Danny Kanell believes Alabama is missing a key element of its offense ahead of the 2023 season.

As part of CBS Sports’ college football preview on the Crimson Tide, Kanell highlighted Alabama’s struggles at wide receiver. Specifically, receivers who have the ability to pick up yards after the catch.

“The best friend of a quarterback are receivers who can make yards after the catch,” Kanell said. “That’s what they’re missing.”

Kanell is calling on Alabama’s receivers to make things “easier” on whoever ultimately wins the starting quarterback job in Tuscaloosa.

“And in this system where I do think they’ll run the football more, if they get those short crossing routes, get it in their hands, that makes the quarterback’s job that much easier,” he added.

Alabama does bring back quite a bit of talent in its receiver room this season, including Jermaine Burton, Ja’Corey Brooks and Kobe Prentice.

The Crimson Tide also went into the transfer portal this offseason and picked up Malik Benson from the junior college ranks. Benson broke the program record for receiving yards at Hutchinson Community College (Kansas) with 2,152.

Here’s video of Kanell’s comments as well as thoughts from other CBS Sports analysts:

Alabama will host Middle Tennessee in Week 1.