Nick Saban on Quarterbacks: 'Force Me to Play You'

Saban said that he doesn't want the quarterbacks worried about others — just themselves and their own performance.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The timer continues to tick.

The Alabama quarterback cake is still in the oven, but with the regular season just 18 days away, the Crimson Tide is getting closer and closer to needing someone to step into that role.

In situations like this, it's normal — for better or worse — for individuals to watch over their shoulder and everything that everyone else is doing. Alabama head coach Nick Saban wants each quarterback to focus on his own progress.

"What I tell the quarterbacks is, it’s not up to the coaches," Saban said. "You're looking over your shoulder to see if a coach is going to do this or that. How about you forcing me to play you? Force me to play you. Force us to play you."

“When you get your reps and get a chance to play, you play so good we don’t have any choice but to play you rather than worry about all this other stuff.”

Saban's message is clear. All along, he's wanted somebody to step up and take the job from the other two, or four if you want to include Eli Holstein and Dylan Lonergan.

It doesn't appear that has been done yet. Will it be Jalen Milroe, Ty Simpson or Tyler Buchner? At this point, take your pick — it's as good as anybody else's.

The cake will be baked to perfection soon enough. Or will it?

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