Alabama Crimson Tide QB Greg McElroy Has a Wide "Comfort" Zone

Greg remembers something Jim McElwain told John Parker Wilson to help him settle down last year and be consistent. It was to "play inside your comfort level."

McElroy says he watched Wilson follow that advice and have his best season last year as a senior.  He says he learned a lot from that experience.

Sometimes, players are forced to do things that put them outside that comfort zone.  Usually when that happens, it could create the opportunity for a mistake.  Most right handed QB's don't like to run to the left and throw on the run, but sometimes you have to. 

What may help Alabama this fall is this "rookie" has a very wide comfort zone and is not your typical first-year starter.  He is also comfortable with the offense he will be running, as he has been the back up now for two years.

He has proven he is comfortable coming in after serving his time on the bench, to not only light up the scoreboards, but even win a championship.  After only getting to play his senior season in high school, after backing up Chase Daniels, who did so well in high school and college as well, he proved to all that he was, in effect, a better QB than the one he was backing up.

That or either the records and results have lied.

"We have to defend against this guy in practice." Kirby Smart told me tonight.  "I can tell you right now we will be able to stretch opposing defenses better with Mac than we did with John Parker.  His deep ball is 'much' better."

He went on to say that, "There's a lot of quarterbacks who can throw deep and over their heads.  No his arm's not stronger than Wilson's, but his accuracy is better." 

According to coaches, they expect more big plays from McElroy, or Mac as they call him, than from John Parker.

"This guy's a winner.  Has he played in Tiger Stadium in a tight game? No," Coach Smart said. "But he knows how to win, and yes, I think he can lead to this team to the top."

If he does it or not, only time can tell.  But for all those teams thinking Alabama has a weakness they can exploit this year at the QB spot, they better keep looking for another one.