The Alabama Crimson Tide‘s quarterback battle is looking more and more uncertain as the 2015 season approaches. Jacob (Jake) Coker was supposed to take control of the job in the spring. Unfortunately, Coker will have to try to win the job in fall camp and might even be looking at another season on the bench. David Cornwell, who redshirted last season, appeared to be Coker’s equal in the spring.

Coker did play some last season and many actually thought he was going to start in 2014. He has taken very few collegiate snaps so his experience advantage over Cornwell is marginal at best. Both players looked shaky at times in the spring game and the two combined to throw three interceptions. There were, however, several bright spots and it is clear that these two players are most deserving of being named the starter.

I don’t place too much emphasis on spring games and believe that they are not indicative of success during the regular season. It is always easier for the defense to force turnovers when it knows the routes, play calls, and looks like an offense will throw at it.

Alabama has been wildly successful since the 2008-2009 season. The Crimson Tide has won 10 games or more every year for seven consecutive seasons. This season, however, that streak could come to an end if the quarterback play is not where it needs to be.

I know what you are thinking: Alabama has had new quarterbacks before and they’ve won BCS National Championships and reached the College Football Playoff. So, therefore, this year the team will be equally successful. While those achievements are exceptional, I believe that speaks more to the experience and leadership surrounding those quarterbacks than anything else.

Those teams had incredible offensive lines and used a run-heavy scheme to limit a quarterback’s opportunities to make mistakes. The Alabama defense was suffocating and was capable of winning low-scoring games on its own. In the 2010 BCS National Championship game, Alabama won handily despite its quarterback (Greg McElroy) completing only six of 11 passes for 58 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.

That game may only be an example, but the point is that Alabama didn’t have to rely on its quarterback to win the game. In fact, it totally removed its quarterback from having any impact on the game and allowed its defense to win the game. I don’t believe that Alabama can use that style of play to win big in 2015.

The Crimson Tide will play one of the most difficult schedules in the country and they’ll need good quarterback play to finish the season with 10 wins. Alabama, due to a variety of factors, looks to be thin at running back to start the 2015 season. The receiving corps will be almost entirely new as well. This means that the quarterback will be relied upon to make plays.

Whether Alabama decides to start Jake Coker or David Cornwell, that player will be entering uncharted territory. The expectations at Alabama are perhaps the highest of any team in the country and the team’s margin for error is slim. The schedule won’t be kind and they’ll need a quarterback to develop quickly. In order to extend the Tide’s streak of winning 10 games or more, Alabama will need a quarterback that is not just good. The Crimson Tide will need a player that is capable of winning a game for the them.

Alabama has been so dominant over the last seven years that Crimson Tide quarterbacks have combined for only five game-winning (or tying to send a game into overtime) drives in the last seven years. That’s simply unbelievable. I think that given the difficult schedule and the likelihood that there will be plenty of close games, that Alabama will need a quarterback that can win games more than ever before if they want to meet expectations.

Levi Dunagan is a SEC Football writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Levi275.