Jalen Milroe explains snap issues with center Seth McLaughlin

Jalen Milroe explained the snap issues with Alabama center Seth McLaughlin in the Rose Bowl loss to Michigan.

Basically, the Crimson Tide quarterback chalked it up to things that can happen in the course of the game. Milroe was also stuffed on the final play of the game in overtime on a designed run.

After the game, Milroe didn’t place the blame on any one player.

“With anything, it takes preparation,” Milroe said postgame. “Whether it’s pass protection, whether it’s the running game, the passing game, you know, the quarterback and the center have to have a great relationship. And that is something that we try to build throughout the whole season. So, you know, there’s a multitude of things that me and Seth talk about. And in that regard, you know, that’s something we do talk about.”

As far as the final play was concerned, there were a lot of theories about the outcome. Milroe was stuffed on the quarterback keeper, but many analysts and fans assumed if McLaughlin’s snap was better, Milroe would’ve had a better read and chance to score on fourth down.

“First thing I’m appreciative of our coaching staff for believing in me to have the ball in my hands in the last play,” Milroe said. “You win some you lose some, it’s all part of the game, you know, with anything … We just failed on that play.

“That’s all it was, you know, because at the end of the day, I just trusted the guys up front. They believed in me on the last play to have the ball. And unfortunately we just missed and we just didn’t get in the end zone.”

Despite the loss ending a season where Alabama looked to return to the top of the mountain, Milroe will be back in 2024. He said Nick Saban meant the world to him and the team in a roller coaster year.

“100 percent. Coach means a lot to us,” Milroe said. “We play even harder knowing that Coach has the belief system in us. Just listening to him talk, he talks about how proud he is of this team. We have a lot of things we can be proud of from this season. Could have easily lingered and past mistakes could have easily went in the tank when things weren’t good, but the biggest thing was we continued to improve, continue to have singular focus in our approach when it came to preparation and when it came to attacking the task at hand.

“There’s a lot of things to be proud of, but one thing I am proud of is how much Coach Saban harped on his belief system on us.”