Jalen Milroe says he needs ‘better eye discipline’ after pick-6 at Vanderbilt
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Jalen Milroe threw for 312 yards but he also turned the football over twice in Alabama’s 40-35 loss to Vanderbilt in Nashville on Saturday. Vanderbilt scored 13 points off those 2 Alabama giveaways. Six points came directly off of Milroe.
After the game, he took full responsibility for a first-quarter interception that was returned 29 yards for a touchdown. (Vanderbilt missed the PAT.)
“I’ve got to have better eye discipline and read the coverages better. That’s on me,” Milroe said. “I’ve got to have better ball dominance and protect the football. I take all ownership of that. I shouldn’t have put Ryan in that situation. I should have gotten through my progression”
Alabama QB Jalen Milroe on the pick-6 early in the Vandy game.
The ball was intended for Ryan Williams:
“I should have had better ball judgment. I have to read the coverages better. That’s on me. I should not have put Ryan in that situation.”@TDAlabamaMag @TouchdownETP pic.twitter.com/3bFpdxYDPj
— Stephen M. Smith (@CoachingMSmith) October 6, 2024
Vanderbilt got the ball first on Saturday, drove the field in 10 plays, and punched the ball into the endzone to take what was their first lead over the Crimson Tide since 2006.
On Alabama’s first possession, Milroe was picked off just 3 plays in. When Vandy walked it into the endzone to take a 13-0 lead, the eyes of the college football universe collectively turned to Nashville.
VANDERBILT PICK SIX ON JALEN MILROE ‼️
BAMA IS DOWN 13-0
(via @VandyFootball)
pic.twitter.com/mIZw7QZFfd— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 5, 2024
From then on, Alabama just could not get stops or string together successful offensive possessions.
The Tide followed up a 75-yard touchdown drive with a 3-and-out. They scored on a 5-play, 53-yard drive on their first possession of the second half, then went 3-and-out. They scored on a 4-play, 75-yard drive late in the third quarter, then followed that up with a Milroe sack-fumble.
Milroe ended the game with 312 passing yards on 19-of-25 passing. He had 10 rushing yards, 2 total touchdowns, and the 2 turnovers.
“There’s some things we’re going to look back on tomorrow and be really, really frustrated about,” DeBoer said after the game. “We don’t like talking about ‘what ifs’ and that’s going to be the situation we’re going to be dealing with tomorrow. But the guys in the locker room, we just talked about ‘there’s only one option. Let’s move forward, let’s get back to work.’”
Alabama hosts South Carolina next weekend.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
