Eli Drinkwitz breaks down challenges posed by Alabama QB Ty Simpson
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It hasn’t come from the names we anticipated, but there has been some strong quarterback play this college football season. In the SEC, perhaps no one is playing the position better than Alabama’s Ty Simpson. He leads the conference in passing yards (1,478) and passing efficiency rating (174.7) with a 13:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio through 6 weeks.
Since the Crimson Tide’s season opener in sloppy conditions at Florida State, nobody has managed to slow Simpson down. Mizzou head coach Eli Drinkwitz has the unenviable task of trying in Week 7. Unfortunately, based on his comments from a Tuesday evening press conference, it doesn’t appear he has a particular solution in mind yet.
“[Ty Simpson] makes very good decisions. [He’s] not easily deceived with disguise. [He’s] unaffected by pressure [and] has the ability to escape [it],” Drinkwitz told reporters. “You kinda have to pick your poison. If we play zone, he’s gonna pick us apart. If we blitz, he’s gonna stand in there and identify the one-on-one matchup and take it… he’s really good.”
Drinkwitz added that Simpson’s mobility, particularly on third down, makes it even tougher to get Alabama’s offense off the field in key situations. On the season, the Tide are converting 52.9% of their third downs, a mark that ranks 17th nationally.
Mizzou, for what it is worth, leads the nation in third-down conversion rate at 61.6%.
The Tigers had a bye week to prepare for this game, but the Crimson Tide aren’t really who you want to see coming down the track in the first conference game you’ve played since publicly ripping your secondary. Kickoff between Alabama and Missouri is set for noon ET on ABC.
