With the college football offseason nearing a conclusion we will soon finally have to stop wondering who Alabama plans to start under center for the season opener against Louisville from Orlando. At this point, the end of that debate may be more of a relief than the actual start of the season for some of us.

The latest analyst to comment on the ongoing quarterback competition in Tuscaloosa is “SEC on CBS” lead analyst Gary Danielson. Despite what some fans may believe, according to Danielson, Jalen Hurts arm isn’t the QB’s main issue, it’s his ability to make subtle reads and manipulate the defense with his eye discipline.

Here’s what Danielson had to say about Hurts during a recent appearance on The Tide 102.9 FM, quotes via Mark Heim of AL.com.

“Jalen has to learn how to play quarterback,” Danielson said on the air. “That means dropping back in the pocket, feeling where the pressure is, knowing where the dump offs are, understanding that certain zones are man, where they are most vulnerable, how to look off the safeties.”

That last detail is crucial and one aspect that’s missing from Hurts’ game. The final play of the college football season, burned into the memories of Alabama and Georgia fans alike, is the game-winning touchdown throw made by Tua Tagovailoa. While the throw itself was outstanding, Tagovailoa’s ability to get Georgia’s defensive backs to cheat every so slightly by using his eyes to scan the middle of the field led to the opening that was exploited by the Alabama quarterback.

Does Hurts have the ability to make that throw? Danielson believes he does but he has not consistently shown the ability to use his eyes to the level Tua did on that play.

“I don’t know 100 percent, but my opinion, but I think Jalen could’ve made the last throw to win the game. But, I don’t think he could’ve executed the play where you look off the safety and throw with the touch, “Danielson continued. “He’s not there in his development.”

That slight difference is enough for Alabama to roll through nearly every opponent on the schedule in 2018 with Hurts under center but until the junior signal caller learns to use skills outside of his outstanding, all-around athletic ability to beat defenses, it’s going to be tough for him to beat out Tagovailoa by the time Alabama is forced to name a starting quarterback.