With the first scrimmage in the books for several SEC teams, the league-wide quarterback saga continues.
Briefly, as is the case in mid-August most seasons, defenses are ahead of offenses at this junction and each squad’s second scrimmages will likely tell us more than the first.
A couple teams held closed scrimmages Saturday and not much information is out there, but here’s what we know:
ALABAMA
Nick Saban is pleased with the way his team’s progressing through fall camp, but seemed frustrated with the ongoing questions concerning his quarterback situation on Saturday. He continues to ask for consistency at the position and says he can’t “make it happen.”
Saban on QBs: You have to win the team. “I can’t make it happen.” Expects an earful from Miss Terry tonight.
— Christopher Walsh (@WritingWalsh) August 15, 2015
Alabama playmakers Chris Black and Kenyan Drake did not scrimmage. Wideout Robert Foster missed the end of practice after spraining his knee.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Jon Hoke’s revamped defense impressed Steve Spurrier with its ability to tackle during a one-hour scrimmage at Williams-Brice Stadium, but the Head Ball Coach wasn’t happy with the play of several quarterbacks vying for the job including Connor Mitch and freshman Lorenzo Nunez.
Three different quarterbacks tossed interceptions. Only one touchdown pass was thrown amongst Mitch, Nunez, Perry Orth and Michael Scarnecchia.
Any clearer on QB battle? Spurrier: “how could we be? Did you see anything?” — Michael Haney (@Haney1075) August 15, 2015
Al Harris Jr. recorded an interception and Dante Sawyer picked up a pair of sacks defensively for the Gamecocks.
MISSOURI
True freshman quarterback Drew Lock generated buzz and turned a few heads with two touchdown passes in his debut and showed poise from the pocket.
QB Drew Lock went 14-of-19 passing for 139 yards and 2 TDs during the first scrimmage of #MIZCamp on Saturday. He added 22 rushing yards. — Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) August 15, 2015
Defensive end Charles Harris, asked to become a featured pass rusher this season in the absence of several playmakers at the point of attack, led the way on his side of the football with two sacks.
AUBURN
Duke Williams tweaked his ankle, Auburn appears to have three running backs ready for the season and Jeremy Johnson made a couple nice throws during Saturday’s scrimmage on the Plains. Gus Malzahn said the Tigers’ second scrimmage wasn’t as defensively-dominant as the first and the offense focused on throwing it around a little bit more.
Auburn’s Gus Malzahn said the offense threw it 65-70 percent of the time in scrimmage, and that QB Jeremy Johnson “performed well.”
— Auburn Gold Mine (@AUGoldMine) August 15, 2015
The scrimmage also gave Auburn’s coaching staff to better assess which freshmen would play this season, notably as immediate special teams contributors, and who appears heading toward a redshirt year.
LSU
Les Miles is playing it close to the vest with LSU’s quarterback competition and has kept Anthony Jennings and Brandon Harris off limits since the start of camp. The Tigers kept the media out of Saturday’s scrimmage in Baton Rouge and return to the practice field on Monday.
KENTUCKY
Mum on quarterbacks, Mark Stoops refused to go into detail on Patrick Towles vs. Drew Baker and said both signal callers “did some good things” on Saturday. He’s happy with the way Kentucky’s young receiving corps continues to make plays and what OC Shannon Dawson has brought to that side of the football.
