Tyler Buchner giving Alabama 'great look' as J.J. McCarthy in practice

LOS ANGELES – Alabama’s defensive players believe they are getting a “great look” in practice ahead of their Rose Bowl matchup with Michigan and quarterback J.J. McCarthy.

During the Crimson Tide’s on-field prep for the Wolverines, backup Tyler Bucher is filling the scout-team role of McCarthy and emulating the Michigan quarterback in practice.

“He’s done a lot of good things on scout team,” linebacker Dallas Turner said. “But Tyler Buchner is fast. Having to chase him around every day in practice, it’s a struggle, but he’s helping us prepare for chasing around J.J. McCarthy on Monday.”

Buchner transferred to Alabama after the spring and has played in two games this season. He first saw the field in the season opener against Middle Tennessee and then started in the Tide’s Week 3 trip to South Florida but was replaced by Ty Simpson, who closed out the win.

Buchner attempted 19 passes during his two appearances this fall and completed eight of them for 61 yards. He also rushed for 20 yards and one touchdown on three attempts. His ability as a runner is what is benefiting Alabama’s defense in advance of the semifinal.

“J.J. is a mobile quarterback, and Tyler is definitely a mobile quarterback for us,” defensive back Malachi Moore said. “He does a great job of giving us a great look each and every day. I think he’s doing a great job of getting us prepared for the game. … Whenever he scrambles, Coach has got to tell us to break on the ball and stay on our guys.”

McCarthy has started 26 games for Michigan and posted a record of 25-1 prior to the matchup with Alabama. This fall, he has thrown for 2,630 yards, 19 touchdowns and four interceptions on 213-of-287 (74.2 percent) passing and has also added 146 rushing yards and three scores on 57 attempts. McCarthy finished 10th in this year’s Heisman voting.

Keeping McCarthy in check is a top priority for the Crimson Tide defense.

“I think the biggest thing is everyone being on the same page,” linebacker Deontae Lawson said. “He’s a great quarterback, and he makes the right decisions and he can definitely use what he knows and what we give him and that can hurt us. So we’ve just got to be disciplined and make sure everyone is on the same page so we can execute.”

Moore added, “We just have to definitely keep him contained in the pocket, but also, we have to cover people twice – after they run their initial route and if he scrambles, we have to make sure we stay on our guys and lock on and don’t leave anybody running free.”

Buchner entered the transfer portal after the SEC Championship Game, only as a lacrosse player. He was a highly-touted midfielder and actually committed to play for Michigan as an eighth grader before turning his attention to football. Buchner plans to transfer back to Notre Dame and play lacrosse for the Fighting Irish but not before the playoff matchup.

Filling the role of scout-team quarterback, while noteworthy, isn’t new for Buchner.

“Tyler Buchner gives us great looks,” Lawson said. “This is not the only week he’s done it. I think it definitely helps us in a way because he’s quick. It’ll definitely help us in the game.”

But Alabama is hoping his simulation of McCarthy prepares the defense enough to help the team reach its ultimate goal of winning Monday and advancing to the national title game.

“It’s been a point to contain the quarterback, our scramble rules, running to the ball because this is it,” defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe said. “You’ve got to lay it all on the line. 

“The same way we’re trying to get to the national championship, they’re trying to get to the national championship. So they’re going to come out with all the tricks, they’re going to leave it all on the line and we’re going to do the same.”

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