Development of Alabama football quarterbacks 'critical' to Nick Saban
Alabama football coach Nick Saban wants to see his quarterbacks take a forward developmental step in spring practice, and considers that critical to team improvement as the Crimson Tide commences spring drills.
Vying to replace former Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young are third-year sophomore Jalen Milroe, redshirt freshman Ty Simpson, and a pair of true freshmen who've already enrolled in Eli Holstein and Dylan Lonergan. And Saban's emphasis in searching for a new offensive coordinator, he said, was to find a coach who could develop them best.
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Saban ultimately chose Tommy Rees, who had been the offensive coordinator at Notre Dame.
"Effective, good teacher, good quarterback coach, can develop quarterbacks, can help them learn and grow at the position," Saban said of what he looked for in the role. "I think that was one of the critical factors in the search for a new coordinator was that the guy would be a really good quarterback coach and has a history of being able to develop quarterbacks. And I think we did that."
Milroe started one game last season and threw three touchdown passes in a 24-21 win over Texas A&M. He also saw significant action in a road win over Arkansas after Young was sidelined with a shoulder injury. Simpson threw just five passes on the year. Their competition is only beginning, and Saban said he's pleased with the talent they have to work with on the offensive side of the ball.
"Development at that position is really going to be a critical thing for our team this year because I like the players that we have around them," Saban said.
Along with Young's prolific talent, the team also must fill the former star quarterback's leadership void, along with that of linebacker Will Anderson. Saban also said the team's leadership group for 2023 has not yet been determined. The Crimson Tide will conduct 15 spring practices concluding with the annual A-Day scrimmage at Bryant-Denny Stadium on April 22.
Reach Chase Goodbread at cgoodbread@gannett.com. Follow on Twitter @chasegoodbread.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Development of Alabama football quarterbacks 'critical' to Nick Saban
