“I don’t think he is NFL-ready.” It’s not exactly something you wanna hear from a Bama veteran. Jalen Milroe is at a crossroads, all because of the problems he has had this season. From the get-go, Kalen DeBoer is not a bad QB coach. Huskies went on an 11-win rampage, and Michael Penix Jr was a Heisman finalist. All of it under Kalen DeBoer. So, what in the world went wrong with the Milroe-DeBoer pairing? “I’m able to grow each and every day with him.” Where was that growth when you lost to an unranked Vandy and then proceeded to get embarrassed by a 5-loss Oklahoma team? 3 points? Really? This ain’t the Bama fans knew, and this sure as h-ll ain’t the “best offense” in the country…

…So, if given a second chance, would you wipe the slate clean and start anew? “Our program moving forward is probably better with them if they stay, but that’s for each guy to make his choice, and we’re going to help them through it the best we can… Jalen Milroe and the other guys, they’re going to go out there just like they always have been and give everything they have,” was what Kalen DeBoer had to say while talking about the ReliaQuest Bowl and the upcoming NFL draft. Milroe and all the other players are coming in to face Michigan, but no one is going to pull the Cam Ward stunt.

But then again, it is the subtle hint that DeBoer drops about Milroe’s future with Bama that makes things quite surprising. The QB is “going the distance” against Michigan. “It’s all about maximizing right now,” Milroe had said. All of these point to another year with the Tide. Now this might sound like a “theory”, but it still makes sense.

Sticking back for another season is going to be a blessing for Milroe. The 3 big sins: Vandy, OU, and Vols, exposed the fact that the moment any defense focuses on stopping Milroe’s legs, he is done for. The curse was that Milroe became one-dimensional. The 3 interceptions against an average Sooners team, missing 20 passes against Vols, and then letting Vandy walk all over you also point to the same.

DeBoer needs a better OC at this point because Nick Sheridan ain’t cutting the job. Milroe is amazing when it comes down to the rushing game, but on the pocket passes? Not so much. This is exactly the problem he has to fix before he decides to walk into the NFL. “I think play as much college football as you possibly can,” Mel Kiper Jr. had also pointed out. We don’t have a confirmation yet, but if Milroe stays back, then DeBoer will get his second chance at truly forming a “natty team” with this quarterback. But before all of that even happens, they gotta win against the bluebloods.

ReliaQuest Bowl

Would we be surprised if Michigan won? No, not exactly. They beat the sh– out of OSU. How hard can this Bama game be, right? Here’s the thing. Yes, Michigan could end up outplaying Bama purely based on the fact that their defense is extremely physical. However, how will you do that when you are losing your star players?

Will Johnson, Mason Graham, and Kenneth Grant are all out. 3 of the best players from the Wolverines defense are going to sit out as the prep for their draft. This shatters the physical defensive line. Sherrone Moore is going to lose out on the star CB along with the linemen who had made Will Howard’s life a mess.

To add to their worries, Colston Loveland, and Kalel Mullings are also sitting it out. This hits the offense, crippling the already crippled Wolverines O-line. You don’t have a proper quarterback, and now you have lost your star TE and RB. Who’s gonna run that d-mn ball when the Bama defense under Kane Wommack closes in?

Yeah, the Bluebloods won last year and knocked out Bama from the natty, but this time? Yeah, the ending could be very different.