This is an opinion column.
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The Heisman Trophy-worthy sequence for Jalen Marino … I mean Milroe … came early this season.
No doubt there will be more, but his two passes to end the first half against Wisconsin felt like the beginning of something special for Alabama’s ultra-talented quarterback.
It started with 36 seconds left in the second quarter of Alabama’s 42-10 victory against Wisconsin on Saturday at Camp Randall Stadium. Two flicks of the wrist later and Milroe moved the Crimson Tide down the field 73 yards in 17 seconds. It was a stunning combination of flash-and-dash SEC swagger in the heart of Big Ten country.
Everyone talks about Milroe’s ability to scramble. Again and again he continues to prove that he’s so much more than that.
Does anyone throw a prettier deep ball in the entire country?
Is there a more electrifying quarterback in the SEC?
And think about this. Last season, Alabama coach Nick Saban benched Milroe in the third game of the season. This time around, Milroe once again didn’t look his best in Week 2. Instead of questioning his quarterback, new Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer whispered words of confidence to his quarterback and Milroe responded.
The quarterback’s final stat line: 12 of 17 passing for 196 yards and three touchdowns to go along with 75 yards rushing on 14 carries and two scores.
Through the first three games of the season Milroe has accounted for 14 touchdowns (eight passing and six rushing).
Alabama’s offense is just getting started. There will be tougher tests this season. The team is off next week and then gets Georgia at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Lead-footed Georgia is made of the right stuff, but let’s not forget two important details.
Milroe got the best of the Bulldogs in the 2023 SEC championship game, and there’s no telling how many Georgia players will be suspended for reckless driving over the next two weeks.
Alabama’s quarterback saves his drag racing for the field. Play the run against Alabama and Milroe can beat teams with his arm over the top. Play the pass and Milroe can turn a broken play into a first down or more.
“The threat and the way he manipulates a defense and the way they have to play us,” DeBoer said.
But everyone knew what was coming at the end of the first half and it still didn’t matter. Milroe sliced and diced his way through the heart of Madison like Freddy Krueger on Halloween.
The first pass was a bullet to freshman receiver Ryan Williams for 47 yards. Moments later Milroe connected with receiver Germie Bernard in the end zone for a 26-yard score. It was so beautiful.
Alabama got the ball back to start the second half and went 75 yards on five plays to make it 28-10.
Easy work in the end.
In back-to-back weeks, SEC teams walked into the Midwest and rolled over two of the Big Ten’s brand names. Texas destroyed defending-champ Michigan 31-12 in Week 3. Alabama took its turn with Wisconsin and it was over before halftime. The SEC is now 2-1 against the Big Ten this season (and 110-73-2 all time). The head-to-heads between college football’s two super conferences will matter when it’s time to set the field for the new 12-team playoff.
There were questions about Alabama’s offense entering its big non-conference matchup with Buckingham Ulysses Badger. Would the line improve after last week’s eight-penalty slog against South Florida? Could the new offense sustain more drives on the road? And the biggest question of all, had Alabama taken a step back in the transition of power from former coach Saban to new guy DeBoer.
Wisconsin’s students answered that question when they jumped around to begin the fourth quarter and then dipped out of the stadium early to wash away the pain.
The game was over when Wisconsin quarterback Tyler Van Dyke went out with a leg injury on the Badgers’ first drive of the day. Van Dyke’s knee buckled during a scramble for a first down. Wisconsin backup quarterback Braedyn Locke wasn’t up to the challenge of trying to match Milroe.
A transfer from Mississippi State, Locke wasn’t awful. It’s just that Alabama’s offense can beat teams in so many different ways.
Milroe’s deep ball reminds me of the way Dan Marino could fire it down the field with graceful ease. The difference between the two players at this stage in Milroe’s development is that Alabama’s quarterback is also one of the fastest players in the country with the ball in his hands.
Milroe and Travis Hunter of Colorado are the two most dynamic football players in the country so far this season. Hunter plays receiver and defensive back for the Buffaloes. Milroe looks like he could play linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons, but let’s not get crazy.
Speaking of living dangerously, there is absolutely no way that Saban would have turned his offense loose with 36 seconds left in a first half on the road with a two-score lead in the third game of the season. DeBoer might be reserved behind a microphone, but he’s a wild man on the field.
Between the new coach and the quarterback, this Crimson Tide is barreling towards Georgia like a joyride in the rain.
MAILBAG
Got a question for Joe? Want to get something off your chest? Send Joe an email about what’s on your mind. Let your voice be heard. Ask him anything.
Joseph Goodman is the lead sports columnist for the Alabama Media Group, and author of the book “We Want Bama: A Season of Hope and the Making of Nick Saban’s Ultimate Team.”
