BREAKING Alabama QB Jalen Milroe to return for senior season

[BamaInBham]

I hope he understands and is coached to play to his strengths. He is most lethal when he does so. He's a decent passer, as of now. He's outstanding as a runner, especially when he's going north and south. But when you put the threat of him doing both that's when he's most dangerous.

In time, he may prove to be a pocket passer, but the allurement of NFL Scouts with Jalen is they see him as another Lamar Jackson not Tom Brady.

IMO, he's not the runner Jackson is, but he is a much better passer than Jackson ever was until the last couple of years, certainly a much better thrower anyway.

 

[TiderJack]

So, he had one really bad game against Texas. Made a few mistakes in a few other games, but did well overall. He's winning games.

Agreed. He has only had three interceptions since Texas and progressively made better decisions as the season progressed. I am very, very, very, very happy he is coming back in '24 no matter the outcome of this season.

 

[REBELZED]

No he hasn't. He's been in the top 20 in passing efficiency the entire year, top 10 or 12 most of it, and finished #3 among P5 QBs, #4 overall. His YPA, a key metric, has been great all year, from the beginning.

Here we go with this "told y'all he was great" thing again. I love Jalen as much as anybody and am so proud of/thankful for the hard work he has put in, but to say he never had bad games "because his stats are good" is just burying your head in the sand.

 

[BamaInBham]

You’re talking in circles. So Milroe has a more friendly offensive environment to work in(agree) than AJ, they put up similar stats, but AJ was a game manager?

It's mostly circumstance (and to be clear I did not mean "game manager" in a derogatory way. IMO, almost all good QBs are gm, then more, but gm should be their foundation.). With the way the game was played in '12 and more importantly, given the domination of Alabama's defense, "game manager" was all CNS allowed AJ to be until the NC game, then he came through with flying colors. Ala goes into big games now, knowing that Jalen usually needs to make a lot of plays running and throwing.

As far as the stats, Jalen played one less game, and as I noted, AJ's team was better at every group except WR - the defense as a whole, then the OL & RB.

 

[AlexanderFan]

No he hasn't. He's been in the top 20 in passing efficiency the entire year, top 10 or 12 most of it, and finished #3 among P5 QBs, #4 overall. His YPA, a key metric, has been great all year, from the beginning.

His passing efficiency is bloated by taking sacks over throwing the ball away. His rushing yards would be much higher as well. Not all of the sacks he’s taken have been the offensive line’s fault.

 

[BamaInBham]

Here we go with this "told y'all he was great" thing again. I love Jalen as much as anybody and am so proud of/thankful for the hard work he has put in, but to say he never had bad games "because his stats are good" is just burying your head in the sand.

You are misstating what I said. I never said nor implied he was great from the beginning, just that he was not the "terrible" QB that some said he was and "here we go again", some are still saying it.

I don't know what other "bad" games he had. IMO, as I've stated elsewhere in this thread, even the Texas game was not as bad as many said and I would not characterize him as having bad games against anyone else. Some were just OK, others good, and a couple very good or great. He was a key player vs OM, Ark, UT, LSU, UK, AU, UGA games. Much of that is because of his position as QB, some of it because he played very well. He is especially clutch and has been from the beginning, including the Texas game. Ark, AU and UGA demonstrated that with big plays toward the end of the game. OM, UT and LSU showed it less dramatically, by making big plays earlier to come back or maintain a lead.

You seem to resent someone disagreeing on these points. It appears we're at an impasse. But as long as posts continue to appear over-emphasizing Jalen's faults and understating his skills and accomplishments, there are likely to be those who disagree with those posts.

As far as my involvement in the debate, I've made it a point not to jump on here say, "I told you so.". I've previously stated plainly that at the beginning of the year I thought JM would not be the QB based on what I saw in the '22 A&M game and what we heard coming out of fall camp. I was hoping TS would take the bull by the horns and be the QB. So, I understand the concerns others had, for I had some of the same, though I did not post them because I don't like criticizing players, certainly not harshly. But I realize people are different. But I think it distorted the view of many regarding Jalen and they've often reacted the way I stated.

I'm just a poster on a msg board stating an opinion, usually in response to an opinion with which I disagree. I don't post on many topics and when I do it's usually in disagreement because if others are stating what I believe, I just hit the "like" or "Thank You" link.

 

[AlexanderFan]

AJ was a fifth round pick; JM is projected top 15. He’s not talking in circles, you are just not very good at evaluating talent.

Has nothing to do with evaluating talent and everything to do with the words on the page. Three parts of his post:

Milroe plays in a more offensive friendly time,
AJ and Milroe put up similar numbers, and AJ was game managing at that point.

So if Milroe plays in an easier time for offenses but only puts up the same stats as a quarterback who was just managing the game, what does that say about Milroe?

 

[JustNeedMe81]

Has nothing to do with evaluating talent and everything to do with the words on the page. Three parts of his post:

Milroe plays in a more offensive friendly time,
AJ and Milroe put up similar numbers, and AJ was game managing at that point.

So if Milroe plays in an easier time for offenses but only puts up the same stats as a quarterback who was just managing the game, what does that say about Milroe?

This is a moot point. This is comparing an apple to Orange. Different time, different style, different era.

 

[davefrat]

AJ was a fifth round pick; JM is projected top 15. He’s not talking in circles, you are just not very good at evaluating talent.

Projecting him as a top-15 pick in next year's draft?

Seems like an incredibly premature projection.

 

[landonew]

No he hasn't. He's been in the top 20 in passing efficiency the entire year, top 10 or 12 most of it, and finished #3 among P5 QBs, #4 overall. His YPA, a key metric, has been great all year, from the beginning.

It doesn’t matter what you say; JM is going to need to show these folks.

The first and last thought through opposing DCs’ minds is how do we stop JM. Every down is influenced by his talent

Has nothing to do with evaluating talent and everything to do with the words on the page. Three parts of his post:

Milroe plays in a more offensive friendly time,
AJ and Milroe put up similar numbers, and AJ was game managing at that point.

So if Milroe plays in an easier time for offenses but only puts up the same stats as a quarterback who was just managing the game, what does that say about Milroe?

It says you don’t understand football. You don’t understand why JM is a better QB than AJ; that’s perfectly acceptable, it’s subtle. Rather than arguing with you, can you explain why NFL scouts feel the same way I do, but disagree with you?

 

[CrimsonTitles]

It doesn't matter what happens (within reason) in the remainder of the season, the job should be and will be Milroe's to lose next year, even though Saban may say what he usually does regarding returning starters, but Jalen will be the clear incumbent. He was 2nd team All-SEC QB behind only the Heisman trophy winner and finished 6th in the Heisman race himself.

Btw, although Jalen threw the 2 bad ints, costing 10 points, that game was not all on him. Although the D played reasonably well through 3 qtrs, as soon as Jalen brought Alabama from behind to give them a lead late in the 3rd qtr, the D immediately gave up a TD (75 yds in 3 plays), then later when Jalen brought Ala to within 3 in the 4th qtr, the D immediately gave up another TD, then finally they allowed Texas to run out the clock for literally the last half of the 4th qtr. Although Jalen contributed to the OL problems, the OL did not play well at all and the running game, aside from Jalen's scrambles was almost non-existent; the RBs gained 63 yards. Jalen was the offense gaining 299 (255 & 44 really 75, the 44 included the sacks (5 for 31 yards)) of Alabama's 362 yards. It was a team loss, it's misleading, thus, unfair to put all of the blame on Jalen. It would be like blaming AJ for losing the 2012 A&M game because he also threw 2 ints but for 14 points in a game lost by 5, not 10 - one led to a TD by A&M, the other cost Alabama a TD. They were both team losses but no one said a word about AJ.

Your take is beyond puzzling, but certainly disrespectful and unappreciative of what Jalen has accomplished this year. It's because of his extraordinary skills that Alabama won the SEC and has a chance to win a NC. His passing stats were almost identical, including ints, to AJ's first year and that does not include Jalen's far greater rushing stats and running threat. Jalen plays in a more offense friendly era than AJ with worse WRs, but had a much weaker OL and RB room, and while this D is good and usually timely, it is not like the '11 D. This team is dependent on Jalen while AJ was able to be a game manager til the NC game.

Well that's fine, but I don't think he should be. It would be a shame to let Lonergan and Simpson walk for this guy. I mean, if Texas gets the best of him again, then what will have really done? He will have played well against mediocre defenses, but not so well against the elite defenses. Everyone keeps forgetting that he had a mediocre game against Georgia. In my eyes, he will have proven nothing if he doesn't win the National Championship.

The concern is that even Jalen Hurts needed someone to come in and win us the National Championship against Georgia, and Milroe is not better than Hurts was. If Tua hadn't come in, and we lost the National Championship, we would have had to replace Jalen anyways imo. What happens if we have a similar situation in the National Championship game against Texas, and we need to put Simpson in? I hope it doesn't happen, but it's a valid question, especially when you have a a QB who is fairly limited as a passer.

 

[landonew]

Projecting him as a top-15 pick in next year's draft?

Seems like an incredibly premature projection.

It’s incredibly premature by all the sources that matter; so at least our immature position has a consensus

 

[BamaInBham]

His passing efficiency is bloated by taking sacks over throwing the ball away. His rushing yards would be much higher as well. Not all of the sacks he’s taken have been the offensive line’s fault.

IMO, "bloated" is an overstatement. Affected - sure.

I've acknowledged both points in the past, the last one multiple times. But others have pointed it out over and over, so I don't feel the need to add to their efforts. And why?

But his stats have probably not been any more affected by that than the counter effects of the really bad early OL and lack of running game. The other QBs against whom he is compared likely have issues that affect their stats too. Jalen plays in the SEC, the toughest conf in football and vs the #3 or 5 SOS...

 

[81usaf92]

Fair comment. Thank you. A faction of this fanbase has developed an entitled mentality. We should be appreciative of JM and his contributions. If you go to the Georgia or Michigan forums, there’s not a hint of shade thrown at their QBs. Why are we so different?

You have clearly not been around Georgia fans or Georgia forums when there was a quarterback debate. They absolutely hated Kirby sticking with Stetson over Fields, The USC guy, and Vandergraff in 2020 and 21. Until the 2021 NCG very few were high on him.

Michigan…. You really want to know how they treated Tom Brady in 1999? It’s certainly not how they treat Tom Brady in 2023, and nowhere near how as good as general Alabama fans have treated any quarterback in the Saban era.

A huge reason that they aren’t on McCarthy is because he isn’t costing them games and isn’t seen as a liability. Some of that is their style of play and some of that is the quality of their opponent. Neither of those factors let us hide the quarterback from being a huge contributor in our offense like it does for Michigan. Milroe’s indecision AT TIMES has gotten us into serious trouble in some big games. The Auburn game is probably a huge recent example. Yeah it’s hard to overlook the ending but probably the biggest reason it’s a throw and a prayer and not a more comfortable win or a Reichard last minute kick was because Milroe’s decision making most of the game.

But I guess the reason we are different from both Georgia and Michigan in this aspect is the fact that both didn’t have a huge issue with finding a quarterback in the offseason, had a favorable schedule, and the quarterback is not as near important in winning and losing as it is with Bama this year. Our lack of a dominating running game has probably hindered us more than anything offensively, but early on we had our most difficult games while breaking in a new offensive system and new quarterback. Milroe has improved a lot since the Ole Miss game but I don’t know if I totally buy that he is a 1st rounder just yet…. However I didn’t think Anthony Richardson was either.

 

[AlexanderFan]

It doesn’t matter what you say; JM is going to need to show these folks.

The first and last thought through opposing DCs’ minds is how do we stop JM. Every down is influenced by his talent


It says you don’t understand football. You don’t understand why JM is a better QB than AJ; that’s perfectly acceptable, it’s subtle. Rather than arguing with you, can you explain why NFL scouts feel the same way I do, but disagree with you?

NFL scouts feel the way they do about Milroe based on what they think he could do if he was totally devoted to football, and not having to go to college. He could potentially be great. Right now he leaves too many makeable plays on the field. He leaves too many points off the board. If you can’t watch him play and see that, you need to take the Milroe colored glasses off. There’s a lot of room for improvement in Milroe’s game.

 

[BamaInCummingGA]

And you’d have zero national championships to show for it. This isn’t about which QB casual fans fancy. JM is a better competitor than Bryce Young.

You either don't watch football or don't know football.
When BY was here we had our hands tied by a mediocre (at best) OC.
You throw an OC the caliber of Kiffin or Sark in the mix and BY likely walks away with two titles.

Milroe, while he has improved exponentially, still cannot walk up too the line of scrimmage and see where the pressure is coming from (not consistently anyway) and still consistently misses wide open receivers because he still can't see the whole field most of the time.

Now, we have won games and won enough to get into the playoffs and I think we'll win it but don't pretend that JM is a better qb than BY.

 

[BamaInCummingGA]

So, he had one really bad game against Texas. Made a few mistakes in a few other games, but did well overall. He's winning games.

He's had more than one bad game and a few bad halves.
Has the team rallied around him? Yes.
Have we won games? Yes,
But Milroe still has a way to go.
The good thing is that he does seem to be willing to put in the work to grow and improve so that will go a long way to helping himself and the team.

 

[BamaInCummingGA]

In 13 months, JM will have won back-to-back SEC championships, back-to-back national championships, and a Heisman. Sometime saying things earlier than everyone else makes you sound outlandish. I’m ok with that. This kid is special.

And some times it makes you sound like Danny Kanell

 

[landonew]

You either don't watch football or don't know football.
When BY was here we had our hands tied by a mediocre (at best) OC.
You throw an OC the caliber of Kiffin or Sark in the mix and BY likely walks away with two titles.

Milroe, while he has improved exponentially, still cannot walk up too the line of scrimmage and see where the pressure is coming from (not consistently anyway) and still consistently misses wide open receivers because he still can't see the whole field most of the time.

Now, we have won games and won enough to get into the playoffs and I think we'll win it but don't pretend that JM is a better qb than BY.

JM and BY will be judged by the championships they won. Same can be said about Tua and Hurts. JM will win two national championships, and despite his talent, BT will be remembered as the Heisman QB who couldn’t get it done.

I graduated from Bama in 2008, I love this program and this is not a troll post. JM will be considered a better QB than BY and it’s because he’s a better leader and a true champion.

 

[BamaInCummingGA]

AJ was a fifth round pick; JM is projected top 15. He’s not talking in circles, you are just not very good at evaluating talent.

You might want to watch yourself. I'm pretty sure you're skating on thin ice.
Alexander Fan is one of the most respected posters on here.
You? well that remains to be seen.