How Jalen Milroe showed his growth and progression against LSU

Alabama knew they’d have to score a lot of points to defeat LSU this weekend, and they did just that with their highest-scoring output of the season defeating the Tigers 42-28 at home on Saturday.

Quarterback Jalen Milroe was the key catalyst in Alabama’s scoring output following a relatively slow start to the season as he continued to build chemistry with new offensive coordinator Tommy Rees, which Bama Online’s Tim Watts recently discussed with On3’s Andy Staples.

“I think there was that period of getting to know each other,” Watts said. “I made jokes about it, but you don’t get many chances to coach an athlete like Jalen Milroe. He’s got a big arm, he’s an athlete, he does it all. Didn’t see a lot of that at Notre Dame, so Tommy Rees kind of had to learn how to call plays for him and then Milroe had to learn to adjust what Tommy Rees wanted to call and I think you saw that yesterday.”

Milroe’s dual-threat abilities were on full display versus the Tigers on Saturday, rushing for a whopping 155 yards and four touchdowns on the ground, also throwing for 219 yards through the air. It was by far the most effective he’s looked in Alabama’s running game this season, which Staples believes is just one of many signs of his growth throughout the season.

“I also think Milroe has learned that people do fear his arm and he can take advantage of that,” Staples said. “One of the touchdowns last night where he had the ball cocked and ready to throw until he got to the line of scrimmage and then he tucks and just takes off like there’s a rocket strapped to his butt. That was more nuanced than you’d seen from him the whole year. He kept that defense at bay with the threat that he was gonna throw and then all of a sudden kaboom.”

For the last three weeks, the Crimson Tide offense has continued to score more and more points, all versus conference competition and all with Milroe showing a rise in his comfort within the offense. And with that comfort, he’s also been able to show off his impressive athletic abilities that have dazzled viewers and frustrated defenders.

“That’s another thing the offense does, it gives him that option. That defender has to commit do I take the running back, wide receiver in the flat, or do I take Milroe? And look I’ve said this all along, he looks like Adrian Peterson running to me, and when he ran it’s power,” Watts said. “Ask Harold Perkins who met him at the goal line on one of his touchdowns, they had to help Harold up and Milroe was just standing there. And Harold’s a physical, strong tackler and he basically bounced of Jalen Milroe. That’s how big and that’s how strong he is.”

Milroe definitely showed LSU and the entire country how strong he is on primetime television this weekend, and it will definitely be intriguing to see how he can continue growing and elevating the Crimson Tide through the home stretch of the season.