Alabama’s DeBoer: Jalen Milroe needed to ‘Find a way’ to make tackle on pick 6
Alabama football quarterback Jalen Milroe had a chance to make the tackle. After throwing an ugly interception to Oklahoma’s Kip Lewis, Milroe was the only player who could have got the cornerback down, or out of bounds.
Instead, he completely missed, flying out of bounds while Lewis found the end zone to make the final score 24-3 and end any hope UA had of a comeback in Norman. On Monday, Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer was asked about Milroe’s effort on the play.
“He’s got to find a way to get him out,” DeBoer said. “He’s a good enough athlete to where either using the sideline or forcing a cutback. It’s not something you spend a lot of time practicing. It’s not his position he’s in. He’s got to find a way to get him out of bounds. I trust Jalen to do a lot of things and I trust that he can get him down. Find a way. Find a way to get the defense out there, find some way possible. Hold them to a field goal.”
Milroe threw three interceptions in the loss, but the one to Lewis was the most demoralizing. Alabama’s offense struggled all game, never able to sustain drives.
Offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan explained what the Tide teaches quarterbacks to do on turnover plays.
“Certainly the No. 1 priority every time you turn the ball over is to get the guy down,” Sheridan said “And so, there’s different things and fundamentals that you’re trying to teach to players. You’re always trying to front the ball up to try to make it change directions, to try to help the pursuit. But obviously we didn’t do a good enough job in that moment.”
Tackling isn’t something Milroe would practice often. Still, DeBoer said the redshirt junior needed to make the play.
“That’s not something you practice a lot,” DeBoer said. ” I blow the whistle dead every time. Obviously I don’t want guys tackling each other in practice, especially the quarterbacks. So find a way. That’s what I would say.”
Alabama will be back in action Saturday in Tuscaloosa, facing Auburn in the Iron Bowl. The game is scheduled to kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT and will be aired on ABC.