Football is a game of eyes. We hear it all the time from scouts and analysts, but when Kalen DeBoer stepped onto the podium after some of Alabama's ugliest moments in 2024, he didn't talk about footwork or release points. He talked about what he saw in Jalen Milroe’s eyes.
There was this specific "warning" that started circulating after the Mercer blowout. People saw the score—52 to 7—and figured everything was fine. It wasn't. DeBoer was actually pretty blunt. He told reporters, "I want to see those throws completed." It sounded simple, maybe even a little cold for a coach who usually plays it safe with the media. But it was a clear signal. The honeymoon was over.
The Mercer Message and the Deep Ball Dilemma
The reality is that Alabama was "shooting themselves in the foot," as DeBoer put it. Against Mercer, Milroe was missing targets that should have been layups. In DeBoer's system, when a defense creeps up to stop a runner like Jalen, you have to punish them over the top. If you don't, the whole thing stalls.
"Let’s make those throws and completions," DeBoer urged. It was a public nudge. He knew that while an FCS opponent wouldn't punish those overthrows, the heavy hitters in the SEC—and eventually the NFL—certainly would. Honestly, it was less of a "you’re benched" warning and more of a "this is your ceiling if you don't fix it" warning.
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You've got to wonder how that sat with a guy who stayed through the Saban-to-DeBoer transition when he could’ve easily bolted for a massive NIL deal elsewhere.
The Oklahoma Meltdown and the Eye Test
Then came the Oklahoma game. Total disaster. Milroe threw three interceptions in what felt like four plays. The Crimson Tide offense looked stuck in the mud, finishing with fewer than 200 yards. That's when the "warning" shifted into something more personal.
Instead of screaming on the sidelines, DeBoer did something different. He looked for the "fight." He said later that he checked Milroe's eyes and saw a guy who wasn't quitting. That’s why he didn't pull him. He stuck with him through the pick-six and the drops.
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But behind the scenes? The message was consistent: Don't do it again.
- Consistency over Flash: DeBoer kept hammering the idea that Milroe needed to stop trying to "do too much."
- The Pocket Problem: Critics and coaches alike noticed Jalen would often drop too deep or fail to step up into the pocket, making life impossible for his offensive line.
- The Accuracy Bar: 11 completions on 17 attempts against Mercer might look okay on paper, but in the DeBoer/Grubb scheme, the margin for error is razor-thin.
Loyalty vs. Results: Did DeBoer Wait Too Long?
By the time the ReliaQuest Bowl against Michigan rolled around, the narrative had shifted. Some fans were begging for Ty Simpson. The "warning" many expected—a change at QB—never happened. DeBoer chose loyalty. He saw Milroe as the guy who kept the locker room together when Saban left.
It’s a tough spot for a first-year coach. If you bench the guy who "saved" the roster in January, do you lose the rest of the team by December? Probably.
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Milroe eventually finished the 2024 season with 15 passing touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He was dynamic on the ground, sure, with 20 rushing scores, but the "warning" from the Mercer game proved prophetic. Those missed throws and the lack of pocket presence were the exactly what bit Bama in their losses to Tennessee and Oklahoma.
What This Means for Alabama’s Future
Now that Jalen Milroe has moved on to the NFL—landing with the Seattle Seahawks in the third round of the 2025 draft—the DeBoer era enters a new phase. We can finally look back at those warnings as the growing pains of a system that requires an elite processor.
DeBoer has been vocal about his current room, featuring Ty Simpson, Austin Mack, and Keelon Russell. He’s looking for "year one to year two" progression, much like he had with Michael Penix Jr. at Washington. The warning he gave Milroe wasn't just for Jalen; it was a blueprint for whoever took the job next.
If you’re watching Alabama this season, pay attention to the intermediate passing game. That’s where the "warning" lives. If the new guy can hit the 12-yard out-route and stay calm when the pocket collapses, DeBoer's offense will look like the juggernaut it's supposed to be.
To really understand how the Tide's offense is evolving post-Milroe, keep a close eye on how many "designed" runs DeBoer calls for his new signal-callers compared to the scramble drills that defined the 2024 season. If the deep balls start landing with more consistency, you'll know the coaching staff finally found the "completions" they were begging for a year ago.