TUSCALOOSA, Ala. _ It will surprise probably to learn that even though senior Blake Sims took all but three snaps during the University of Alabama’s season opener on Saturday the Crimson Tide’s quarterback competition will continue.

Both Sims and Jacob Coker, a transfer from Florida State who arrived at the Capstone in May, will likely play during this week’s home opener at Bryant-Denny Stadium against Florida Atlantic, but Coach Nick Saban isn’t sure how yet.

“When I figure it out I’m probably not going to tell you, and I don’t know if that’s important to be honest with you,” Saban said during his Monday press conference.

Sims completed 24 of 33 passes for 250 yards, and ran for 42 more while helping lead Alabama to a 33-23 victory over West Virginia. He didn’t have any touchdowns, but wasn’t sacked either and the Crimson Tide only had one turnover.

“Blake did a good job in the game,” Saban said. “He had a couple open guys he missed, and we had a couple good throws that he made that were dropped.

“I think the only negative, especially in the second quarter, which I mentioned after the game, poise and calling plays in the huddle, taking too long in the huddle. We had to call time out a couple times. Those are the types of things that are the game management issues that we have to improve upon. We actually went no-huddle for a little bit and then he got settled down and then he was fine after that. I thought it was good.

“I still don’t hesitate to say there’s a quarterback competition.”

Although Sims was not one of the players Alabama coaches selected for player of the week honors he completed 7 of 8 passes on third down for 79 yards and five first downs. Overall, the Crimson Tide converted 9 of 16 opportunities (56.3 percent) and executed scoring drives of 14, 13 and 11 plays.

He set program records for attempts and completions by a quarterback making his first start and his 250 passing yards were the third, trailing only Brodie Croyle (285 vs. Arkansas in 2002) and John Parker Wilson (253, Hawai’i in 2006).

“Blake did great,” senior fullback Jaslton Fowler said. “He kept his control, his poise out there. Just balled out.”

“I feel like Blake focused on what he could focus on and did his job to the best of his ability,” senior guard Arie Kouandjio said. “I mean, that’s all I could ask for.”

Although Coker was at one point warming up in the second quarter he didn’t make his Crimson Tide debut until the final possession and had no pass attempts.

On Saturday, Alabama hosts Florida Atlantic (noon ET, SEC Network), which is coming off a 55-7 loss to Nebraska during which it yielded 784 total yards. Under the direction of first-year coach Charlie Partridge, FAU will receive $1 million for making the trip to Tuscaloosa.