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A closer look at Jalen Milroe's rocking performance in the loss to Tennessee


A closer look at Jalen Milroe's rocking performance in the loss to Tennessee

Alabama football quarterback Jalen Milroe didn't look like the same player who dismantled Georgia in the first half in late September.

On the night, he completed 27 of 33 passes (81.8%) for two touchdowns and one interception with a passer rating of 98.8. And that one interception wasn't even really Milroe's fault; It bounced off the hands of tight end CJ Dippre.

Milroe has matched that performance in every game since.

Against the Bulldogs, he went from looking like a Heisman Trophy favorite to now, three weeks later, a quarterback who didn't look nearly as comfortable or confident. Milroe has thrown five interceptions in the last three games.

That included two losses in Saturday's 24-17 loss to Tennessee at Neyland Stadium. The second came on the final drive to tie the game for the Vols.

Milroe completed 25 of 45 passes (55.6%) for 239 yards, one touchdown with two interceptions against Tennessee. His quarterback rating was 65.3. He also ran for 11 yards on 14 carries without scoring any points.

This was Milroe's worst completion percentage this season, the second straight game with two interceptions and the first game without a rushing touchdown all season.

It's worth noting that this came against the No. 4 scoring defense and No. 4 overall defense in the country. Alabama also let up on frequent pressure, with receivers dropping four passes, according to Pro Football Focus' chart. All in all, there is some understanding as to why it wasn't Milroe's best game. But he had to play more games for Alabama than he did. Especially if he wants to be considered one of the best quarterbacks in the game.

A closer look at his numbers reveals Milroe's difficulty playing deep passes.

According to PFF, Milroe failed to complete a pass 20 or more yards downfield on five attempts. He completed 6 of 17 passes of 10 or more yards with no touchdowns and one interception.

“(Accuracy) is definitely something I can improve on,” Milroe said after the game. “We give our boys a chance. We are keen to give our boys a chance because they can be very explosive with the ball. So just add them to your range and trust them. They will make big plays when the ball is within their reach. This is something I definitely need to improve on.”

Milroe struggled with the almost constant pressure; PFF credited Tennessee with 26 pressures. He completed 5 of 16 passes (31.3%) for 26 yards with no touchdowns and one interception under pressure.

While keeping a clean sheet, Milroe completed 20 of 30 passes (66.7%) for 213 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Alabama's offense as a whole needs to improve if the Crimson Tide want to make the College Football Playoff. It's not just Milroe, but he was certainly a notable part of the fighting in Knoxville.

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