Just a Minute: Will Alabama use a different quarterback against USF
Nick Saban said he considered making a change at quarterback, but it was never actually discussed. Will Alabama give someone other than Jalen Milroe a shot?
Transcript
00:00 Alongside Katie Windham, I am Austin Hannon and this is Bama Central's Just a Minute.
00:04 Katie, obviously Saturday night, not the greatest result for Alabama football on offense or
00:09 on defense.
00:10 There were some issues at the quarterback position, including Jalen Milrow.
00:14 This week, you wrote a story on it yesterday.
00:16 Nick Saban talked about maybe getting Tyler Buckner, Ty Simpson in the game.
00:19 He talks about maybe putting them in the game last week, but decided against it after Milrow
00:22 threw that touchdown in the second half.
00:25 As Alabama goes down to Tampa this weekend, do you expect there to be any kind of, maybe
00:29 opening up the quarterback battle, any kind of giving other guys a chance, or do you expect
00:33 that this is Jalen Milrow's job and Nick Saban just wants him to get things corrected?
00:37 Yeah, I think it's important to note, yes, Saban did talk about Tyler Buckner on Monday,
00:44 but he was specifically asked about that.
00:46 He was asked in the postgame, directly following the game, if he thought about making a change
00:51 at quarterback.
00:52 He said he thought about it.
00:53 Of course, the thought crossed his mind, but there were no actual discussions among the
00:57 coaching staff.
00:58 I don't think it was anything that ever came super close to happening.
01:01 Now, as far as this Saturday, it's interesting because, in a way, this USF game, a lot of
01:07 people are wondering why is Alabama playing on the road at USF.
01:11 Because of how Alabama looked last week, I think this game is coming at just the right
01:14 time for them because USF is not a good team.
01:17 They only won one game last year.
01:19 They're one and one so far this year.
01:23 It gives Alabama the opportunity to correct some of its mistakes.
01:27 It gives the quarterback maybe their first road game, but a chance to face a lesser team.
01:35 I don't think Alabama will necessarily make a change at quarterback to start the game.
01:40 I think they're going to stick with Mill Row.
01:43 If mistakes continue to happen, they can make a change.
01:46 I think this is the type of game, too, like we saw week one with Alabama, where if you're
01:50 able to build up a big lead, you can get some other guys in.
01:54 That's just what I think based on what we've seen and what Saban said so far.
02:00 I think it's still Jalen Mill Row's job for now.
02:05 If things start going awry, then it could change.
02:08 I don't think, based on the quality of the opponent, that there's any chance things could
02:12 start going so wrong against USF.
02:14 Alabama is in danger of losing, but just if things aren't going great on offense.
02:20 What do you think, Austin?
02:21 I think you're right about this being an important game for a lot of reasons.
02:24 Just because this is your last chance to, and Saban said the future is now so many times
02:29 yesterday, this is your last chance to get things corrected before you have to dive into
02:33 the SEC.
02:35 Based off what happened last weekend, there's obviously plenty to be fixed.
02:38 USF gives them a good chance to do that.
02:40 Saban said, not because they're a terrible team.
02:42 Everybody gives their own challenges and whatever.
02:45 This is a team that they're going to probably beat by a lot and probably look good against
02:50 and probably gain a lot of confidence against, and that includes Jalen Milrow.
02:54 So I think it is important for him, if he is the guy and they want him to be the guy,
02:58 that they kind of do let him ride this thing out on Saturday and see if he can kind of
03:02 get everything back under control like he did in the first game.
03:05 And then hopefully that can just be the reset button that he needs to move forward into
03:09 SEC play.
03:10 And hopefully it wouldn't, for him, it wouldn't go as wrong as the Texas game did the other
03:14 night.
03:15 So I think it's a big morale booster if he can go in there and just look a lot better
03:20 than he did last weekend, kind of hit the refresh button.
03:24 But like you said, if things aren't going well, if he's struggling still and things
03:27 are still lingering against USF, there's obviously a problem.
03:31 And that would absolutely open up opportunities for both Tyler Bucker and Ty Simpson.
03:35 And rightfully so.
03:36 I mean, if he's not getting the job done and against USF too, then there's probably not
03:41 a good chance he's going to get the job done against Ole Miss and Mississippi State and
03:44 everybody moving forward.
03:45 So definitely something to keep an eye on.
03:47 But I do expect Jaylin Monroe to go out there and them to kind of keep the same game plan
03:52 on offense with him at quarterback.
03:54 So for Katie Windham, I am Austin Hand.
03:56 This has been Bama Central's Just a Minute.
03:57 Thanks so much for watching.
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