Tag: Tyler Buchner

The Alabama QB competition is not over, Texas game carries much weight

Jalen Milroe looked solid in the Week 1 win, but the competition to be Alabama’s starting QB is still open

The Alabama football quarterback situation over the course of the 2023 offseason evolved in many ways, but we never got close to receiving an answer as to who the starter would be. Well, we got our answer during the Tide’s Week 1 game against Middle Tennessee when Jalen Milroe ran out on the field with the offense.

While he played most of the game, scoring five total touchdowns, Tyler Buchner and Ty Simpson saw some action late in the game.

Milroe’s 194 yards, three passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns impressed fans, analysts, and media members, but it may not be enough to solidify his spot as QB1 for the Crimson Tide.

ESPN’s Alex Scarborough made it clear that the competition is not over, despite the strong performance by Milroe.

“The question has never been about Milroe’s physical gifts, it’s whether he can consistently make good decisions and the kind of reads and progressions in the pocket that are required against quality defenses. Let’s face it: For as solid as Middle Tennessee is (the Blue Raiders won eight games last year), it doesn’t have the caliber of athletes that Alabama will see the rest of the season. So while it’s as good a start as Milroe could have possibly hoped for, it’s probably not the end of the quarterback competition. We’ll learn much more Saturday against Texas.”

The true test for this team, not just for the quarterback battle, will be the Week 2 contest at home against the Longhorns.

Milroe is expected to start the game, but with this being a must-win matchup, a change at quarterback during the game could be made, if needed. Under the pressure of playing what is expected to be a top-10 team on national television with major College Football Playoff implications, a star could either be born or a dream could be crushed.

Whoever is in at QB for the Tide will have to play like their job depends on it, because it likely does.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on Twitter @SpurrFM. 

PHOTO GALLERY: The top images from Alabama’s first win of the 2023 season

Check out the best images of your favorite players from Alabama’s first win of the 2023 season.

Alabama earned its first win of the 2023 season in a 56-7 dominant performance against Middle Tennessee. Fans were excited to see the Crimson Tide take the field but were anxious to see how the quarterback situation would unfold.

Jalen Milroe got the nod to be the team’s starter for Week 1, and played a majority of the game. He posted 194 yards and three touchdowns on 13 completions off of 18 passing attempts. He also carried the ball seven times for 48 yards and two touchdowns.

Tyler Buchner and Ty Simpson both got to see the field and managed to reach the end zone in one way or another, but all signs point to Milroe being the starter for the Week 2 matchup against Texas.

College Football Fans react to Jalen Milroe starting as QB for Alabama

Jalen Milroe is QB1 to start the 2023 season for Alabama and fans were quick to react.

Alabama football’s 2023 season has officially begun, and while there’s not a long-term answer to the quarterback situation yet, Jalen Milroe is the starter for Game 1 against Middle Tennessee.

The three-man quarterback race, which turned into a four-man competition, lasted throughout the offseason and featured a transfer, a true freshman and two returning quarterbacks.

For now, Milroe takes the field as the winner, and fans were quick to take to Twitter to share their thoughts.

Some fans were elated to see him become the starter while others are hesitant to praise him as such.

Here’s what the fans had to say.

Social media reacts to Notre Dame QB Steve Angeli’s first TD pass

Congrats, Steve!

Buried on Notre Dame’s depth chart in 2022, [autotag]Steve Angeli[/autotag] surely wondered whether he would get to shine beyond the Blue-Gold Game. Now, with [autotag]Drew Pyne[/autotag] and Tyler Buchner gone, he is firmly in the role of [autotag]Sam Hartman[/autotag]’s primary backup. With the Irish possessing a 35-3 halftime lead, Hartman had done enough. That meant Angeli would run the offense in the second half.

While it took most of the third quarter for it to happen, Angeli finally got the first touchdown pass of his collegiate career. After [autotag]Jadarian Price[/autotag] lost 4 yards on a run, Angeli threw to Price on the next play after avoiding defensive pressure, and Price took the ball 40 yards to the house:

Angeli will remember this moment for the rest of his life. Perhaps he also will remember [autotag]Clarence Lewis[/autotag]’ 33-yard interception return for a touchdown that happened immediately after. Either way, it was a memorable sequence of events.

We’ve seen impact plays from Lewis before, so let’s focus on how social media reacted to Angeli’s big moment:

Alabama names its starting quarterback, and it’s not who you think

Interesting

When offensive coordinator [autotag]Tommy Rees[/autotag] left for Alabama and took quarterback [autotag]Tyler Buchner[/autotag] with him, many [autotag]Notre Dame football[/autotag] fans wondered what would happen in Tuscaloosa.

Well, we found out Friday. The Crimson Tide decided against starting Buchner and went with [autotag]Jalen Milroe[/autotag] as their signal caller. It’s not much of a shock to me; I always had issues with Buchner’s game, especially his throwing ability.

Even with a change of scenery, Buchner wouldn’t suddenly become a better passer. The selection of Milroe backs that up. You could even argue that Alabama’s choice behind center is a better runner as well.

It goes to show you the grass isn’t always greener and even though Buchner would not have been the starter ahead of Sam Hartman, he could have learned from the veteran and taken back the starting job next season.

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Predicting how Alabama’s QB situation shape out for Week 1 against Middle Tennessee

How do you think Alabama will handle the QB situation in Week 1?

It is safe to say that no one truly knows how Alabama head coach Nick Saban will handle the quarterback situation. The college football world will find out on Saturday when the Crimson Tide play host to Middle Tennessee.

If I had to make a prediction today, it would be that Saban would give the starting nod to redshirt sophomore Jalen Milroe. That is not to say that Milroe will be the starter for the foreseeable future, it is simply implying that Saban will give Milroe the first opportunity to prove himself.

Milroe has starting experience in the SEC and is more familiar with the offensive system. That said, he will start the game on Saturday for the Crimson Tide.

Redshirt freshman Ty Simpson and redshirt sophomore Tyler Buchner will likely also receive reps. However, that could come later in the game. I believe that Saban would like to see how much progress Milroe has made before evaluating Simpson and Buchner.

Game situations are completely different from practice situations. Milroe has shown that he is willing to compete and wait his turn. Saban respects those that wait, We have seen it in the past with quarterback Mac Jones. He was patient and eventually earned the starting job as a redshirt junior.

My expectation is that each of the three quarterbacks will play. There is a slight chance that freshman Dylan Lonergan plays as well. Whatever the case may be, Saban will ride with whoever is performing the best. If a change needs to be made during the game, he will not shy away from making the change.

The quarterback battle will not be over after Week 1. Saban has made it clear that the competition will continue throughout the season.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to monitor the quarterback situation and other Alabama football news.

5 reasons why Week 1 against MTSU sets the tone for Alabama’s season

Don’t overlook Alabama’s Week 1 matchup against Middle Tennessee, it means more than you think.

Alabama football’s 2023 season doesn’t begin with a prime-time matchup against a ranked opponent on a neutral field. However, that shouldn’t lead fans to believe this is just another “tune-up game” as some would put it. This game has plenty of meaning that goes beyond how it impacts the record.

Middle Tennessee is a solid team that proved as recently as last season they can do some damage on the road against quality opponents. In 2022, the Blue Raiders walked into Miami Gardens and handed the Miami Hurricanes a 45-31 loss.

There are major questions that have loomed over this Alabama team all offseason and there still won’t be many answers at the time of kickoff.

This first game of the season for Alabama sets the tone. Here are five things to look out for.

Nick Saban comments on the downside of ongoing QB battle

Nick Saban remains tight-lipped on who will start against Middle Tennessee State

Wednesday was a busy day for the Alabama football team. The Crimson Tide completed its 17th practice of the preseason and it also marked the first day of classes on campus in Tuscaloosa.

Following practice, head coach [autotag]Nick Saban[/autotag] took time with local reporters to provide an update on his team as the Tide inch closer to game week.

During his press conference, Coach Saban was asked about the ongoing quarterback battle and what the downside of that position being unsettled has on the team.

“Yeah, but that’s kind of up to them. Like I said in here before. I told the quarterbacks, I said, ‘Quit looking around for me to make a decision about who’s gonna play. How about you playing good enough that I don’t have a choice? That’s what you can control. That’s what you can do.’ And somebody needs to do that. And it’s sort of taking shape to some degree, but somebody’s got to do it. Where you all think that, like whoever we name as a starter the first game, that’s like the end of it. That’s not the end of it. It’s just the beginning. What if a guy doesn’t play good? He’s not entitled to keep playing. And the guy that doesn’t play got every opportunity to practice and be more consistent and win the team over so that when he gets an opportunity to play, he plays really well. We have changed quarterbacks around here a few times during the season. So, I know you guys are looking for an end but it’s not even gonna be the end in the first game.”

“You’re looking at me kind of funny. Did I not explain that very well. I know what you asked. I just don’t want to answer it. We’re gonna make the best of it for our team and our team has to be make the best of it as well. And whoever plays the position, everybody gotta play well around him and do the best job that they can to help them play well.”

I think what Saban said here is pretty important. He made it very clear that there is still not very much separation between the quarterbacks and it is likely to play out over multiple games this season. With Texas lurching in Week 2, most fans would like for a starter to be etched, but also like Saban said, this wouldn’t be the first time in his tenure that a QB battle carried over into multiple games.

Alabama will hit the practice field again on Thursday, Aug. 24.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Stacey Blackwood on X (Twitter) @Blackwood89.

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Making the case for why each Alabama QB could be named starter for Week 1

Roll Tide Wire makes the case for why each quarterback could be named Alabama’s starting quarterback.

The question of the offseason is Tuscaloosa has been: Who will be named Alabama’s starting quarterback? Will it be Jalen Milroe, Ty Simpson, Tyler Buchner? Recently, even true freshman Dylan Lonergan has had his name mentioned in the conversation.

That is the question that Alabama fans have continuously searched for over the last few months. Each quarterback is different and stands out in their own way. There have been various reports that provide optimism for each of the four candidates to win the starting quarterback job.

Today, Roll Tide Wire makes the case for why each Alabama quarterback could be named as the team’s starter for Week 1 of the 2023 season.

Nick Saban updates QB competition following first scrimmage of fall camp

Nick Saban updates Alabama’s quarterback competition following the Tide’s first scrimmage of fall camp

The Alabama football team is now nine practices into fall camp and has one scrimmage under their belt as we are now less than three weeks away from the Week 1 matchup against Middle Tennessee State on Sept. 2.

Following the Crimson Tide’s scrimmage on Saturday, head coach [autotag]Nick Saban[/autotag] would spend a few minutes with the local media to provide an update on his team and field questions from reporters.

Before anyone ever had the chance to ask, Saban addressed the ongoing quarterback competition in his opening statement. While he didn’t provide a detailed report on each QB, he did express what he and his staff would be looking for once they were able to watch the film from Saturday’s scrimmage.

“Look, everybody got reps today at quarterback. I’m not a stats guy so we’re not interested in what their statistics were. We are going to be interested when we watch the film in how did they execute? Did they throw the ball the right place at the right time? Were they accurate in what they did? Did they take care of the ball so that we have a chance to play winning football at that position? And that’s what we’ll be evaluating. So if you ask me a question about it, that’s the answer I’m gonna give you.”

The battle is currently between Jalen Milore, Ty Simpson, and Tyler Buchner but it appears that none of them have created any separation up to this point. There is still plenty of time and plenty of reps remaining before Alabama takes on the Blue Raiders and even if a starter hasn’t been solidified by then, we have seen a Saban-led team carry the QB battle into the season before.

I know fans are craving for an answer to the most important position on the field, but it appears they will continue to have to wait.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Stacey Blackwood on X (Twitter) @Blackwood89.

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