When Kalen DeBoer was asked about the Alabama football quarterbacks' performance at the Crimson Tide 's first scrimmage Thursday, his mind first went to what went wrong.
Two throws, in particular. Not naming the quarterback, DeBoer said one was a "really short pass you really want to see completed." The other: "an opportunity for an explosive play that we missed."
Overall, however, DeBoer was pleased with the quarterback room of Ty Simpson , Austin Mack and Keelon Russell , saying the unit looked "more comfortable today." He also said he didn't see anything that would necessarily change his mind about the status of the room.
"I think it's pretty consistent from where it was from the beginning," DeBoer said. "They all bring something a little bit different to the table. Even though it's not like maybe a runner and then a passer, it's guys doing their thing and what their strengths are."
DeBoer said each quarterback is getting the opportunity to lead with the first- and second-team units, saying each handled the game management aspects of the scrimmage well, "and then going out there and making plays."
While not specifying Simpson, Mack or Russell, DeBoer said one quarterback is set apart by his ability to throw catchable balls, while another who is better at field throws and another better at scrambling.
"They are all taking something from each other's game and applying it to theirs and seeing there's always a way to make this play happen or that play happen," DeBoer said.
Simpson has the most experience in Alabama 's quarterback room with 381 yards on 50 career pass attempts across three seasons. The incoming redshirt junior has three rushing touchdowns to his name, but no passing touchdowns.
Mack is the only Alabama quarterback with a passing touchdown to his name: a 31-yard score to Rico Scott against Mercer last season.
And Russell is the highest-rated Alabama quarterback signee since Bryce Young .
All in all, DeBoer saw a room that did a "good job" keeping its eyes downfield, hitting explosive plays, showing composure and keeping the chains moving.
DeBoer sees a room "getting into a groove." He just didn't specify which quarterback did what.
Alabama will hold one more spring scrimmage before its A Day spring game at noon April 12 at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: How Ty Simpson, Alabama football QBs did in first spring scrimmage
