Kalen DeBoer reveals why Ty Simpson gives him confidence after the Jalen Milroe experience

This time last year, college sports writers and fans were gawking at Jalen Milroe’s physical abilities and projecting a Heisman Trophy caliber season in his second season as Alabama’s starting quarterback. Now, after an underwhelming final campaign in Tuscaloosa, NFL writers and fans are getting caught up in the whirlwind of hype, intoxicated by the overwhelming talent of the Seattle Seahawks' third-round pick. 

It’s hard to blame anyone, even coaching staffs at both levels, for falling in love with the potential that Milroe possesses. Few quarterbacks in football history have had his combination of touch and arm strength on his deep ball with running back-level ability on the ground. Yet, over a full season, the flaws in his game are impossible to ignore. 

Milroe lacks pocket awareness, leading to an inordinate amount of sacks for such a stellar athlete. His small hands led to fumbles, and despite how beautiful his deep is, he lacks the necessary accuracy to keep an offense on schedule with underneath and intermediate throws. 

Kalen DeBoer is yet to officially name Ty Simpson as Milroe’s successor, but his comments after Day 1 of fall camp revealed why he had enough confidence in the redshirt junior who has attempted just 50 career passes to abstain from the quarterback market in the transfer portal. 

Kalen DeBoer evaluates his QB competition after Day 1 of Fall Camp

“I like the mindset of our quarterbacks,” DeBoer told assembled reporters in Tuscaloosa when asked about the three-way QB competition between Simpson, Austin Mack, and Keelon Russell, “because when you can trust your quarterback to go through his progression and to be okay with checking it down and not forcing something, you can call, as a play-caller, a lot more balls down the field, and know that’s it’s not just going to be an incomplete pass or an explosive play.” 

In the one-minute and 43-second post-practice response, DeBoer did not once mention his former quarterback’s name. Still, his message invoked many memories of the past two seasons of offensive football at Alabama and the big-play or bust mentality of the quarterback who led them. 

Last season, Alabama finished with a middle-of-the-road explosive pass rate and finished 32nd in EPA/dropback. Those are good numbers, and Milroe was stellar on pass attempts over 20 yards downfield, completing 22 of them for 892 yards and 10 of his 16 passing touchdowns, with 16 big-time throws compared to one turnover-worthy play (according to PFF). Those statistics, however, do not account for the plays in which a deep ball was dialed up, and it turned into a negative play because of Milroe’s unwillingness to stand in the pocket and work through his progressions and settle for a check-down. 

Simpson does not possess the otherworldly talents of Milroe, or even five-star true freshman Keelon Russell, who may end up breathing down his neck by season’s end. He will, however, be amenable to DeBoer and longtime offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb’s system, which has yielded excellent results throughout their partnership. 

Milroe was such a unique talent with specific limitations. Both his skill set and his flaws forced DeBoer to adapt with offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan, and to their credit, they created a largely efficient offense, but one that proved to be streaky and unreliable. 

Simpson will allow the staff to get back to their staples in the passing game, and though the veteran QB is still largely an unknown, DeBoer and Grubb have a proven track record that should give the fanbase confidence that this year’s offense will succeed.