Back in 2012, the Seattle Seahawks signed a free agent quarterback, Matt Flynn, but a third-round draft pick ascended throughout the preseason to take the starting job. This offseason, now years removed from the Russell Wilson era, the Seahawks did it again, signing Sam Darnold and drafting Jalen Milroe with their third-round pick.
However, Mike Macdonald doesn’t foresee and Wilson-esque preseason rise from the former Alabama QB, and is doing everything he can to slow the Milroe hype-train.
In an interview with Seattle Sports 710-AM, Macdonald was dismissive of the idea that anyone other than Darnold would take the field in Week 1 when the Seahawks open the season against the 49ers.
“No, you guys are crazy,” Macdonald said. “I respect that you’ve got to ask it, but it’s just a crazy question. It’s not going to happen. Sam’s our starting quarterback. We love him. He’s doing a tremendous job.”
A radio interview is far from definitive, especially from the head coach who made similar comments about Geno Smith before the former starting QB was traded away to the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason. Still, it seems pretty clear that Milroe won’t see starting reps in his rookie season, and as much as Alabama fans may want to watch their former starter play on Sundays, an extra year of development on the sidelines is in his best interest.
Jalen Milroe still need time to develop
The first-round hype that Jalen Milroe generated after his dominant performance against Georgia last season slowly faded away as Milroe and the Alabama offense struggled down the stretch. Yet, with his rare athleticism for the quarterback position and big-time arm, Milroe was still viewed as an enticing project during the draft process.
Milroe has all the physical tools to be a starting quarterback in the NFL, but at times in his collegiate career, he appeared flummoxed by complex defensive looks, struggling to orchestrate pre-snap protections and processing too slowly in the pocket. Though his legs are the best part of his game, Milroe has a nasty habit of dropping his eyes against pressure and looking to take off instead of delivering the ball downfield.
Sure, Jayden Daniels overcame a similar flaw in his historic rookie season, and other QBs have as well, but Milroe’s issues as a dropback passer aren’t something he’s likely to remedy in live-action against NFL competition, at least not yet.
High volume rushing quarterbacks, like another former Alabama QB Jalen Hurts, give their offense such an advantage in the run game, forcing the defense to play 11-on-11 because they must account for the QB's legs. If that ground-game efficiency keeps offenses out of third-and-long or other obvious passing downs enough, it lowers the bar the quarterback needs to clear as a passer to build a viable NFL offense.
The threat of Milroe’s legs will undoubtedly ease his burden in the dropback game, but his performances against Oklahoma or Michigan, two teams that kept him in check on the ground, revealed just how far away he is from operating the passing game at an NFL level.
Milroe needs time to develop, and Seattle understood that when they drafted him. That’s why he was viewed as a mid-round project and not a plug-and-play starter. He’ll have dazzling moments throughout training camp and the preseason, but it’s in everyone’s best interest not to rush the talented young QB.