Alabama Football: Bryce Young isn’t the problem on offense

You can’t blame Bryce Young for Alabama football’s struggles

The college football season is at the halfway point, and there are still plenty of questions surrounding Alabama football. The defense needs to improve communication and urgency, and the offense needs to increase efficiency. Mental errors have limited the Tide’s production on both sides of the ball, and it led to Alabama’s loss against Texas A&M.

When you look at the offensive struggles, it’s easy to blame the quarterback. After all, every play goes through them. They set the ceiling of an offense, and nothing works if the quarterback fails.

Still, there’s always more nuance than that in an offense. Bryce Young has not been perfect, but you cannot blame him for why Alabama football’s offense has struggled.

Alabama’s offense has been run-heavy in recent weeks, and that has been useful. It helps the Tide remain balanced, and Alabama can dominate in the fourth quarter after wearing down the defense. This has helped Young, and he has done his part.

Instead of blaming Young, you need to look at the receivers and line. Alabama had to replace three starters from last year’s team, and it shows. Young cannot rely on them to give him a clean pocket, and this has forced some hurried decisions and sacks.

Young is a mobile quarterback, but he can only do so much when he has multiple rushers in his face within three seconds. Alabama’s offense wants to throw the ball deep, but there is not enough time for these plays to develop.

There have also been problems with receivers making plays. Drops are happening at a high rate, and this has stalled too many drives. The best way to help a young quarterback is to make a play when he gives you a chance, and this is rarely happening.

Could Bryce Young be more accurate on some throws? Yes. However, he trusts his receivers to make contested catches. That’s why he has taken risks down the field in coverage. Former receivers made these plays, and that is not happening this season.

Between the bad penalties and the questionable playcalling, there is enough blame to go around. Again, Young himself hasn’t been perfect. He’s taken some intentional grounding calls and thrown some bad passes in coverage. Still, he is doing his job well. He’s not perfect, but he’s good enough to win a title and a potential Heisman. The same can’t be said for the pieces around him, and that must change.