Happy Gump Day. We’re just one week out from the start of Fall camp, and there’s all kinds of news starting to heat up. We’ll begin with what was a topic of discussion yesterday: QB1.
And, well, safe to say that barring some disaster (or miracle), Ty Simpson has gone ahead and all-but publicly announced the job is his.
Ty Simpson shares his message to Crimson Tide fans, via @QBReps: "When I get on the field, Alabama fans should know that I'm going to do everything it takes to win. "I'm going to make
ADsure that I'm the toughest guy on the field." https://t.co/50hhK7rtZL pic.twitter.com/oLi0UYj1k5
— Charlie Potter (@Charlie_Potter) July 23, 2025
“When I get on the field, Alabama fans should know I’m going to do everything it takes to win,” Simpson said in a video with QB reps that his dad posted to social media. “I’m going to make sure I’m the toughest guy on the field. I’m going to make sure I win. I’m going to make sure I know everything that’s coming. I’m going to get the guys around me the ball.”
Said DeBoer of Ty:
“You know, mechanically, I mean, he’s pretty tight with everything. Does a nice job, throws a really catchable ball,” said DeBoer. “I think that’s one of the things as a quarterback, right. You’ve got to be making the right reads and all that but, you know, your footwork and all that. He can extend plays. I think all three of our quarterbacks can do that. But, you know Ty is an accurate passer. He throws a catchable ball and I think that’s so key. Whether it’s down the field, whether it’s crossing routes, quick outs, comebacks? I mean, he throws a catchable ball, one that’s easy to receive as a receiver. You can throw it hard, you can throw it soft and it doesn’t mean it’s always easy to catch. And so, he does that.”
KDB would go on to say that there is a quarterback competition, but I don’t think the timing of those two statements yesterday was a coincidence: Put this one to rest. Simpson is your starter until someone takes it from him.
The competition is truly for next-man-up, and who can grow the fastest as a player in Fall Camp. And that’s not meaningless by any stretch. In fact, it may be the more intriguing battle, since both of those players are more in the DeBoer archetype of tall, athletic, big-armed pro passer types. They each have a lot to learn and plenty of room for growth. The Fall battle will be good for both.
Hatin’ ass Bill Connelly negs on poor Ty though, and it was clear that he didn’t watch the game that he’s complaining of — the Players Lank Mutiny of which we shall never speak.
Basically, if you tell me now that Simpson is going to be good this season — not even great, just good — this is a top-five team at worst. It’s just hard to guarantee that. A former top-40 recruit, Simpson has seen playing time in each of the past three seasons, throwing for 381 yards and rushing for three touchdowns. But about three-quarters of his dropbacks have come in garbage time. In his only sustained action outside of garbage time, he took five sacks in an unexpectedly tight win over South Florida in 2023. Not great.
I don’t even know where to start with this analysis. Stick to your crappy SP+ and leave the foosball to people who actually watch it.
Speaking of QBs, the Tide did decide to take a second one yesterday, when it accepted the commitment of Tayden Kaawa. Stop me if you’ve heard this one before...like, say, a paragraph ago: Kaawa is a big, 6’5” pro passer with good mobility, decent escapability for a big man, and a huge arm.
Via 247:
“Kaawa is a massive quarterback prospect with a frame that reminds us of former Clemson/Oregon State and Florida State signal caller DJ Uiagalelei. Big frame and stand all of 6-foot-5, 240 pounds and has no problems driving the ball down the field. Operates primarily out of the shotgun and shows the ability to pick a part a defense and had a very productive junior season after transferring in to Orem. For his size, Kaawa is not a bad athlete and shows the ability to take off and run on designed zone read plays and can extend plays when the pocket breaks down as well. Can throw from different arm angles and is comfortable throwing rolling out to his right or his left. Needs to continue to progress in his ability to make quick reads, process the game and get the ball out on time but there’s some upside here because of the physical traits. Also a talented baseball player, good enough to potentially double sport in college but will likely focus on football at the college level.”
Here is his Hudl clip, if you want to see poor white Mormon kids bouncing off a 6’5” Samoan. LOL. Perhaps the most impressive part of his game at this young stage of his career is his ability to feel pressure and step up into the pocket, as well as his touch. He knows when to finesse the ball, and when to put some mustard on it.
That “catchable ball” thing DeBoer was talking about? Here’s what it looks like.
One day, I hope to love anything like DeBoer loves tall football players
The projected trio of Tide starting wideouts will be livestreaming at noon, if you’re the Twitch sort. They are anticipated to have a 24-hour Gumpathon. May be worth checking in (and FWIW, Twitch pays their streamers very well. So a few extra eyeballs actually really does help their bottom line).
Alabama wide receivers Ryan Williams, Isaiah Horton, and Germie Bernard will be hosting a 24-hour stream on Williams’ Twitch account.
— Crimson Coverage (@CrimsonCoverage) July 20, 2025
The stream will start on Wednesday, July 23rd at 12 P.M. CST. pic.twitter.com/bZvdbAh6DP
So, remember last year how Milroe almost always seemed to miss his throws to the right? In my never-ending quest to help us all become more informed football viewers, I present this explanation of the mechanics behind bad throws, and why ones miss badly to the right — it is almost always poor mechanics contributing to the ball’s natural requirement that it spin rightward for a parabolic trajectory.
TL/DR: Ball wants to go right, and unless QB1 is making a throw using his body positioning, he has to correct by “aiming” with his arm...and it makes for inaccurate throws. Last year we gave Milroe a lot of grief for aiming instead of throwing. I still think it was a groin or busted ribs, but it was clear his mechanics were way, way off after the South Carolina game.
Anyway, I’d think Tom Brady knows a thing or two about playing the position:
Tom Brady breaks down football like no one else pic.twitter.com/hSEO7LPYEl
— Football’s Greatest Moments (@FBGreatMoments) July 20, 2025
The CBB Report took a stab at the SEC’s All-Decade Team, and the fact Herb is not on here makes me absolutely weep.
All 2020s SEC Basketball Team pic.twitter.com/fNmSmCJQ1H
— College Basketball Report (@CBKReport) July 21, 2025
Notice what I’m not talking about today, despite there being substantive stories? That’s right — NIL or the playoffs. I refuse to yuck my yum like that on Gump Day, and both can eat a Fulmer-sized #BOD.
Finally, I leave you with a genuinely exciting, but wholly degenerate, form of wagering entertainment: Roomba races. It’s better than NASCAR.
The best part? You can do this at home or the local dive. All you need for your next hangout is a group of buds, a roomba, a pool table, and a $20 stake...then sit back and enjoy.
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Have a great day, and Roll Tide
More from rollbamaroll.com:
- A legend hangs them up — Tua Tagovailoa enters the 2020 NFL Draft
- Jumbo Package: Decision Day
- MONDAY UPDATE: Alabama Crimson Tide NFL Draft Junior Tracker
- Devonta Smith announces his return to Alabama in 2020
- Tua Tagovailoa and Nick Saban to hold press conference at 11am CT Monday
- Predictions: Will they stay or will they go?
- Watch: NFL analyst breaks down Rashaan Evans’ role in critical goal line stand vs. Patriots
