Greg McElroy evaluates biggest issue facing Alabama offense

Alabama‘s offense has looked uncharacteristic of their typical expectations through the first three weeks of the season, currently ranking as the second-worst offense in yards per game in the SEC as they head into their first conference game of the season this weekend.

Fingers can be pointed in a multitude of directions as to why the Crimson Tide haven’t been successful on offense, but former Alabama quarterback and current analyst Greg McElroy believes it should be pointed at their play on the offensive line first and foremost.

“Without question, it’s the o-line to me,” McElroy said. “I do think when you look at what can be done from a coaching standpoint they now know their weaknesses. They know that the tackles have struggled in pass protection, they know that movement has hurt them.”

Alabama has played three different quarterbacks this season who have been sacked a combine 12 times so far through three games. Defensive fronts have been able to have their way with the Crimson Tide offensive line, something that McElroy believes will have to be combatted with coaching.

“There are ways to attack either way, check out Monday’s edition of ‘Always College Football’ where I kind of go through schematically how you can attack some of those issues, so coaching will have to adjust. But if the offense line play is subpar, it’s hard to win high-level college football games, especially in the SEC,” McElroy explained.

The quarterback position has also been an area of weakness in Alabama’s offense, particularly compared to the skillset that’s been seen at the position in recent history. But McElroy thinks that what’s been seen from Jalen Milroe in the team’s first two games of the season is enough to get the job done.

“People have said well quarterback play’s been less than stellar, yeah, but there have been some good moments too. And I think that Jalen Milroe has delivered enough good moments up to this point to feel decent that if he can be given an appropriate offensive scheme that’s maybe a little bit more run first, use quarterback run, get him involved in the run game,” McElroy said. “That’s gonna be something that they need to account for moving forward.”

“So I think it’s o-line play first, and then they’ll have to adjust the coaching, and then the quarterback play.”

The Crimson Tide have a great opportunity to bounce back and show offensive improvement this weekend, as they host No. 15 Ole Miss at 3:30 p.m. ET in a game airing on CBS.