Jalen Milroe has overcome a lot dating back to the spring with questions around whether he could truly win the starting job at Alabama to doubts about whether he would keep it back in early September.
Now as the Crimson Tide sit at 7-1 with another season-defining game against LSU on Saturday it’s time for the redshirt sophomore to take the next step.
Despite showing improvements from its rough start on the year, the Alabama offense is yet to show that it is capable of putting together a 60-minute performance. There is no greater example of the group’s inconsistencies than from its game against Tennessee back on October 21st.
The unit mustered just seven points in the first two quarters with Milroe turning the ball over twice, both of which resulted in points for the Volunteers. But on the flip side of the game, Alabama came out firing in the second half outscoring the opposition 27-0 led by Milroe’s big play-making ability.
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Coming out flat against the Tigers who feature a quarterback as good as Jayden Daniels won’t be tolerated this Saturday, as it may not be able to overcome a similar deficit against the high-powered offense.
Milroe and the Alabama offense will have the injury report working in its favor as LSU will be dealing with several injuries in its secondary which has already struggled in previous games this season.
This makes it all the more important for Milroe to finally become a complete player and prove Alabama has that next level of offense in it.
Frankly, there aren’t a whole lot of excuses for the team not to come out with a more complete performance this week. A week ago I wrote about the dangers a week off could mean to a group that already comes out rusty out of the gates, which could still prove to be the case. But a 30-minute hangover this weekend would not just indicate that the week off hurt the team, it may show that the offense just may not have that next gear.
The only issue is that the offense has shown glimpses of that next level and it comes from its quarterback.
Milroe’s improvements from the pocket (when properly given one) have been night and day since his snaps from earlier in the year. He’s shown the ability to get the ball out on time and has cut back on the boneheaded red zone turnovers and isn’t as easily fooled by opposing secondaries.
The popular cry is for him to utilize his legs more in the offense, but it doesn’t seem to be a core part of his game. His strength doesn’t come from the ground it comes through the air.
Deep through the air.
Now it isn’t as if Tomy Rees is going to have the offense looking like the Miami Dolphins after two weeks to prepare, but his quarterback should appear to be more crisp and consistent after the self-scout.
Alabama still has all its goals ahead of it, and if the offense is going to reach a championship level it’s going to need to be elevated on the back of its quarterback.
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Patrick Dowd is a Reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via Pat_Dowd77
