Nick Saban Feels 'Really Good' About QB Tyler Buchner's Development
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — After Alabama's loss to Texas Saturday night, Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban said he thought about making a change at quarterback after starting quarterback Jalen Milroe threw two interceptions, but it was never actually discussed amongst the coaches.
During his weekly Monday press conference, Saban was asked about the development of backup quarterback Tyler Buchner.
"He played really well in the last scrimmage, and he's done well in practice," Saban said Monday. "So we feel really good about how he's continued to improve and develop and gain confidence in what he's doing and had a good feeling around the teammates and receivers and all that type of thing.”
Buchner transferred in from Notre Dame after spring football. Even though the Alabama depth chart, has Buchner listed as an "or" alongside Milroe and Ty Simpson, Buchner was the first quarterback off the bench in Alabama's win over Middle Tennessee.
In limited playing time against the Blue Raiders, Buchner went 3-of-5 for 27 yards and a rushing touchdown. He did not see the field in the Texas game.
Saban did not place blame directly on any player for the loss against Texas, but said there are things the offense needs to get better at all around from the quarterback to running backs to the receivers and line.
"I don't think we always got the ball to guys at times, and I think there were times when we didn't do a good enough job of getting open so that we had options," Saban said. "So it's a combination of, I'm not disappointed in our receivers–I think our receivers can make explosive plays. Everyone's got to be more consistent so we can develop a timing in the passing game between the protection, the receivers and the quarterback so that we can be more consistent in what we're doing and eliminate some of the negative plays."
In the postgame press conference, Saban said Milroe never put his head down after some of his mistakes against Texas, which is something starting offensive lineman Tyler Booker saw on the sideline. Booker said Milroe was encouraging the offense through the final whistle.
"That's what we love about Jalen," Booker said. "Through the mistakes that he made, he never put his head down. He was always there for us. He always had a smile on his face. Even down to the last drive, he was like, 'I love where we are,' because he still had that hope, he still had the drive, he still had that fight.
"That's what I'm most proud of about our offense. Even though we didn't execute, we fought... We just have to be better together as a whole and ultimately execute. I'm excited to see how we grow the rest of this season as an offense."
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