I. Introduction
When Jalen Milroe committed to Alabama, he was anticipating an exciting college career under the stewardship of the greatest college head coach of all time, Nick Saban. He probably didn’t expect to be learning a new offensive system after his first year as a starter. The retirement of Saban marks the end of a golden era of football for Alabama, but the introduction of Kalen DeBoer brings in a fresh new wave of exciting offensive philosophy.
DeBoer has big shoes to fill, but he knows what he is doing, and his partnership with Milroe could be thrilling for fans of the Crimson Tide. The pass-happy spread offense he will bring to the table will suit Milroe’s strong arm, providing exciting opportunities for him to exploit his rushing ability. Buckle up, Bama fans; the fun isn’t over yet.
II. Background on Kalen DeBoer
Kalen DeBoer has an impressive coaching record of 104 wins to just 12 losses. His coaching career began in Division II, slowly working his way up the ranks at Sioux Falls from Wide Receivers coach in 1997 to Head Coach between 2005 and 2009. From here, he made the leap up to Division 1 action, taking several coordinator roles with various teams before landing his first head coaching job at Fresno State in 2020.
DeBoer took on a 4-8 Bulldogs side and propelled them to a 10-3 record just two years later, which helped him upgrade further up the Division I rank to the University of Washington. As the head coach of the Huskies, DeBoer took on another 4-8 roster and quickly propelled them to an 11-2 record in 2022 before posting a 14-1 record in 2023 that saw Washington contend in the National Championship game.
Washington was a forgotten team when DeBoer took over, and, along with some help from Michael Penix Jr. at quarterback, he made them a juggernaut. The transformed unit was the best passing offense over the past two years, passing for a nation-leading 330 yards per game in 2022 and falling just 0.6 of a yard behind Oregon’s 344.3 yards in 2023.
The air-raid approach dominates the Kalen DeBoer offensive philosophy, but he has also spoken a lot about the environment he tries to create for his players. DeBoer’s philosophy begins with caring for his players and giving them great experiences. He has spoken multiple times about creating an environment where they can thrive, love their teammates, and perform at their best. We will get on to the’s and’s shortly, but this foundation is a good explanation as to why he has had the success he has.
III. DeBoer’s Offensive Philosophy
There are no two ways about it. Kalen DeBoer likes his offenses to let the ball rip. His offensive philosophy is to spread his playmakers out and get them to attack space vertically and horizontally. If his wide receivers have one-on-one coverage on the outside, you bet he is asking his quarterback to give them a chance. Crimson Tide fans should also get used to plenty of pre-snap motions. Not just utilizing jet-sweeps but also swapping around wide-receiver formations. This method of putting strain on the defense took off in the NFL this year, and DeBoer will waste no time getting creative with his use of motion in Tuscaloosa.
What’s particularly exciting is that his last quarterback, Michael Penix Jr, was about as immobile as they come. Jalen Milroe, on the other hand, rushed for 531 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. On top of that, he still has a strong enough arm to make some of the throws that made Penix so special. With the defenses being stretched so thin and having to respect the deeper pockets of the field, Milroe could have a field day as a runner. The offense that was so electric in Washington could be even more explosive with Milroe at the helm in Alabama.
IV. Jalen Milroe’s Skill Set
Jalen Milroe is an explosive athlete who can take any scramble to the house while delivering passes to every part of the field. He has a strong arm and has shown signs of manipulating defenses with his eyes. However, he has sometimes struggled with accuracy and needs to refine his mechanics to ensure consistent production. Like many quarterbacks in their first season as a starter, Milroe missed throws and could be hesitant sometimes, but DeBoer is the perfect coach to help him out.
Milroe got off to a great start in 2023, passing for 194 yards and three touchdowns against MTSU whilst also collecting 48 yards and two more scores as a rusher. His dual-threat ability was on full display again when he ran for 155 yards and four touchdowns against LSU, but his most memorable game came against Auburn to close out the regular season. In the Iron Bowl, Milroe ran for 107 yards on the ground, whilst also passing for 259 yards and two touchdowns through the air, including the viral, game-winning touchdown to Isaiah Bond with 32 seconds left on the clock.
V. Alignment of Philosophy and Skill Set
Jalen Milroe is a playmaker who can get you with his arm or his legs. The Kalen DeBoer offense is designed around big plays, which makes Milroe the perfect person to run it. In Milroe, DeBoer has a passer who can take the easy passes that he schemes open for him whilst also threatening deep and keeping the defense honest in respect of the run. It is going to be an aggressive approach from Alabama in 2024, and the results could be spectacular.
Milroe has room for improvement regarding his accuracy, playing with anticipation, and not giving up sacks. Alabama ranked 15th in the nation with an average of 3.7 sacks conceded per game. In contrast, Washington’s 0.8 sacks conceded on average per game was tied for 3rd best. DeBoer is good at getting his quarterback and offensive line on the same page, which will be crucial for Milroe’s development. Having more time to operate and understanding what the defense is bringing will improve the rest of Milroe’s game.
VI. Challenges and Adjustments
Of course, any time a new coaching staff comes in, there will likely be teething issues. The pass-happy approach employed by Kalen DeBoer will test Jalen Milroe’s arm like never before. It is also a new set of plays and terminology to wrap his head around, which will always be challenging for a college quarterback. However, this coaching staff has a proven track record of success everywhere they go, and they will know exactly what they need to do to maximize the output from Jalen Milroe.
VII. Early Indicators
Early signs are good from Tuscaloosa, with Milroe putting in the work to improve his passing accuracy and decision-making under pressure. The preseason practices begin on July 31st, when preparation will increase. Kalen DeBoer told Tide’s 100.9 ‘The Game with Ryan Fowler’ that “Jalen’s taken every snap with the ones all spring” and that he has “got multiple pieces to his game that he can just really excel at.”
Milroe has been voted a permanent captain for the team, with DeBoer also saying, “He’s done a great job in all facets and things you’d want a quarterback to do.”
VIII. Conclusion
Overall, it is a very exciting time for Alabama. The departure of Nick Saban will have been a shock that was hard to get over, bringing an end to a glorious era of football. But Kalen DeBoer is a serious head coach with an impressive resume and an offensive game plan that could be unstoppable in 2024. His aggressive, spread offense is a great fit with Jalen Milroe’s strong arm, who himself brings an exciting element to the table. The threat of a quarterback’s legs is not a luxury that DeBoer is used to, and the prospect of him working with Milroe’s skill set should be very exciting for Crimson Tide fans.
