Through their first 7 games as a starter.

2009 - Greg McElroy: 173 attempts 103 completions 3 INT.
Completion Percentage 59.5% 1,325 yards passing 9 TD.
QB Rating: 137.57

2011 - AJ McCarron: 174 attempts 117 completions 2 INT.
Completion Percentage 67.2% 1,380 yards passing 9 TD.
QB Rating: 197.1

2014 - Blake Sims: 176 attempts 117 completions 3 INT
Completion Percentage 66.5% 1,748 yards passing 13 TD.
QB Rating: 249.7


I'm not posting this to say how good Sims is. I just didn't realize how bad AJ and Greg were.

I copied those numbers from another site so I'm not guaranteeing the accuracy.

As bad as they were they still scored rings.

I figured AJ would have had better numbers.

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say Sims numbers are a little better because CNS has relaxed his stance on offense.

Not saying Sims is worse...just not better.

I thought McElroy was a good QB in Sabans system. I thought AJ was extremely good. I'm not sold, in the least, on Sims. I wonder how many of those passes were actually more than 5 yards past the line of scrimmage. There were a few games that AJ just flat out made plays in to win games. He could carry that weight when they needed him to. I don't know that Sims has that.

Come on guys, when has Bama ever had a good QB, much less a great quarterback. When you have a defense that is normally as good as Bama puts on the field, you really never need a gunslinger at that position. You simply look for someone that understand the offense, accept their role and not turn the ball over. Bama has had that equation for the past several years dating back to when Stallings was head coach.

Now this kid that they have coming in from the west coast may shake things up a bit where the offense is concerned. I have watched him three times on TV and he spreads it around with accuracy. Now whether or not Pappa Saban allows him to throw it around is yet to be seen, my guess is that he will learn to manage the offense.

Stats can be made up to say pretty much anything one wants them to. For instance, there's no way I would trade Sims' starting receivers Amari Cooper and DeAndrew White (senior) for AJ's 2011 starting receivers Marquize Maze and DeAndrew White (freshman).

Also, Sims has played exactly TWO teams smart enough to double cover Cooper and put 7-8 men in the box, and had problems with both. It's pretty easy to roll up huge yardage on some of the others Bama has played thus far with their "plan" to defend Bama.

Whoever came up with that was REACHING.

Such a brilliant observation considering there's only 3 pass attempts separating all 3 of them. Seems like the very same balanced attack as always.

I agree with Bill. Right now I'm not sure Sims can carry the team but he's more like McElroy in managing the game.

I don't know that the teams they have all played are that different. West Virginia is a better team than I had initially thought. OM & UF are the only top defense that Sims has faced.

You beat me to it.

Dammit Dustin! Arkansas is a defensive powerhouse and you know it!

Not sure about "defensive powerhouse", but they did double cover Cooper and put 8 men in the box....and Sims struggled like hell.

I'm not sure if y'all think that I think Sims is good. I don't. He is great when things are going well, but if things go downhill he does too. Just my opinion and observations.

I will give Sims credit, though. If AJ or McElroy would have had an Offensive Line as weak as this years team, they would have been sacked a hundred times.

The only stat that matters through 7 games...

McElroy....7-0

AJ.........7-0

Sims.......6-1

The big difference is Simms legs. Your gonna see them utilize his running more in every game, here on out.

Simms has been better than anyone could have imagined. I'll give him that. At times he has even looked very good. He has posted very good stats.

Bottom line is his stats are better than he is. He hasn't had to through into tight coverage much. Until he does, his numbers will continue to improve.

Rings on their fingers ... they don't give two chits what the stats show. Jay Barker was slow as a slug and won.

Sims is fine. He'll do great in the Outback Bowl against Wisconsin.

But the bubble screens show up as running plays, right?

I think the bubble still shows as a pass.