Greg McElroy details what factors Nick Saban uses to determine Alabama's starting QB

Alabama has a big decision on their hands about their quarterback spot. Between names like Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson, the Crimson Tide have to determine who is going to pick up the mantle of Bryce Young. Still, what all goes in to a decision like that, especially from a perspective like Nick Saban’s? Well, Greg McElroy, someone who is used to that experience in Tuscaloosa, will tell you.

McElroy joined On3’s JD PicKell on ‘The Hard Count’ to discuss all things college football, specifically with Alabama. He took everyone into the mind of Saban and what he’s looking for at the moment in his quarterback competition. First, McElroy started with the basics and described what will eliminate any of the options from consideration.

“He really focuses on physical skillset, which is obvious, right? You’ve got to be able to throw it accurately, you’ve got to be able to throw it with enough velocity to make all the throws and to put stress on to the defense on every square inch of the field,” McElroy said. “Those are non-starters. If you can’t do that? You’ve got no shot. I mean don’t choose Alabama. It’s not gonna happen…You have to have a certain skill set to play there. So that goes without saying.”

Then, from there, McElroy highlighted the highly valuable skill of decision-making. He says Saban isn’t looking for someone who is going to force the issue on offense. He added that it’ll put the quarterbacks in an even worse position if they choose to do so at the expense of field position for the Alabama defense.

“The next part is decision-making. You have to understand where you fit within the scheme, you have to understand what you can do and what you can’t do,” continued McElroy. “Because any time you put the defense in a short-field situation? That’s obviously going to be a problem. And even more so of a problem because your head coach is cut from a defensive cloth.”

Finally, McElroy went in-depth on what Saban is looking for in terms of a leader at the quarterback spot. He commended the way the Crimson Tide head coach evaluates his options, which is why he noted how Saban has rarely made the wrong choice. That’s because he puts a lot of weight on the mental makeup of each option as well as the opinions and reactions of the roster of QB that’s vying for the spot.

“The other thing, I think, he evaluates better than anybody is the gravitational force that is the quarterback position. You have to have a specific personality to play for him,” McElroy added. “He’s going to be tough on you. There’s no denying that. That’s a good thing. Some guys shy away from that, some guys welcome it…Everyone that’s played for him welcomes the wrath that comes when you walk to the sideline after making a bad play. You just have to, you know it’s coming. It is what it is.”

“But also, at the same time, he evaluates as well as anybody…He recognizes who is the guy that the players are playing for,” said McElroy. “When the guy wins the team? The decision is made because the players are going to follow the best player. But they’re also going to follow the best leader and that becomes evident.”

McElroy just laid out the map for Milroe, Simpson, and the rest of the quarterback options in T-Town. The quarterbacks who struggle in any of these areas will likely find themselves on the sidelines on Saturdays. The one who follows it best, though, is going to get the keys to Saban’s car heading into 2023.