Nick Saban evaluates how Alabama quarterbacks played in latest scrimmage

With two weeks to go until the season opener, Alabama’s quarterback competition remains a hot topic of conversation. The Crimson Tide played in another scrimmage on Saturday, and Nick Saban confirmed all three saw some action.

Saban met with reporters after the scrimmage and evaluated how the three QBs — Jalen Milroe, Ty Simpson and Tyler Buchner — looked. He said they all played and had similar showings, but didn’t provide many more details beyond that.

The competition is still ongoing, as well.

“They all got to play,” Saban said. “They all took snaps, they all completed some passes. They all made some throws that weren’t as good as they should have been. And they all got sacked. That’s what I saw.”

Saban has made it clear he won’t have many updates on the quarterback competition in the lead-up to the season opener against Middle Tennessee as he prepares for the amount of questions he’ll get about who the starter will be. But earlier this week, he shared his message to the three quarterbacks as they continue to battle it out to become QB1.

The decision isn’t solely on the coaches, Saban said. It’s also on the three players to compete with each other until one separates himself above the rest.

“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 be you forcing me to play you? Force us to play you. When you get your reps in, you get a chance to play, you play so good we don’t have any chance but to play you rather than worrying about all this other stuff.”

Former Alabama QB Greg McElroy: Nick Saban has ‘three good options’ at quarterback

Greg McElroy knows a thing or two about a Nick Saban quarterback competition, and he shared his thoughts on where things stand during an appearance on Andy Staples On3 earlier this week.

He noted the different skillsets the three bring. Milroe’s athleticism is impressive and he “has the highest ceiling,” according to McElroy. But Simpson is the better choice from an accuracy perspective, particularly when it comes to airing the ball out downfield.

As for Buchner — the former Notre Dame quarterback who reunited with Tommy Rees after spring practice — McElroy said he’s a mixture of the two. He has athletic traits like Milroe, but his accuracy is also coming along as camp goes on. That makes him an intriguing option, as well.

McElroy then locked in his pick to be Alabama’s starting quarterback.

“Ultimately, I think it’s going to be Ty Simpson in the long run,” McElroy told On3’s Andy Staples. “But I would be absolutely shocked if Milroe and Buchner don’t have a role within the offense.”