Checking in on the early season temperatures in Tuscaloosa. 

HOT

Amari Cooper. How else would you describe the nation’s leading receiver? Cooper tied a school record with 13 grabs against Florida Atlantic and burned the Owls defense when he took a screen pass from Blake Sims 52 yards to paydirt. The next most frequent pass catcher on the Crimson Tide, DeAndrew White, has 19 fewer receptions than Cooper at this point. If Lane Kiffin keeps feeding Cooper the ball, this hot streak isn’t likely to end.

WARM

The quarterback battle. Fans might be split on who should start, but the results so far are pretty telling. Sims, the senior, has expertly piloted the offense so far, completing 76.6 percent of his passes through two games. He also has mobility that Alabama hasn’t had at the position in years. Coker, while extremely talented, didn’t look comfortable against FAU. He made a few questionable decisions, and even elicited a Steve Spurrier-like headset spike from Nick Saban when he took a sack to end the first half. Coker could well end up being the guy, but for now Sims looks like the clear-cut best option.

CHILLED

T.J. Yeldon. The junior back was a workhorse last year, and put up major numbers against West Virginia in week one. But against FAU, Yeldon only toted the rock seven times for 43 yards, and didn’t receive a single carry after he botched a handoff from Sims midway through the third quarter. Although Sims was credited for the fumble, it could be a problem going forward. Yeldon put the ball on the ground five times last year, far too many for Nick Saban’s liking.

COLD

Nick Saban’s stare. Other than O.J. Howard’s disappearance from the game plan, there’s not a lot for Saban to be upset with Kiffin for. But man, that is one icy look.

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