Nick Saban discusses Alabama's Week 1 matchup against MTSU, notes improvement in running game
There has been plenty of talk about the Alabama quarterback situation ahead of the beginning of the 2023 season, with Jalen Milroe largely projected as the favorite. He’s up against Tyler Buchner and Ty Simpson for the job.
But Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban has kept mum about just who exactly will take the starting snaps for the team in that opening matchup against MTSU. When asked about the situation he’s been question on multiple times at signal-caller once more this week, Saban kept it short and sweet.
“The quarterback who plays on Saturday, that’s the quarterback for Saturday,” he said.
Saban said earlier on in the offseason that he had already sent a strong message to the quarterbacks to distinguish themselves.
“I told the quarterbacks, ‘hey, quit looking around for me to make a decision one who is going going to play. How about you playing good enough that I don’t have a choice. That’s what you can control, that’s what you can do and somebody needs to do that.’ And it’s sort of taking shape to some degree, but somebody’s got to do it.”
Other topics he was asked about by reporters included that transfer portal in light of some players looking for a change of scenery that Alabama has lost and the where the ground attack stands with the opener just days away.
“We don’t lose our best players,” Saban said. We lose our guys that were the best backup players at a lot of positions.”
Who takes the field for Saban’s team on Saturday and what the depth chart continues to look like throughout the season will be interesting to watch unfold considering that this is seen as one of Alabama’s weaker teams throughout recent history.
Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CT in Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday.
Nick Saban on the transfer portal: "We don't lose our best players. We lose our guys that were the best backup players at a lot of positions."
— Nick Kelly (@_NickKelly) September 1, 2023
Nick Saban: "The quarterback who plays on Saturday, that's the quarterback for Saturday"
— Nick Kelly (@_NickKelly) September 1, 2023
Nick Saban: "The running game has improved in my opinion."
— Nick Kelly (@_NickKelly) September 1, 2023