Nick Saban on Alabama QBs: 'If guys want security in their position, they need to play well'

Alabama head coach Nick Saban is still looking for more from his quarterbacks, from starter Jalen Milroe on down. On the SEC coaches teleconference on Wednesday, Saban threw down the gauntlet for his signal callers.

Following a 34-24 home loss to Texas and ahead of a road trip to play South Florida, Saban said the evaluation of the position is ongoing. The best path to job security, he said, is playing well.

“If guys want security in their position, they need to play well. Everybody on our team knows that and I think everybody’s responded in a positive way to try to get better and to improve and we’ll constantly evaluate that position as we do every other position,” Saban said.

Milroe finished 14-of-27 for 255 yards and two touchdowns, plus two interceptions, against Texas. The quarterbacks he beat out to be the starter — Tyler Buchner, a Notre Dame transfer, and Ty Simpson — played very sparingly in the opener and not at all against Texas.

A road environment against a Group of 5 team in South Florida could be key evaluation point for Milroe and all the Alabama quarterbacks. The head coach will certainly be paying close attention.

Saban isn’t worried about outside noise right now

Following the team’s third loss in its last nine games, Alabama has invited questions about the state of the program and the current trajectory of not only this year’s team but the future of the program, Saban included.

But all that outside noise is falling on deaf ears inside the program.

“I haven’t even heard or read any of those things because I don’t really pay a lot of attention to it,” Saban said. “I do pay a lot of attention to what we’re doing here internally and how we can get it fixed so that our players have a better chance to be successful.”

Even players have had to answer questions about some of the negativity around the program, some of which has come from critical alumni of the program.

They’ve done their part to embrace Saban’s mantra of ignoring the outside noise, but it can be difficult.

Saban broke down how he attempts to try to get his team locked back in following a tough loss, like Saturday’s to Texas.

“My approach is to try to play to a standard, try to get our players to play to a standard,” Saban said. “And when we don’t play to a standard, I don’t need anybody else to criticize. I’ve got pride in performance just like everyone else in this organization.”