like a TD to INT ration of 4:1?

 

[rick4bama]

Maybe we should save these thread each year. @uofarolltide, I'm not being mean here, it just that this type come up ever year at this time. I bet we will have a back up thread right after the first game to, well maybe the second one.

 

[uofarolltide]

I think his most important attribute, aside from having a strong arm, was his mental toughness. It's such an underrated part of a QB that they have PRESENCE. Jake had a presence, and was the opposite of timid on the field. His toughness and attitude made a big impact on our offense.
From what I've seen, Bateman is timid, and lacks presence. I mean, the guy is supposed to be one of the fastest on the team, yet he's so timid that we've never seen him make a noteworthy running play.

I'll just say this: If nobody can take the job from Bateman, that's a bad sign for our season. Bateman won't have won the job because he's the most talented, or a team favorite. He'll win because he doesn't make crucial errors, and nobody else was able to step up and take the reigns