Alabama’s quarterback competitors took one other bitter flip throughout a 17-3 win on the highway in opposition to South Florida on Saturday.
Jalen Milroe, the Crimson Tide’s starter by means of the primary two video games of the season, was benched after throwing two interceptions in a house loss to Texas final week, and he did not take a snap in Tampa.
Tyler Buchner, who transferred from Notre Dame following spring apply, obtained the beginning versus the Bulls and struggled, finishing simply 5 of 14 go makes an attempt for 34 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions earlier than he was pulled.
Redshirt freshman Ty Simpson got here on in aid of Buchner and performed the remainder of the competition, going 5-of-9 for 73 yards. Simpson scored on a 1-yard run, however he was sacked 5 instances.
After the sport, Alabama coach Nick Saban tried to preempt questions concerning the place.
“I do know you are going to ask concerning the quarterbacks,” he advised reporters. “We’ll consider the quarterbacks that performed right this moment and consider Jalen Milroe by way of how he performed and resolve this week who provides us the perfect alternative to achieve success as an offensive staff. And that is the best way we’ll go.”
Pressed for extra particulars about what went into the choice to play Buchner and Simpson, Saban stated it was an “inside” resolution.
“Everyone has the chance to reply in the precise manner when issues do not go such as you need them to,” Saban added. “And we play the fellows that apply the perfect all week lengthy.”
Saban advised ESPN in the course of the sport that Simpson, a former four-star prospect, had the perfect week of apply.
“I believed he did OK,” Saban stated of Simpson’s efficiency in opposition to USF. “Made a pair actually good throws. Missed a pair big-play throws. … I believed he performed nicely, managed the sport nicely.”
Saban stated it wasn’t Simpson’s fault he was underneath a lot stress from the protection. The coach was requested concerning the play of the offensive line and responded with a query of his personal: “What number of sacks did they’ve right this moment?”
The reply: 5.
“Based mostly on that, I would not consider it very nicely,” Saban stated. “A few of them had been psychological errors. We knew they had been going to stress so much. They obtained a very good stress package deal. We tousled the protections a number of instances. We obtained beat a pair instances.
“So we have to get that fastened, as a result of that is been an space that has been a constant downside for us all yr — final week with the sacks, this week with the sacks. And people are drive killers, and we obtained to eradicate that.”
Regardless of the offensive struggles, Saban tried to strike an optimistic tone. He stated he was pleased with the best way the staff competed throughout a hard-fought away sport that featured an hourlong lightning delay. He famous there was adversity, together with beginning guard Tyler Booker being sidelined by again spasms, however that he preferred the best way his gamers “saved answering the bell.”
“We did not execute nice, so I do not be ok with that,” Saban stated. “However the best way we competed within the sport, I believed, was excellent.”
Alabama (2-1) will open SEC play at residence in opposition to Ole Miss subsequent Saturday.