Kirk Herbstreit points to Alabama's lack of playmakers as reason for struggles

Alabama will likely not make another trip to the College Football Playoff, representing just the second season the Tide could miss the championship event since it was created. As to why Nick Saban’s group hasn’t lived up to expectations, Kirk Herbstreit points to the dearth of playmakers on the perimeter as the primary reason for Alabama’s regression.

He explained the problems with the pass catchers and playmakers as a whole on offense at length on College GameDay Saturday morning. Take a look at what the ESPN analyst had to say:

“I would say that what they’ve had is an embarrassment of riches in the perimeter, and they don’t right now. Like, Jahmyr Gibbs is their guy. When you pull out the film and you’re LSU or you’re Ole Miss and see what they have, you see No. 1. Just flashes everywhere. You see 80 occasionally, keep an eye on him, tight end, pretty good player.

“But you don’t see Henry Ruggs, you don’t see Jerry Jeudy. You got so many playmakers that are unique and you don’t have that this year. So it makes it real hard for Bill O’Brien. Yeah, we know Bryce Young can do things. They can run the football. They still have great linemen. But you don’t have to fear the threat of those vertical shots the way you used to. So I think it makes it a little bit easier to defend them.”

So while the Jeudy’s, Waddle’s and Smith’s of the program are dominating the NFL now, Alabama just hasn’t found replacements that had their level of talent. It would be almost impossible to replicate the talent the Tide had at wideout over the last four years. Arguably the best run of receiver talent at one school at one time ever.

So some regression is to be expected. Now, Alabama fans won’t accept missing the playoff. But Herbstreit notes that this is still a top football team with just two losses that both came on the very final play in extremely close games.

“They’re still Alabama, I’m not overreacting the way other people are this week. It was a knuckle curve against Tennessee in Knoxville. It was a last-second play where Brian Kelly ended up going for two. I mean, let’s keep it in perspective. But they don’t have the playmakers on the outside.”