The bye week couldn’t have come at a better time for Alabama, especially for its starting quarterback.
Blake Sims went down with a shoulder injury against Florida, but was able to return to the game and throw a few passes.
Naturally, one of the primary concerns for Alabama going forward was Sims’ health. Would he be able to replicate the deep passes he threw against Florida? Would his arm have the same velocity after the injury?
Nick Saban answered that question this week.
“Blake’s fine, he’s done really well,” Saban said. “He hasn’t had any issues or problems. Looks like his old self. I would not know that he ever was hurt based on the way he’s practiced and the way he’s played. He hasn’t had any discomfort at all after doing it, aight, which I think is the real key to the drill.”
Sims had been on a limited schedule during practice through the bye week, a certain “pitch count” of plays in which he participated. But he resumed his normal routine this week, in preparation for Ole Miss.
Along with getting back to its regularly scheduled activities, the team has been practicing inside with artificial crowd noise, trying to replicate a hostile road environment. This aural assault is meant to force Sims and the offense to operate without the luxury of a respectfully quiet home crowd, but through the pumped in decibels, Sims is showing his skills.
“He looks amazing to me,” Alabama defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson said. “Trying to rush against him, he’s pretty fast. He’s been looking good to us.”
Sims and his formerly injured shoulder will be ready to lead his team on Saturday, something he’s been doing for a while now.
“He’s been a leader all summer long, it’s a role he wanted to have,” Alabama tight end Brian Vogler said. “With how things have gone this season, he’s really come into that role as someone you can look to with confidence in the huddle.”
Alabama will need that leadership as it travels to Oxford, Miss. for its first SEC road game — and first true road game overall — of the season.
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