Jaylen Harrell breaks down the challenge of defending Alabama's Jalen Milroe
The Michigan Wolverines have their biggest challenge ahead of them to date in the Rose Bowl vs. Alabama on Jan. 1. It will be the team’s third-straight trip to the College Football Playoff looking to finally grab that elusive postseason win.
Senior EDGE Jaylen Harrell has been a key part of the last few squads that made the CFP and noted that there has been an adjustment in preparation for how Michigan has prepared.
“I feel like what we did over the past couple of years may not have been working,” Harrell told the media on Monday afternoon. “So I feel like [Coach Jim Harbaugh] did a great job of adjusting and changing the schedule. Changing stuff around, putting us in the best position, so we can go out there and handle business.
“It’s been a little more rest on the body, but also we’re getting after when we go out there. So it’s a great balance and a great blend between both.”
Michigan needs all the mental and physical reps it can get in bowl prep for the Crimson Tide. Quarterback Jalen Milroe is one of the best dual-threat players in the country, and Harrell and the defense have their hands full in making sure they do not get run on.
“He’s talented, real athletic, freaky,” Harrell said. “As an edge guy, it’s gonna be a big game with containing him in the pocket. I’m not trying to do too much, because if you get out of your lane he can take it 100 yards. So just playing great cohesive defense to stop him and slow him down.
“It’s all of us. The defensive line, all the backers, everyone, even some of the guys in coverage, keeping eyes back because like I said, one guy gets out of his lane [it could be a problem. It’s going to be a lot of unselfish pass rush this game, we have got to have containment in the pocket and get coverage sacks and stuff like that.”
Milroe, who has 140 rushes for 468 yards and 12 touchdowns this season in addition to 2,718 passing yards and 23 scores, is unlike anything Michigan has seen to this point. Sophomore Alex Orji has been taking the bulk of the scout team snaps helping them prepare for it.
“Maybe [Milroe is] a bit like Taulia Tagavailoa, but he’s different,” Harrell said. “He plays playground football. So we have gotta keep going to the whistle stops. So it’s 11 hats flying around each and every play.
“You can’t go into the game shy or thinking too much. But then if you slow down, he’s back there all day. So it’s gotta be a nice balance. you gotta be aggressive, but you can’t do too much and let him escape out the back door for 90 yards. We have to find that balance.”
A matchup with Alabama is going to test Michigan’s communication and discipline, which were things that lacked in last year’s loss to TCU in the Fiesta Bowl. That has been relayed to the team as bowl prep kicks into high gear.
“Coach [Jesse] Minter said last year as a defense towards the end of the year, we started forgetting what we’ve done all year and falling back on our training,” Harrell said. “Our effort wasn’t there at all times. The three things that we did this year, tackling, block destruction and communication [are an emphasis] because communication got us beat last year. So just focus on all three things every day.”
Michigan enters the CFP as the No. 1 seed, but many have them on “upset alert” with a Crimson Tide team adept at postseason success. To that, Harrell says to bring them on.
“I like the challenge, never shy away from the challenge,” Harrell said. “It’s going to be a fun one. It’s the best against the best.”
Michigan’s showdown with Alabama is set for Jan. 1 from the Rose Bowl in Pasadena at 5 p.m. ET. The Wolverines are currently a 1.5-point favorite in Vegas.
