Nick Saban shared his honest thoughts on Jalen Hurts after the Eagles’ win over the Rams in the playoffs, offering a balanced view of his former quarterback’s performance.
Hurts played a key role in the Eagles’ 28-22 victory, contributing a 44-yard rushing touchdown early on, but also made some mistakes that almost cost his team. Later in the game, Hurts missed a chance to pass to an open receiver and was sacked in the end zone for a safety. The Rams almost capitalized on this with a fumble, and as they mounted a comeback, Hurts was sacked again, leading to a three-and-out for the Eagles that nearly allowed the Rams to take the game.
Saban, speaking on The Pat McAfee Show, acknowledged Hurts’ ability to help his team win, emphasizing the Eagles’ strong running game, which Hurts contributes to with his running ability. He also highlighted Hurts’ ability to throw the ball effectively in the play-action game. Saban noted that while Hurts is a good enough passer, his athleticism, which makes him a dual-threat quarterback, can sometimes lead to negative plays, such as taking unnecessary sacks. Saban pointed out that athletic quarterbacks like Hurts often don’t want to give up on plays, which can result in those mistakes.
Reflecting on his time coaching Hurts at Alabama, Saban mentioned that he would sometimes restrict Hurts from running in practice to focus on improving his passing skills. However, Saban believes Hurts has grown as a passer, while his athleticism remains an essential part of his success. Despite the occasional costly errors, Saban emphasized that Hurts’ abilities make him a winning quarterback, and under his leadership, the Eagles have made the postseason every year since he became the starter in 2021.
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