Kirby Smart hits Alabama QB Jalen Milroe with Lamar Jackson praise ahead of SEC title game
With a weekend of big conference championship games ahead, arguably the biggest of the bunch will take place in Atlanta. The SEC Championship Game will pit the #1 ranked and two-time defending National Champion Georgia Bulldogs versus an Alabama football team that has been far less dominant than they have been in year's past, yet still enters the postseason with an 11-1 record and their College Football Playoff hopes still (barely) alive.
Georgia is arguably the most complete team in the country, though like Bama, they haven't seemed nearly as invincible this year as they have the previous two seasons. The main difference: the Bulldogs defense has given up at least 20 points six times in twelve games, which may not seem like a lot, but in the 2021 and 2022 seasons, they gave up 20+ points six times in thirty games.
Georgia's task on Saturday will be to contain Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe, who is coming off a miraculous 4th quarter, 4th and goal touchdown pass that gave the Tide a win in the Iron Bowl over Auburn. But as is usually the case, this will be easier said than done when you're dealing with a talented dual-threat quarterback like Milroe. Georgia head coach Kirby Smart laid out what makes Milroe such a difficult player to prepare for.
"No offense to Tim Tebow, but this guy is different...this guy is a bigger, physical version of (Lamar Jackson)." – Kirby Smart with some HIGH praise for Alabama QB Jalen Milroe. pic.twitter.com/ERj5YgKwQm— The Next Round November 27, 2023
I have nothing but respect for Kirby Smart, and I've been extremely impressed with the way Jalen Milroe has bounced back after a rocky start to the season , but Milroe, as a collegiate quarterback, is not on the level of Tim Tebow or Lamar Jackson. Some things just aren't adding up.
Jalen Milroe's stats ('23) – 158-238, 2,526 passing yards, 21 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, 439 rushing yards, 12 rushing touchdowns
Lamar Jackson's stats ('16) – 230-409, 3,543 passing yards, 30 touchdowns, 9 interceptions, 1,571 rushing yards, 21 rushing touchdowns, Heisman Trophy winner
Tim Tebow's stats ('07) – 234-350, 3,286 passing yards, 32 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, 895 rushing yards, 23 rushing touchdowns, Heisman Trophy winner
Milroe can scream for the Heisman all he wants, and if he comes through with a monster performance against Georgia, there's a decent enough chance he'll be one of the handful of players invited to New York City for the Heisman Trophy ceremony and he'll deserve it. But recently Georgia has had Alabama's number, and I don't see Jalen Milroe or this version of the Crimson Tide being the catalyst of turning things back around in the favor of the Alabama football program.
