Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper (9) misses a catch against Southern Mississippi defensive back Kalan Reed during their game Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014, in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Alabama quarterback Blake Sims (6) warms up before his game against Southern Mississippi on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014, in Tuscaloosa, Ala.Blake Sims got most of the work at quarterback. Amari Cooper had another big performance, and coach Nick Saban believes there is room for improvement in all phases.
Alabama's 52-12 trampling Saturday night of Southern Mississippi contained many of the same traits as the Crimson Tide's first two wins over West Virginia and Florida Atlantic. Sims made his third consecutive start and played deep into the third quarter, when his 5-yard touchdown pass to tight end Brian Vogler put the Tide up 35-6.
Sims essentially has taken every meaningful snap this season, guiding Alabama to three touchdowns in the first three possessions in last week's rout of FAU before Jacob Coker entered.
"I just leave that up to Coach Saban," Sims said Saturday night in a news conference. "I try to go out and do what I need to do to let the team know I'm ready to play."
Sims completed 12 of 17 passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns against the Golden Eagles, and he also rushed five times for 46 yards and a score. The fifth-year senior has completed 48 of 64 passes (75.0 percent) for 646 yards with four touchdowns and one interception through three games, and he ranks 13th nationally in efficiency.
More importantly, he's 3-0 as the starter and showing bits and pieces of improvement each week.
"I'm a lot more comfortable," Sims said. "In the first game, I was trusting my line, and I was trusting the wide receivers. As the games go by, I'm trusting them more and more, and they're trusting me that I'll get the ball there.
"Our relationship is unbelievable, and we're looking forward to getting better."
Cooper continues to be the favorite target for Sims, accounting for 108 of Alabama's 123 first-half passing yards. He finished with eight catches for 135 yards and a touchdown, and he continues to lead the nation in receptions (33) while ranking third in yards (454).
It was the fifth consecutive 100-yard game for Cooper dating back to last November's Iron Bowl, matching DJ Hall's school mark set in 2006. Sims said Cooper is not always his first read on progressions but that "he just knows how to be around the ball."
Saban expressed disappointment with a sluggish start Saturday after what he had considered a great week of practice. The Crimson Tide led the Golden Eagles, who have lost 25 of their last 27 games, just 7-3 after the first quarter.
Tailback T.J. Yeldon (hamstring), linebacker Denzel Devall (shoulder) and cornerback Eddie Jackson (bruised quad) were nursing injuries, according to Saban, who added that none of them were serious.
Tide tidbits
Senior safety Nick Perry will miss the first half of this week's game against visiting Florida after being flagged for targeting against USM. ... Alabama's run defense has yielded 28 yards to West Virginia, 57 to Florida Atlantic and 56 to Southern Miss.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.