Paul Finebaum: Nick Saban made 'most puzzling statement I've ever heard' on quarterback situation

Alabama head coach Nick Saban opened up his press conference with big news on Monday, announcing that Jalen Milroe will be the starting quarterback for the Crimson Tide moving forward.

Saban cited Milroe showing “leadership” as a big part of the decision.

ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum joined SportsCenter Monday afternoon and shared that he was perplexed by Saban’s statement.

“I’ve covered Nick Saban since the day he arrived in the SEC and this is maybe the most puzzling statement I’ve ever heard him make,” Finebaum said. “I don’t know how you pull a guy, who you had named your starter in the first game. He struggled in the second game against Texas. And then you name [him] the backup. You don’t play the guy, and now he’s your best player, because he showed leadership — essentially being a cheerleader during the game. I mean I don’t know how you can unpack that one any better than what I’ve just said. And it still doesn’t make any sense.”

Tyler Buchner got the start at quarterback for Alabama this past weekend against USF, while Ty Simpson also received playing time against the Bulls.

Buchner was 5-for-14 passing for 34 yards, and Simpson was 5-for-9 passing for 73 yards. Neither quarterback passed for a touchdown, although Simpson did run for a score.

Alabama and USF were tied at 3 at the half, before the Crimson Tide eventually came out on top with a 17-3 victory. Still, it was far from an impressive offensive performance, which is why Milroe will now get another opportunity to show what he can do as the starter moving forward.

Paul Finebaum added that he believes Saban is going back to Milroe because he doesn’t have another option.

“I think Nick Saban realized that he doesn’t have any other quarterbacks,” Finebaum said. “Milroe is a big-play artist. He can break a play as well as he can throw an interception. And that’s his best chance of winning, whatever that means.”

Here is the full statement from Nick Saban explaining his decision to go back to Milroe as the starting QB:

“From a quarterback standpoint, this is all I’m going to say about this — you know, Jalen really showed the leadership that I was looking for during the game in terms of supporting his teammates and doing the things that he needed to do,” Saban said. “He’s had the opportunity to play. So has the other guys. Jalen played the best of all those guys. So I think he’s earned the opportunity to be the quarterback.”