Alabama Crimson Tide coach Kalen DeBoer faces a significant issue: the football team has multiple problems, but the most pressing is at quarterback. Jalen Milroe’s performance against Tennessee was particularly disappointing. He struggled with inaccurate throws, missed open receivers, forced passes into tight coverage, and relied too much on Ryan Williams for big plays.
Alabama fans have criticized Nick Sheridan’s play-calling, questioning whether he could have made better choices. While the coaching staff may have underperformed, the biggest weakness in the offense has been Milroe.
Despite being an impressive young talent with a range of skills, Milroe has not lived up to expectations and has regressed since the second quarter of the Georgia game.
One pivotal moment during the Tennessee game exemplified Milroe’s struggles. On a second down at the Tennessee 32-yard line, he had a clean pocket and several options: a potential 10-yard run, an open Justice Haynes near the Tennessee 15, and a wide-open receiver at the 10-yard line. Instead, he opted for Haynes and overthrew him, leading to a punt after penalties and a sack.
Assessing a player based on one mistake isn’t fair, but Milroe has frequently made poor decisions. Statistically, he has the worst touchdown-to-interception ratio among SEC starting quarterbacks, with five touchdown passes and six interceptions in conference play. Comparatively, his performance is on par with Auburn’s Payton Thorne, which is unacceptable for Alabama fans.
DeBoer faces a dilemma: Ty Simpson may not significantly outperform Milroe. If Milroe is struggling in the current offensive scheme, it could be worse with Simpson. A switch could also provoke backlash from players. DeBoer needs to find a solution that works, and he must do so quickly.
Leave a Reply