It started with Greg McElroy and though he hated the phrase, it fit what Saban wanted, game manager. McCarron continued the streak even though deep down he wanted to be a gun slinger and from there several players filled the role. Mostly older, wiser guys who wouldn’t make a lot of mistakes.
It was all about ball control offense with someone at the helm who wouldn’t make a lot of mistakes. To a large part, even Jalen Hurts fit that category. But once Saban made the decision that despite super effort and results that the Hurts era was over, so was the game manager.