Kalen DeBoer addresses conversation with Jalen Milroe after 1st-quarter interception vs. Tennessee

Through the first quarter of the Third Saturday in October matchup between Alabama and Tennessee, quarterback play was up-and-down for both teams. But Jalen Milroe had one of the more costly plays on a goal-line interception, and Kalen DeBoer addressed the conversation between the two.

Milroe’s pass was picked off in the end zone by Jermod McCoy as Alabama looked to score the first touchdown of the game. It was the Alabama QB’s fifth interception of the season, and it kept the game scoreless.

DeBoer’s message was simple, though. He wanted Milroe to keep playing his game and focus on the task at hand, rather than worrying too much about the interception.

“Just the things we always talk about, as far as ball placement and decision-making and things like that,” DeBoer told ABC’s Molly McGrath. “We’ve just got to keep playing ball, keep playing ball. Each play is its own play.”

It’s safe to say, Milroe responded well. He found Ryan Williams for a five-yard touchdown to start the second quarter, giving Alabama a 7-0 lead over Tennessee at Neyland Stadium.

The Alabama-Tennessee rivalry is one of the storied rivalries in the SEC. It’s shaping up to be an interesting game between two teams looking to continue bouncing back from upset losses two weeks ago, and ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit pointed out just how even both teams are. However, he gave the Vols the edge.

“I think we’re all kind of flipping a coin,” Herbstreit said during SportsCenter ahead of College GameDay. “You just don’t know what to expect with Tennessee. Playing at home is always such an advantage for them, but Nico [Iamaleava] has not been able to push the ball downfield, and that’s really what Josh Heupel’s offense is based upon. Dylan Sampson‘s physicality, which you know you’re going to get, but teams don’t have to load up against him. You can play a two-high safety look, which prevents those vertical shots and make Tennessee have to be consistent and go 12 plays, 13 plays.

“That’s what you want to see. If you’re a Tennessee fan, that’s what you need to see. And I’m sure they’re going to try to create matchups with some movement, but that’s what’s been missing. And then with Alabama, they’re so hard to figure out after the last three games that they played. So I give Tennessee the edge, mainly because the game is being played in Knoxville, and that’s in such a tough environment.”