The Alabama Crimson Tide have flirted with the idea of benching star quarterback Jalen Milroe, but may not be able to even if they wanted.
After the Crimson Tide suffered their second loss of the season, many Alabama fans searched for an answer to the losses. Many fingers have been placed in the direction of starting quarterback Milroe, who has recorded the same number interceptions this season as he did a year ago. Despite his leadership, some fans believe that Milroe should be benched if the Crimson Tide were to end up in position to lose another game.
The biggest issue, however, is not that Milroe is actually a great player for the Alabama Crimson Tide, but rather that there is no viable back-up plan.
Quarterback Ty Simpson, a sophomore, is currently consider to be the back-up quarterback according to the depth chart. Simpson has played sparingly for the Alabama Crimson Tide, but has managed to record 310-yards passing, 112-yards rushing, and three rushing touchdowns in three seasons. The quarterback has played in just nine games in three years, with his best performance coming against Chattanooga in 2023 where Simpson had a 78-yard rush.
Simpson is largely an unproven quarterback and still has a very long road ahead of himself before being able to take-on top-level competition. If the Alabama Crimson Tide staff were to bench Milroe like some want, Simpson would face Missouri, LSU, Oklahoma, and Auburn this season. Mercer is also on the schedule, but Simpson has enough experience to be able to navigate his way through a game against a team of that level.
Experience a Major Factor in Alabama Crimson Tide Quarterback Situation
While benching Milroe certainly is a potential option moving forward, the ripple effect it could have would damage the trajectory of Simpson.
Experience and execution both play a major role at the highest levels of collegiate football, and they play a larger role than some believe. The Michigan Wolverines, for example, tried experienced quarterback Davis Warren and Alex Orji this season, and both quarterback struggled mightily.
While many players can slide into a role without problems, it is also a tall task for someone inexperienced like Simpson. The Crimson Tide have plenty of quarterback options moving forward beyond the 2024 season, but the staff also does not want to ruin the confidence and growth of Simpson. Playing Simpson in a starting role during the 2024 season, barring an emergency, could spell disaster for the young quarterback.
Something the Crimson Tide staff could consider doing at the moment could be implementing Simpson in different ways. While Milroe is a very talented quarterback, Simpson also does plenty right on the field including running the football. Utilizing Simpson in either trick packages or option plays could be way to help develop the quarterback in-game.
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