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The Alabama football team lost its first game of the year on Saturday, falling to the Texas Longhorns. Much of the blame is being placed on the quarterback position.
Starter Jalen Milroe struggled at times in the passing game, completing just 52% of his attempts. With the team going through an offseason quarterback battle, many are calling for another option under center.
Former NFL player Corey Miller isn’t one of those people.
After seeing the loss play out on the field, he believes that the rest of the team and coaching staff deserve the same, if not more blame for the defeat.
He posted a message about Milroe on Twitter over the weekend.
My thoughts on @JalenMilroe and Bama! pic.twitter.com/U8u7976BKA
— Corey Miller (@PASTOROFPAIN57) September 10, 2023
“This is strictly for Alabama fans, and any other national analyst or Sunday morning quarterback that wants to just throw Jalen Milroe to the wolves,” Miller began. “We knew this was going to happen. If he struggled in this game, it was going to be, ‘Get rid of him. Put someone else in. He could never work for Alabama.’
“Let me just say this. Y’all are crazy! Jalen Milroe is a QB. Jalen Milroe has done some spectacular things. Here’s the problem. You’re offensive coordinator has to help him out. The man, on half his drop back passes, was running for his life, was getting hit in the mouth.
“The offensive line has to help him. I don’t care who your QB is… If you’re the offensive coordinator, and you’ve got a guy like Jalen Milroe, you know what you do? Take a page out of the Philadelphia Eagles playbook. You get him on the perimeter, you run boots, you run quick pass game… You don’t ask him to be a drop back QB, because that’s not what he is!
“He’s a dual threat. You have to implement dual-threat offensive plans, but y’all want to crush the kid. Y’all want to kill his spirit… If you’re mindset is to get rid of him, then get rid of the offensive coordinator, get rid of the coaching staff, get rid of all your offensive linemen. You know what? They didn’t have a good game either.”
Miller played his college ball at South Carolina, and his son, Christian, played for the Tide. He’s familiar with the Alabama program and the SEC, and he obviously has a vast football knowledge given his time at the professional level.
Most have been quick to criticize Milroe’s performance, particularly in comparison to that of Quinn Ewers. Some of that is warranted as his two interceptions led to 10 Texas points.
Still, this could be an overreaction as the passer was making just his third career start. He also led the offense in rushing if you remove the five times he was sacked.
Other quarterback options on the roster include former five-star recruit Ty Simpson and Notre Dame transfer Tyler Buchner. Despite the criticism, it seems Milroe’s status as starter will continue as Alabama eyes a Week 3 matchup with South Florida.