Nick Saban describes how QB Jalen Milroe protects himself as a runner

Jalen Milroe consistently improved as a dual threat quarterback this season and has Alabama in position for a playoff run. Nick Saban was quite pleased about his quartebrak’s progress over the course of the season.

Milroe is smart when he runs the football too. He doesn’t just dash and take off because he has the ability. 

Saban pointed out Milroe sees the field really well and is able to make smart decisions for himself and the offense.

“Jalen is obviously someone that has great capabilities as a runner,” Saban said. “I think he’s been pretty effective and his choices of when to step up in the pocket, when to run, when he has an opportunity to make a play, when he doesn’t. But I think the thing he’s developed is the ability to keep his eyes downfield and make plays in the passing game, even when the pocket breaks down. 

“And I think he’s been an effective runner for us. You know, when we’ve had perimeter plays that involve reads on his part to get to the perimeter. So I think both of those things help us overall offensively in terms of what the defense has to defend.”

This season, Milroe has 2,267 yards, 19 touchdowns, six interceptions, a 66.4% completion percentage, 332 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns.

As a member of the Class of 2021, Milroe was a four-star recruit out of Katy (Texas) Tompkins, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 16 overall prospect in the state, the No. 13 quarterback in the class and the No. 90 overall prospect in the class.

“We’ve got to see everything as an opportunity,” Milroe said after a win of Chattanooga Saturday. “Opportunity to grow and then also get the chemistry together as an offense. We’re steadily growing. We’re not a finished product but we’re steadily building.”

He also echoed Saban’s mantra of protecting the football and of course, doing your job.

“Biggest thing that we talked about is just being a point guard with the football and also doing your job,” Milroe said. “I think that’s very key for anybody on offense, on defense, no matter what it’s all about doing your job. Then you’ve got to applaud coach (Tommy) Rees. Coach Rees dialed up a good gameplan. All I did was just try to be a point guard with the ball.”

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