Tua Tagovailoa has been Alabama's obvious starting quarterback since the end of last season.
His primary backup right now appears to be a clear-cut choice as well, with redshirt sophomore Mac Jones having repelled any early threats from true freshmen Taulia Tagovailoa, Tua's younger brother, and Paul Tyson, the great-grandson of legendary Crimson Tide coach Paul "Bear" Bryant.
"Mac is way ahead of the other guys," Alabama coach Nick Saban said after Saturday's second preseason scrimmage when asked in a news conference about the reserve quarterbacks. "He's been here in the program for a couple of years. He knows the offense. He's really smart and makes good decisions for the most part.
"The biggest thing we've been trying to do with him is that when he doesn't make a good play, don't hang on it. Go on to the next play. He's done a much better job of that, and he's been very productive in both of the scrimmages that we've had."
Jones, a 6-foot-2, 205-pounder from The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida, was Alabama's primary holder on kicks last season and played in 14 of 15 games. He got in eight games as a quarterback, completing five of 13 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown.
Most of his yardage came on a 94-yard touchdown pass to Jaylen Waddle during the 56-14 drubbing of Louisiana-Lafayette.
Saban said he was also "happy with Tua's performance to this point" before pausing to discuss the entire offense, which also includes running back Najee Harris, a deep receiving corps and the potential of two dominant tackles with Alex Leatherwood and Jedrick Wills.
"I think offensively that we're good," Saban said. "We've got more guys who have more experience. The only position where we don't have a lot of experience is really tight end. Every other position you point to, there are guys who have a significant amount of playing time.
"We have a little bit more age and maturity, whereas on defense we have more younger guys who have to grow up and learn how to play."
Alabama's scrimmage Saturday inside Bryant-Denny Stadium consisted of roughly 140 plays, including 55 to 60 that were in game-like situations. Those situations included each of the assistant coaches working in the locations where they will be in games this season.
Several prominent players were held out of the scrimmage, including tight end Miller Forristall, offensive tackle Matt Womack, defensive linemen DJ Dale and LaBryan Ray and outside linebacker Terrell Lewis. Saban said redshirt freshman running back Jerome Ford sprained an ankle in the scrimmage and that could sideline him for a week.
With fifth-year senior linebacker Joshua McMillon likely out for the season with a knee injury sustained in last weekend's scrimmage, true freshman Christian Harris worked with the first team alongside junior Dylan Moses. The 6-2, 244-pound Harris was a top-100 national prospect this past winter out of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
"He did a good job," Saban said. "He's a football player. It's important to him. He runs and hits people."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.