Michigan D-line Ready For Challenge vs. Jalen Milroe, Alabama
Michigan's defensive line will face its stiffest challenge yet in the Rose Bowl against the massive offensive line of the Alabama Crimson Tide, but D-line coach Mike Elston is confident his guys are ready to do their part.
"They have a really big offensive line, they can move people," Elston said. "It's a very talented O-line, very well-coached and so they create a great challenge for us and our guys are excited about it."
After something of a slow start offensively this season, the Crimson Tide have found their stride on that side of the ball due to their improvement up front and the development of dual-threat quarterback Jalen Milroe.
"They've settled in at the quarterback and made some of the greatest strides in terms of his development," Elston noted. "[Alabama offensive coordinator] Tommy Rees has done a phenomenal job with him. They've really skyrocketed their offense now so that's what makes them such a challenge."
As the first line of defense, Elston's unit is charged with getting after Milroe, who presents a unique and difficult task with his ability to escape the pocket and make plays with his legs. It will take a total effort from Michigan's defense to hold the Crimson Tide's athletic signal-caller in check.
"That's a huge role that we have, but it's everybody's role really — the whole defense," Elston said. "I think that our ability to contain him is going to be a huge part of the game. He's a very talented runner, a very talented athlete."
The Wolverines will need to pressure Milroe to prevent him from picking them apart threw the air, but Alabama's quarterback is arguably even more dangerous once he's flushed from the pocket. How can Michigan balance making Milroe feel their presence without losing contain?
"That's hard, it's really hard," Elston said. "Again, because they're so talented up front at O-line, and then the fact that he's a great passer, he's a great runner.
"We want to be aggressive, but if you're too aggressive and he gets out then it can be an explosive play. So, you have to try to find that balance. You don't want to play scared, you don't want to be afraid to let him out, otherwise you're not getting any pressure on him at all and he's just sitting back there. Teams that have done that, he's punished them. He's a really good quarterback, a really good passer, so we're trying to find that great blend of that."
Although Milroe is dangerous as both a thrower and a runner, Elston noted that Michigan has some pretty darn good athletes and players along their defensive line as well.
"We have some really good players up front," he said. "It should be a good matchup, it should be fun. Listen, Jalen is going to make some plays. We've got to minimize those. Their offensive line is going to help him make those plays, they're very talented. And so, we just have to make more plays than them."
The Rose Bowl is still two days away, but in Elston's mind it can't get here soon enough and assured us that the players are chomping at the bit to get out on the field as well.
"The guys are ready. We're ready," Elston said. "We're going to continue to prepare, of course, but if the game was tonight or tomorrow morning, nobody would be upset about it. Everybody's ready. It will be fun once it starts and it can't get here fast enough."
