Jalen Milroe had minimal rushing success against Oklahoma.

The Alabama football quarterback ran 15 times and only managed seven yards.

Just two weeks earlier, on the road against LSU, he rushed for 185 yards on 12 carries and four touchdowns.

What has changed? It was one of many questions about the lackluster offensive effort.

“I think there was a little bit too much lateral running at times,” Alabama offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan said. “And so we looked at the tape and encouraged him to be a little more north/south in some of those moments, just to have a little more production. There’s a fine line there. Obviously he makes instinctive plays and tries to create plays. He tries to make explosive plays, but I think there were moments in the game where he could have been a little more north-south and that way, a little more decisive when he ran the ball.”

Without Milroe being able to run, the offense could barely get anything going. Alabama managed just three points in a 24-3 loss to the Sooners in Norman, Oklahoma. It was the first game since 2011 in which Alabama did not score a touchdown.

“It’s hard to explain,” Oklahoma coach Brent Venables said of stopping Milroe from running. “Just discipline and physicality. It has a topicality. So we defended several runs, there was a bit of deception and the players played at an incredibly high level. The staff did a fantastic job putting together a bulletproof plan and had answers ready.

Nick Kelly is a beat writer from Alabama AL.com and Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X And Instagram.