We examined some of the nation’s most intriguing quarterback competitions last week, but it’s time to drill down deeper. What exactly are coaches looking for before they make a decision?
Is it a grasp of the scheme? Command of the team?
Or, in some cases, is it something more specific?
O.K., perhaps it’s unfair to start with the program with the quarterback competition that likely will dominate the offseason discussion. Still, Alabama coach Nick Saban’s unwittingly open-mic’d critique of Jalen Hurts deciding to run instead of trying to remain behind the line of scrimmage and throw a pass might be the most unvarnished take we’ll get from coaches who want badly to keep the juiciest aspects of these quarterback competitions out of public view.