The Alabama Crimson Tide seemed completed after Week 2 of the 2023 school soccer common season.
The Texas Longhorns got here into Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and obtained Steve Sarkisian his signature win whereas snapping Alabama’s 21-game house profitable streak.
Nick Saban proved why he’s thought of the best school soccer coach of all time as Alabama ripped off 11 straight wins to achieve the Faculty Soccer Playoff. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Pictures)
The next week, Alabama’s offense was caught within the mud in opposition to South Florida, incomes a victory and the ire of the nationwide media.
The dialog over the tip of Nick Saban’s dominant run at Alabama kicked off because the Georgia Bulldogs had been seen as the brand new Crimson Tide of the SEC.
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After which Saban proved why he’s thought of the best school soccer coach of all time as Alabama ripped off 11 straight wins to achieve the Faculty Soccer Playoff.
Let’s check out just a few Alabama gamers to observe because the Crimson Tide prepares for Michigan within the CFP.
Jalen Milroe, sophomore quarterback
The quarterback place was the principle query mark for Saban heading into the 2023 season.
With the departure of Bryce Younger to the NFL Draft, Alabama now not had a certain factor at a very powerful place in sports activities.
Main as much as Week 1, Saban made it clear that not one of many three quarterbacks competing for the beginning job had separated themselves. Milroe began the primary two video games earlier than Tyler Buchner and Ty Simpson obtained the nod for Week 3.
Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe rushes the ball in the course of the SEC Championship Recreation in opposition to Georgia, Dec. 2, 2023, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. (Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Pictures)
After which Milroe went on a tear, placing himself within the Heisman dialog as he led Alabama to an SEC title and a CFP berth.
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Milroe has been good since taking up the beginning job in Week 4, throwing for two,269 yards, 18 passing touchdowns, 10 speeding scores and simply 4 interceptions. He makes the Alabama offense go together with his capacity to increase performs together with his legs and his arm.
In opposition to Auburn within the last week of the common season, Milroe accounted for 366 of Alabama’s 451 whole yards, together with the game-winning landing, which can go down in Iron Bowl lore.
Shut down Milroe, and the Michigan protection will shut down the Alabama offense.
Alabama’s Jalen Milroe celebrates after the SEC Championship Recreation in opposition to Georgia, Dec. 2, 2023, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. (Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Pictures)
However that’s simpler stated than executed.
“I don’t assume we’ve seen a quarterback like this,” Michigan defensive coordinator Jesse Minter stated, in keeping with Fox Sports activities. “I believe the closest factor we see is in apply with a few of our guys. I believe Taulia [Tagovailoa] at Maryland was, as a scrambler, type of an identical kind of man. However a man this concerned within the run sport, his capacity to make off-schedule performs — to me, I believe Alex Orji has executed an awesome job [simulating Milroe in practice].”
Jermaine Burton, senior extensive receiver
The Alabama offense shouldn’t be going to win in a shoot-out, however it could possibly get the ball down the sector. Alabama is fourth within the nation in passing performs of at the least 40 yards, in keeping with the Tuscaloosa Information.
The Wolverines’ protection is likely one of the greatest within the nation, permitting the fewest factors per sport (9.5) and the second-fewest yards (239.7) per sport within the nation.
Burton has been Alabama’s best extensive receiver this season and should have a strong sport to provide Milroe a risk down the sector.
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Alabama’s Jermaine Burton makes a leaping catch in the course of the SEC Championship Recreation in opposition to Georgia, Dec. 2, 2023, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. (Perry McIntyre/ISI Pictures/Getty Pictures)
Burton leads all Alabama receivers with 777 yards and eight touchdowns whereas bringing playoff expertise to the offense.
The senior wideout performed his first two seasons at Georgia, hauling in 5 touchdowns throughout Georgia’s 2022 nationwide championship season.
Sophomore extensive receiver Isaiah Bond can also be a participant to observe on Alabama’s offense, main the Crimson Tide in receptions with 44 on the yr.
Dallas Turner, junior linebacker
Alabama and Michigan will likely be an old-school soccer sport settled on the line of scrimmage.
The Wolverines deliver a bodily model of soccer to the Rose Bowl on New 12 months’s Day, and Alabama will undoubtedly attempt to make quarterback J.J. McCarthy beat them together with his arm.
Enter Crimson Tide linebacker Dallas Turner.
Alabama’s Dallas Turner (15) reacts after a sack in the course of the SEC Championship Recreation in opposition to Georgia, Dec. 2, 2023, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Pictures)
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Turner leads Alabama with 14.5 tackles for loss, 9 sacks and 13 quarterback hurries, changing into the fourth straight Alabama participant to win SEC Defensive Participant of the 12 months.
“We simply obtained to deliver our exhausting hats at any time when we play them, and we simply obtained to be the extra bodily workforce,” Turner stated as Alabama started Rose Bowl apply, in keeping with AL.com. “We obtained to apply like that all through the week, decide up on each single tendency that they do as an offense.”
