Kalen DeBoer highlights Jalen Milroe's biggest improvement during spring practices
Kalen DeBoer is coming out of his first spring with Alabama football, and a lot of the early focus has been on the work of quarterback Jalen Milroe. After developing Michael Penix Jr. in a pass-heavy system at Washington, some wondered what that would mean for DeBoer’s offense with Milroe under center.
In Milroe’s first season as a starter for Alabama, he completed just under 66% of his passes for over 2,800 yards and 23 touchdowns to 6 interceptions. While those are solid numbers, Milroe was at his best as a dual-threat with 531 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. He also completed less than 60% of his passes 3 times this season, including a home loss to Texas with 2 interceptions.
DeBoer was adamant upon taking the Alabama job that his offense is adaptable and will fit the skill set of the players in Tuscaloosa. Still, that doesn’t change the fact Milroe needs to continue developing as a passer for the Crimson Tide to reach their full potential.
The good news is DeBoer said Wednesday morning that the entire quarterback room really grew by “leaps and bounds” with a comfort level for the offense. That includes Milroe with DeBoer highlighting the biggest area of improvement for Alabama’s starter.
“Processing, whether it be processing and going through progressions and being more disciplined with his footwork and really paying attention to his footwork,” said DeBoer during an appearance on “McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning.” “Tying the footwork to the timing and just that clock that you need to have in your head as a quarterback. And I think there were times it was really good and then all of sudden you add some install, and it drops off a little bit, but I think as the spring went along, he continued to elevate and just play ball. Just moving the chains and playing ball and not trying to run a play but run an offense.”
Impact for Alabama
Milroe was undoubtedly the guy for Alabama in 2023 and his game-changing ability helped put the Tide in the College Football Playoff. If not for his late-game magic against Auburn, that would have never happened, but there’s no denying his efficiency must improve.
In the SEC Championship victory, Milroe was just 13-for-23 passing with 192 yards and 2 touchdowns. That performance did allow the Tide to hang on for a 27-24 win against Georgia, but Alabama could have put the game away ahead of time if Milroe had been more efficient with the ball.
During the CFP loss to Michigan, Milroe improved his completion percentage to 16-for-23 but only threw for 116 yards and did not have a touchdown. He did not have an interception in the Rose Bowl but lost a fumble in a crucial turn of events.
Considering it was his first year as a starter, Milroe showed promise and a big-time ceiling in terms of his full potential. Now, he’s going to be asked to take a big step forward while also learning a new offense and coaching staff in 2024.
How quickly Milroe takes that big step forward will likely determine Alabama’s true ceiling this fall.
Trapping players is an embarrassing fall from our recent perch.
Should our coach be arrested for kidnapping?
No but maybe you should for impersonating a comedian.
Bubbles. I can see you moving to a large installation with self locking doors and a big fence around the property. People in white clothes will take care of your every need.
Trapping players is a big risk.
Have you ever heard to save the wine, drink the water? We were supposed to save trapping players for when we really needed it. Did we really need to trap them now? If so, it’s worse than we thought.
When players listen to other players’ stories of their experiences here in T-town, it will put downward pressure on our ability to attract new young suspecting kids.