Kalen DeBoer breaks down improvement from Jalen Milroe during spring

This offseason, Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe and new head coach Kalen DeBoer are working together for the first time. It’s a relationship that already appears to be strong moving forward.

While making an appearance on McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning, DeBoer spoke about Milroe, and where he’s seen improvement from him during the Spring.

“I think processing, whether it be processing and going through progressions and being more disciplined with his footwork and really paying more attention to his footwork,” Kalen DeBoer said. “Tying the footwork to the timing and just the clock that you need to have in your head as a quarterback.”

Going into the 2023 season, Jalen Milroe needed to win the starting job at Alabama. That’s not the case now. However, he has been tasked with learning a new offense and figuring out how to run it while adjusting to a new coaching staff.

“Then, I think there were times it was really good and then add some more install and it drops off a little bit, but I think as the Spring went on again, he continued to elevate. Just playing ball. Just moving the chains and playing ball and not trying to run a play but run an offense. So, I think he did a good job of that,” DeBoer said.

“The Spring Game there were some drops that didn’t help him out and things like that, but I thought the ball was where it needed to be and it was on time. So, I’m really excited about the Summer and what that will lead to going into Fall Camp.”

In 2023, Jalen Milroe had 2,834 passing yards for 23 touchdowns. He also rushed for 531 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground. Along the way, he helped the Crimson Tide to an SEC Championship and took Alabama to the College Football Playoff. Now, the goal is to be prepared to take Alabama back to the Playoff in 2024.

How Jalen Milroe’s dual-threat ability is impacting Kalen DeBoer’s offensive system

Jalen Milroe offers a dual-threat capability to the offense in 2023. Now, Kalen DeBoer has shared how that is going to impact his offensive system moving forward.

“Our structure of our systems allows us to do all the things based on the personnel that come into our program. So, you know, right now, Jalen Milroe is a guy that can do both – run and pass. His ability to run the football and be a threat in that way makes our rushing attack even better,” DeBoer said.

“We have great tailbacks. We need to make sure that we’re getting the ball distributed to all of our skill players. Receivers, tight ends as well. Here in this league, the physicality that comes along and is critical to winning football games? I don’t care if it’s the SEC, I don’t care what level you’re at. It’s important. The system is built to be able to work with him and do those things. We have a little bit more, maybe, tendency with game-planning and so forth and how we install in fall camp to make sure that all that stuff is the things that we’re practicing to set ourselves up for success in the fall.”