Nick Saban calls out reporters for criticism of Jalen Hurts’ development as a passer

Coming into the 2017 season, one of the biggest questions surrounding the Alabama Crimson Tide was about QB Jalen Hurts and whether he had made strides as a passer over the offseason.

After struggling in Alabama’s Week 1 win over Florida State, Hurts didn’t exactly dominate through the air against Fresno State on Saturday, either, completing 14 of 18 passes for 128 yards and one touchdown.

However, coach Nick Saban isn’t giving up on the sophomore quarterback just yet, calling out reporters for making too much of Hurts’s struggles on Monday afternoon:

Saban on Hurts' passing numbers getting overblown: "I think a lot of what you guys do is overblown. But … it's your job to create news."

— Alex Byington (@_AlexByington) September 11, 2017

Saban on Jalen Hurts: "If you want to be critical of a guy for rushing for 154 yards saying he should pass more, that's up to you."

— Charlie Potter (@Charlie_Potter) September 11, 2017

Saban on Jalen Hurts' development as passer: We've called some passes down the field, but we didn't have protection. Is that the QB's fault?

— Aaron Suttles (@AaronSuttles) September 11, 2017

Indeed, Hurts dominated Fresno State with his legs, and the Crimson Tide didn’t need much production from their passing game to beat the Bulldogs.

However, considering Hurts’s inability to stretch the field in last year’s national championship game loss to Clemson hurt Alabama, it’s fair to wonder when and if we’ll ever see Hurts dominate a quality opponent through the air.

Adam Spencer

Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.