Paul Finebaum: Quarterback concerns could 'dial down' expectations for Alabama in 2023

With Bryce Young moving on to the NFL, Alabama is going to have to find a new quarterback in 2023. However, it’s unlikely anyone will be able to completely fill Young’s massive shoes and as ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum explained, these concerns could mean a longer season for Alabama than normal.

It was during an appearance on McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning that Finebaum said that Alabama may have to dial down expectations due to quarterback concerns.

“On the quarterback situation, I think we’re exactly where we all thought we would be,” Paul Finebaum said. “In a state of confusion. However, I don’t think this means as much as some on social media are saying that it will.”

Even though it was just the spring game, quarterbacks Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson both struggled, leading to concerns from fans.

“It’s worth remembering that two years ago, I don’t think anyone was 100% sure or even remotely sure that Stetson Bennett could lead Georgia to a national championship and he did. They did it for a lot of reasons other than the quarterback position.”

As Paul Finebaum explained, Alabama’s biggest problem isn’t that they need the quarterback to win, but that the quarterback could hurt the team.

“So, ultimately, and I feel stupid saying this in front of a guy who led Alabama to a national championship as a quarterback, but the quarterback can do you harm and that’s what you don’t want. That’s probably the most negative takeaway from Saturday is it looked like, at least in the initial sampling, that those two could do a little harm,” Finebaum said.

“But, I think, ultimately it will get settled, and I think what it will mainly mean is that expectations for Alabama are going to be dialed down just a hair. You already have Alabama below Georgia in the SEC and probably in the national championship race and I don’t think much has changed there.”

Nick Saban on who gets reps

Alabama head coach Nick Saban made one thing clear, the players who play winning football are the ones who are going to get reps.

“We’re going to play the guys that give us the best chance to win,” Saban said.

“We make all our decisions based on winning. Who can play the best — doesn’t make any difference if you’re a fifth year senior or freshman. If you’re the guy that can go out there and if you took all the players on our team, you think the players on our team don’t know who the best players are? They absolutely do. If you’re a coach and you don’t play the best players, you’re not gonna have the respect of your team because they knew who the best players are. They knew who they have confidence in. They know who they trust and respect that are going to go be able to be accountable to do their job. Can’t lose sight of that.”