Greg McElroy, Desmond Howard debate Alabama's biggest areas of concern beyond quarterback

It’s not much of a secret that Alabama has a big question mark at quarterback. Even after Nick Saban named Jalen Milroe the starter, the conversation has been if he can put the Crimson Tide in the best position to win.

But there’s another layer to it. Quarterback isn’t the only area of concern for Alabama, and former Tide quarterback-turned-ESPN analyst Greg McElroy agreed with that sentiment on College Football Live.

The offensive line has been a big weakness for Alabama so far, allowing 12.0 sacks through three games. If the Crimson Tide want to have success — regardless of who’s under center — McElroy said the line has to protect the quarterback so they can have a well-rounded offense.

“Yeah, I’m a little concerned,” McElroy said about the quarterback situation in Tuscaloosa. “I think if you look at just how well they’ve played, they’ve had some good moments. Jalen Milroe’s had good moments, but he’s also had moments that you’d like to forget. But at the same time, I look at where they’re at just as an entire team. And really, let’s just exclusively look at the offense for a moment. Their quarterback position is not their biggest problem. Their biggest problem is that the strength of the team has been, throughout the offseason, the offensive line. And they’re just not playing very well. They’ve had a difficult time moving people in the run game, they’ve had a really difficult time protecting whoever is behind them at the quarterback spot.

“So until they get that group solidified, you have to have an option that can keep you honest with his legs because the dropback passing attack doesn’t look like something they can take advantage of right now. Jalen Milroe gives this team the best chance to win right now. Until that offensive line starts playing at a really high level in pass protection, I think they’re just going to run the heck out of the football. And I think Jalen Milroe gives them a real dynamic weapon at that spot to be able to potentially take advantage of it.”

Desmond Howard: Jalen Milroe throws a good deep ball, but he has to ‘master those other throws, too’

While the offensive line is a problem, Milroe also has to kick it into gear and play better than he did against Texas. In that game, he completed 14 of 27 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns, but he also had two costly interceptions that helped the Longhorns pull off the 34-24 victory at Bryant Denny Stadium.

So while McElroy and Desmond Howard agreed Milroe is probably the best quarterback option for Alabama right now, Howard argued he still needs to get better. Yes, he throws a good deep ball — including a 49-yard touchdown against Texas — but the deep ball is one part of the equation.

If he can get better in the short and intermediate passing games, Howard said Alabama will be able to turn things around.

“I do think that Jalen would probably give them the better chance to win. But he’s going to have to learn how to operate in the pocket,” Howard said. “I know that the offensive line, they haven’t been great, I understand. But they have given him enough time at moments that he should’ve been able to complete passes. And I think his timing isn’t on sometimes. Now, that’s what he does the best. He throws the deep ball extremely well. Everybody rants and raves about the deep ball.

“But Greg, you know like I do. You’re not throwing the deep ball a lot in a college football game. You have to master those other throws, too. Even the quick throws. I think they have enough talent that if they can get the ball out of his hands quickly [and] into the hands of playmakers, then they’ll be able to move the ball and sustain drives and they’ll eventually score touchdowns.”