Jesse Minter's Experience Against Lamar Jackson Has Helped Prepare For Jalen Milroe
Stopping Jalen Milroe is not easy to defend but Michigan defensive coordinator has experience going up against a hyper-athletic, dual-threat quarterback from his days with the Baltimore Ravens. Lamar Jackson might be the most unstoppable dual-threat quarterback playing the sport right now, and Minter saw him up close and personal for four years while in Baltimore. Milroe and Jackson aren't the same player, but they're at least cut from the same cloth.
"They're their own players, so Lamar certainly was electric in college, Heisman winner, could do it all, NFL MVP. This year may be on pace for his second MVP how he's playing," Minter explained. "Jalen is a first-year starter who is playing at a super high level, playing with a lot of confidence, has the ability to really throw the deep ball well, has the ability to make those second plays and take the ball to the house.
"I do think both of their abilities as scramblers, there's some similarities in their ability to drop back, nothing is there, take off, and then once they take off, it's like Reggie Bush running the ball."
As a runner, Lamar has had to learn to get out of bounds and slide occasionally in order to remain healthy in the NFL, but in college he wasn't doing that. Neither is Jalen Milroe. When the big 220-pounder gets out into the open field, he's looking to make a play.
"It's not like a quarterback that's scrambling and he's going to slide and make sure you don't hit him so you don't get a penalty. This dude is going to run like a legit tailback or like a legit slot receiver once he's in space," Minter said of Milroe as a runner. "I think that's the biggest difference in both of those guys, how they – once they run, they become like a bona fide weapon."
Lamar and Milroe have plenty of differences in their games but also do a lot of the same things. One of those things is making game-changing plays, whether it's as a runner or with deep throws off of broken plays. They can be extremely dangerous and can change the swing of a game in a hot second.
"I think that's the comparison," Minter said. "But they're their own guys. Jalen is having a phenomenal season, probably has a bright future at the next level, as well, with his skill set, and probably could do some similar things to Lamar, but Lamar is one of one who's about to be a two-time MVP and a Heisman winner. Both those guys are exciting to watch."
It's been said from the beginning. If Michigan is going to win this game, it starts with containing Milroe and Minter might be the best defensive coordinator for the job.
