Third down and 7 yards to go, 1:59 left on the game clock, Alabama down 21-17 in a crucial point of Saturday’s game against Tennessee. All parts of a tough loss converged on one play, which is the starting point of this week’s film study.
Tennessee’s defense sends a stunt toward the interior of Alabama’s offensive line. It’s a five-on-five situation but the line doesn’t pick up the blitzer, Milroe’s throw is off target and the pass is incomplete. Then Kendrick Law retaliates to his defender’s taunt, gets flagged for 15 yards and Alabama is forced into a fourth-and-22, which it didn’t convert.
A poorly executed play, a quarterback who wasn’t in rhythm and a lack of composure led to a costly setback, all common occurrences on Saturday.
The sum of these parts was a 24-17 loss to Tennessee, marking the first time the Crimson Tide have two regular season losses before November since 2007. At No. 15 in the AP poll, it’s the lowest ranking since Sept. 7, 2008.
Alabama’s next game is a de-facto elimination game for College Football Playoff contention against No. 21 Missouri at home. The Tide must find answers and rebound fast to keep those hopes alive. But for now, this week’s film study addresses what went wrong against Tennessee and what it means moving forward.
A long, hard look at Jalen Milroe’s regression
Saturday was arguably the worst game of Milroe’s career: 25-for-45 passing for 239 yards and two interceptions. This marks the first time an Alabama quarterback threw multiple interceptions in consecutive games since John Parker Wilson in 2007. With at least one turnover in four consecutive games, Milroe’s gone from Alabama’s biggest playmaker to one of the main reasons why Alabama’s in a slump.
More alarming than the turnovers themselves, Milroe looks like he’s regressed to low points before this season.
It was a struggle at all three levels for Milroe. Early in the game, he throws the ball behind CJ Dippre, who could’ve turned this first down play into positive yards. Could/should have Dippre caught it anyway? Probably, but this throw isn’t putting the pass catchers in the best position to succeed. It’s a well-blocked play but a possible second-and-manageable became a second-and-long.
Mechanically Milroe looks off. His feet aren’t set consistently on throws and it’s glaring. Late in the fourth quarter with a clean pocket, he sails it over Justice Haynes’ head.
Here’s another example of poor mechanics in a critical situation. It’s third-and-long, Milroe does a good job evading pressure and has plenty of time to reset his feet and deliver an accurate pass to Ryan Willaims who was open across the field. Instead, both of Milroe’s feet leave the ground on his throw. It’s behind Williams who falls trying to slow down and make the play. As a result, Alabama is forced to punt.
It’s difficult to pinpoint the exact problem. Could it be an injury? Nothing is confirmed, but Kalen DeBoer alluded to players battling injuries postgame without using specific names.
“There are a lot of guys making some big sacrifices in ways that people will never know because they just keep plugging away,” DeBoer said. “It might be physical things and stuff like that, but they’re working hard.”
Saturday was the first time this season we’ve seen Milroe consistently not use his legs to create positive yards. On this play, Milroe has a running lane open but hesitates. Instead, he sails a pass over Haynes’ head. Prior to this week, Milroe exploited that opportunity almost every time. His longest run on Saturday was 10 yards, the shortest of the season, and it was the first time this year that he didn’t have a rushing touchdown.
On this third down, Milroe escapes a safety and rolls out. It feels like earlier this season Milroe would’ve had the acceleration and aggressiveness to try and beat the defender to the edge for a long gain but it isn’t there now. He tries for a deep shot which falls well short of the intended receiver.
With that said, it’s fair to question why Milroe attempted 27 passes in the first half alone. To put it in perspective, he’s only surpassed 27 attempts three times total in his career. One time in particular, on the interception near the goal line intended for Williams, felt like a moment to punch it in on the ground.
The hits on Milroe have piled up, and against Tennessee’s pass rush, he was vulnerable to more shots than necessary.
The final third down before halftime is an example. Alabama already missed on two pass plays on first and second down. It’s third-and-10 from the Tennessee 36-yard line with 45 seconds remaining and two timeouts. There was an opportunity to run the ball to give Graham Nicholson a shorter kick for a potential 10-0 lead. Instead, it’s another drop back, Tennessee beats the offensive line with a three-man rush and Milroe takes another big hit — and you can see him feeling it afterward. Another play where Milroe could’ve run but didn’t, not to mention Dippre is open underneath too.
Alabama settled for a 54-yard field goal attempt, which Nicholson missed wide right and short.
Milroe’s shortcomings were one part of an overall brutal day for the offense. The offensive line allowed 26 pressures according to Pro Football Focus, three sacks and nine tackles for loss. Snap count and communication were an issue throughout with three false starts, a snap infraction, a dropped snap on the opening drive and a delay of game penalty.
The defense gave the offense three extra possessions in the first half via turnovers, and three punts followed. Without Milroe’s legs, the run game struggled mightily — 2.6 yards per carry (sack-adjusted). Give Tennessee’s defense — ranked No. 4 nationally in total defense, No. 2 in run defense and No. 23 in pass defense — credit, but it doesn’t feel like Alabama’s offense has an identity outside of explosive plays. That has to change moving forward.
What changed for Alabama’s defense in the second half? Plus more offensive struggles
In totality, Alabama’s defense played well enough to win. The three turnovers alone should’ve netted enough points to create separation but to no avail. That doesn’t excuse the 24 second-half points allowed either. Strong execution in the first half gave way to costly breakdowns in the second half.
The defense kept Tennessee’s run game in check in the first half. That’s largely attributed to the defensive line consistently winning one-on-one matchups. Going into halftime, Tennessee averaged 3.1 yards per carry and only had one 10-plus-yard run which ended in a Malachi Moore forced fumble which the defense recovered.
In the second half, Tennessee made an adjustment to attack the edges of the defense to great success. This was a weakness of Alabama’s early in the season that resurfaced on Saturday. Tennessee racked up 170 second-half rushing yards with five 10-plus-yard runs and averaged 5.9 yards per carry total, which stabilized the offense.
Today, Alabama is 63rd nationally in rush defense (141.3 yards per game).
This two-play snapshot illustrates the difference between good first-half execution and poor second-half execution. The defense prevented quarterback Nico Iamaleava from hurting them with his legs in the first half by getting him on the ground on the first attempt. That didn’t happen in the second half.
The first play knocked Iamaleava out of the game momentarily, leading to an interception by Moore. The second play was an explosive play en route to Tennessee’s first touchdown.
Alabama was also very fortunate that Tennessee missed on so many pass plays in the first half. Receivers were open but Iamaleava had his own accuracy issues. Tennessee didn’t abandon the deep shots and hit just enough in the second half to make a difference. This was one of the biggest plays of the game — a favorable matchup with veteran Dont’e Thornton Jr. against freshman Jaylen Mbakwe one-on-one with no help over the top, a 55-yard gain en route to a go-ahead touchdown.
With injuries to DeVonta Smith and Red Morgan, who didn’t return on Saturday, and Keon Sabb, who was hobbled throughout the game, the secondary is a question mark this upcoming weekend.
All that said, the defense stood tall twice late in the fourth quarter to give Alabama’s offense a chance — a three-and-out to give the offense the ball with 2:25 to play down 21-17, then holding Tennesee to a field goal after Alabama’s failed fourth-and-22 attempt with 1:48 to play. Alabama’s offense had the ball down 24-17 with 1:30 to go.
Those two situations brought the two most frustrating Milroe throws of the game. The first was a crucial mistake — a clean pocket and inexplicably missed Williams who would’ve had a legitimate chance to score if hit in stride.
And Alabama’s final offensive play. On first down Milroe throws behind Germie Bernard and it’s intercepted. Once again, pressure comes from the right side — which has become a glaring weakness on offense.
Alabama’s last four offensive drives of the game netted 3 yards total. A once unstoppable unit will search for answers over the next several days.
(Photo: Randy Sartin / Imagn Images)
