Kirby Smart raves about Jalen Milroe: ‘He’s an incredible football player’
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Kirby Smart thinks the world of Jalen Milroe, and the Georgia head coach knows it’ll be an extremely tough challenge to slow Milroe down on Saturday night when the 2nd-ranked Bulldogs visit 4th-ranked Alabama in one of the most highly anticipated SEC games in many years.
“The challenges are immense because he’s an incredible football player,” said Smart about Milroe in Monday’s weekly press conference. “… Sometimes the worst thing you can do is cover everybody with him. Sometimes the best thing you can do is cover everybody.”
"The challenges are immense because he's an incredible football player."- Kirby Smart on Jalen Milroe
"…Sometimes the worst thing you can do is cover everybody with him. Sometimes the best thing you can do is cover everybody."
— Matt Stahl (@mattstahl97) September 23, 2024
Whatever plan Smart has to contain Milroe, he knows some things might work and some things might not. Milroe has been spectacular so far in 2024, throwing for 590 yards with 8 touchdown passes and 0 interceptions in 3 games.
But that’s only half the story. The junior who’s in his 2nd full season as the Crimson Tide starting quarterback has also rushed for 2 touchdowns in each of Alabama’s 1st 3 games. Milroe actually led the Crimson Tide in rushing in their Week 3 victory at Wisconsin, running for 75 yards on 14 carries.
“You see him make more throws that are on rhythm … you can tell he’s become more comfortable with those things … deep ball passer, vertical passer … he’s improved immensely,” said Smart.
Georgia HC Kirby Smart on the progression of Alabama QB Jalen Milroe: “you see him make more throws that are on rhythm…you can tell he’s become more comfortable with those things…deep ball passer, vertical passer…he’s improved immensely.”
— Baillie Burmaster (@baillie_burm) September 23, 2024
Smart is also well aware of Milroe’s ability to make something out of nothing.
“Some of his best and most exciting plays are when things break down, or he runs by design,” said Smart.
Kirby Smart says on Alabama QB Jalen Milroe:
"You can tell he's become more comfortable with those things. Some of his best and most exciting plays are when things break down, or he runs by design."
— Lance (@LM_Sports_Media) September 23, 2024
Saturday’s showdown in Tuscaloosa will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
