LOS ANGELES, Calif. — If you spent five minutes walking around the main ballroom here on Thursday morning, you would’ve heard the various schemes and tactics that Michigan defenders plan to utilize to stop Jalen Milroe.
From defensive lineman Mason Graham: “We’ve been practicing our rush lanes, containing the quarterback, stuff like that.”
From linebacker Michael Barrett: “You have to take the fight to him. You can’t sit back and play passive. You have to be the aggressor.”
From linebacker Junior Colson: “If we play the way our defense is supposed to play, he should be running sideways and backward.”
But also: “Don’t fall for his pump fakes,” Colson added. “That stood out on film. A lot of guys fall for that.”
There are many intriguing on-the-field matchups that’ll unfold on Monday when No. 4 Alabama (12-1) plays No. 1 Michigan (13-0) in the College Football Playoff national semifinals (4 p.m. CT, ESPN), but the one at the forefront is Alabama’s dynamic QB against Michigan’s brick-wall defense.
Michigan ranks No. 2 nationally in total defense, at 239.7 yards allowed per game, and No. 1 in scoring defense, allowing just 9.5 points per game. But the Wolverines haven’t exactly played someone quite like Milroe this season.
Milroe, a redshirt sophomore, went from getting benched in Week 3 to earning first-place votes for the Heisman Trophy. The Katy, Texas native amassed 3,448 total yards of offense — 2,718 passing, 730 rushing — and 35 total touchdowns. His passer rating, 177.48, ranks No. 4 nationally. He led Alabama to a 12-1 mark and an SEC title.
“It’s really an 11-on-1 mentality,” Michigan defensive coordinator Jesse Minter said of Milroe on Thursday, adding: “We’ve got to do a great job up front with our rush lanes and integrity of that, but at the same time, our guys have to go play fast.”
Milroe has drawn many comparisons this season, headlined by Georgia coach Kirby Smart likening him to former (and perhaps future) NFL MVP Lamar Jackson. Milroe has said himself he draws inspiration from former Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts — and their similarities, from their names to their overall production, are hard to ignore.
On Thursday, Minter was asked specifically about the Jackson comparison, and while he did say they’re two different players at two different levels, he also admitted to understanding their similarities.
“I do think both of their abilities as scramblers, there’s some similarities in their ability to drop back, nothing is there, take off,” Minter said, “and then once they take off, it’s like Reggie Bush running the ball.”
He’s capable of every play,” Minter continued, “not only playing the first play and having to defend the first play but also like what we call the second play. His ability when he drops back to, one, scramble to throw the ball really, really far downfield or to dump the ball off to the speed guys, but also his ability to take the ball himself.”
Michigan’s rough plan is to keep Milroe in the pocket and attack with discipline, which has largely been their defensive calling card this season. The Wolverines have allowed only 22 plays of 20-plus yards all season. Only two teams have allowed fewer: Ohio State (20) and Iowa (17).
Milroe and Alabama have often lived on the big play. He’s among the best deep-ball passers in the country, completing 53.1% of his passes that travel 20-plus yards downfield, according to Pro Football Focus. That’s the third-best nationally among quarterbacks with at least 20 such attempts.
But Milroe is also dangerous when leaving the pocket. He’s scrambled 50 times this season, resulting in 479 rushing yards, per PFF. That’s the third-most rushing yards accumulated on scrambles by a quarterback this season. Often times, the 6-foot-2, 220-pound Milroe finishes his runs by powering through opposing defenders.
Another part of Michigan’s plan is to return the favor.
“He’ll get out of the pocket a few times, but we have to eliminate the big plays, erase them off the board, get him on the ground,” Michigan linebacker Michael Barrett said. “That’s when he makes his big plays, when he scrambles. We have to get him on the ground. It’s 11-on-1 whenever he’s out there, and we have to make sure he feels us.”
