Paul Finebaum evaluates Alabama's concerns at right tackle

The quarterback spot was the most closely watched position during Alabama‘s A-Day Spring Game on Saturday, as Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson have been battling for the Crimson Tide’s starting quarterback job. But a quarterback is nothing without protection, and former Alabama quarterback and current college football analyst Greg McElroy is particularly worried about one spot on the Crimson Tide offensive line.

McElroy expressed some concern about Alabama’s right tackle position, one he’s been worried about for numerous years. And on the McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning, asked SEC Network’s Paul Finebaum what his level of concern is regarding Alabama’s offensive line.

“I don’t think it can get figured out easily because I think even last year the spring favored the defense from that standpoint. But there was a reason for that and he’s about to go second or third in the NFL Draft,” Finebaum said referring to Will Anderson. “It’s not an easily solvable situation, but Greg you just have to figure out a way to deal with it.”

Former five-star recruit JC Latham started all 13 games for the Crimson Tide last season at the right tackle, and will be expected to start on the left to better protect the blind side of whoever is under center for Alabama. Elijah Pritchett only saw action in two games last season for Alabama, with their remaining offensive tackles consisting of freshman and inexperienced players.

“And that’s the concern I’m sure Nick Saban has right now, he doesn’t have problems you can easily mask and you understand that. That’s something you just have to solve and you have to solve it by taking away somewhere else, which isn’t good,” Finebaum said.

There are still a few days until the transfer portal window closes on April 30 if Alabama decides to take that route. According to On3’s College Football Transfer Portal Player Rankings, eight of the top 50 offensive tackles in the transfer portal still haven’t committed or signed to a school this offseason.

If the Crimson Tide want to strike in the transfer portal, they’ll have to do so with some urgency. But if not, they could be looking at an offseason focused on developing, cross-training, and/or putting their trust in a more inexperienced offensive lineman heading into the 2023 season.