Alabama: Tide quarterbacks about to lose protective shield

photo Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron (10) works out during preseason NCAA college football drills on Sunday, Aug. 7, 2011, at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/The Tuscaloosa News, Jason Harless)

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Take the snap. Drop back. Survey the field.

That part won't change from practice to the game for Alabama's co-starting quarterbacks AJ McCarron and Phillip Sims. What comes next is a different story.

Those black noncontact jerseys won't travel down Bear Bryant Drive from the training grounds to the stadium. No, against Kent State in the 12:21 p.m. EDT Saturday opener, the quarterbacks will be facing live fire for the first time in a while.

Redshirt freshman Sims has yet to see a pass rusher with permission to take him down in college. McCarron took a few hits as the backup a year ago, but from spring practice through August he's shared the protective shield.

That added dimension is just one storyline facing the two most analyzed passers in the state these days.

Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban knows the variables change when the games count.

"I look out there on the practice field lots of days and say, 'Would that guy have made that decision if he was going to get splattered on that play?'" Saban said. "There are some disadvantages to putting a black shirt on a quarterback and not allowing him to get hit."

The cost-benefit analysis, ultimately, calls for caution. Putting quarterbacks in a "defenseless position" in practice wouldn't make much sense, Saban said. So he doesn't plan to lift the restriction any time soon.

"The downside is they haven't gotten hit that much," Saban said. "Ball security is something you have to coach in those situations. They're going to get hit now in the game, and I just don't know the best way to do that. I would like for them to get hit, but I would like for them not to get hurt."

Tide linebacker Nico Johnson knows better than to run through a quarterback if it's his teammate in practice. Still, he said, it's hard to avoid contact with a quarterback in any setting.

"Yeah, it is," he said. "You worked so hard to get there, and to pull up [is not easy]. But I've been here three years. I'm kind of used to it now."

And the Kent State defense McCarron and Sims will face Saturday made a name for itself a year ago by affecting the quarterback. The Golden Flashes ranked eighth nationally, averaging 2.9 sacks a game. That unit was led by tackle Roosevelt Nix, whose 10 sacks ranked 11th nationally. He also had eight quarterback hurries.

"We don't want to let them sit back in the pocket and be comfortable all game," Kent State defensive end Lee Stalker said. "We keep coming, keep flying in their face and keep pressure on them, keep them guessing. And as a defense, not knowing where we're coming from, it's going to be important."

That also puts pressure on the Tide offensive line that returns four starters but ranked 88th nationally, allowing 2.5 sacks a game.

Earlier this month, Alabama offensive coordinator Jim McElwain said having a player like three-year starting center William Vlachos was huge for young quarterbacks. His experience indentifying different pass rushes and formations allows the quarterbacks more time focusing on the primary job instead of protecting their own back as much.

Still, Vlachos said there certainly wasn't anyone in his unit expecting a casual Saturday in Bryant-Denny Stadium.

"I mean, they're really good," he said. "We're prepared for that. We're ready."

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