Top Michigan Defenders Talk Jalen Milroe

Michigan vs. Alabama in the Rose Bowl is a dream scenario when talking college football and most people expect a good game on Monday. If Michigan can keep Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe in check, the game should be very good for the Wolverines. Of course, that's much easier said than and done and some of the best defenders on Michigan's roster know it.

Defensive tackle Mason Graham's thoughts on Jalen Milroe and a comparison from this season...

"[We've done] A lot of stuff [to prepare for Jalen Milroe]. He's an explosive athlete that can make plays, extend plays, so we've just been practicing our rush lanes, containing quarterbacks, just stuff like that. I would say maybe Taulia [Tagovailoa] from Maryland [is similar]. We kind of had like a similar prep for him. He was a good athlete, and he could extend plays, as well. I would say him probably."

Linebacker Mike Barrett on Alex Orji standing in for Milroe during practice and preparing for such a mobile QB...

"Just taking off running when we think he's going to scramble. Keeping his eyes downfield, making all the deep passes, making everyone stay in coverage while also being ready for him to take off running, things like that. He has that athletic ability like Jalen. He can move around in the pocket, he can run around. So just having him give us that look I feel has been really good for the past month.

"You've got to just sit one step at a time. Usually when I'm not in coverage, like I was saying earlier, it's not really sitting back and waiting on him to make his move because at that point you're already a step behind. It's kind of taking the aggression to him, taking it to him, and that's with like our pass rush, that's with like our coverage. Just covering on the back end, making him sit back there in the pocket, forcing him to sit back there in the pocket, don't let him move around. We know he's going to scramble, he's going to get his few yards, but just try to eliminate that as much as possible, get him on the ground as fast as possible. Yeah, just try not to let up any big plays from him on his feet."

EDGE rusher Jaylen Harrell on Milroe as an athlete and as a passer...

"Our preparation is kind of what it's been all year, nothing too crazy. Like you said, this is a different challenge ahead of us. Jalen Milroe, he's a different quarterback than we've seen all year, freaky athletic, can make all the throws, big throws, stuff like that. This is a different level of quarterback we've played as far as athletic ability-wise, but we prepare how we prepared all year and stick to our pillars and the things we do and our identity.

"Everyone talks about him as a runner. I don't think they've really seen his arm on tape, like throw the ball 60 yards on the run, in the pocket, stuff like that. So he really does more than just running the ball. Obviously, when the play breaks down and they need a spark, you know 4's getting the ball. So really being keyed into that."

Safety Rod Moore on Milroe being different than any other QB Michigan has faced and on him being very mobile but also big and strong...

"A little bit. Just maybe when he's on the move, staying on your man which we call a [scramble drill], but not really us involving the defensive back with the quarterback. It's just more of us with the receivers and stuff like that.

"I mean, it's not really just the mobileness of Milroe. He's got a strong arm and so does Alex [Orji]. When we're in practice, Alex be like throwing it. When they run those deep routes, Alex throws it. I remember one time he put it in the post and he was probably in the opposite 30 and got to the middle of the zone. You see the film, that's how Milroe throws the ball. Then when he runs the ball, I mean, it gives the D-Line and us a good look, especially when we're short in the box and a DB has to come make a tackle, it gives us a good look of how he's going to move. I just look at him like another running back. When he's throwing the ball, he's a quarterback. When he takes off, he's a running back. Just got to bring my stuff when I tackle."