You need a great quarterback to win a National Championship, right? The last few quarterbacks, Jameis Winston, Cardale Jones, Marcus Mariota and Cam Newton were all-stars for their respective teams. However, when you take a look at the Alabama quarterbacks that have won national titles, they haven't been very elite.

Greg McElroy will always be an Alabama favorite but, did he really lead the team to a National Championship? I would argue that he did not. Alabama had arguably the best defense in the country in 2009, led by Rolando McClain and Mark Barron. The defense alone had four first-round draft picks. Not to mention, he handed the football off to a Heisman-winning running back, a Heisman runner up and arguably the best receiver in the NFL today: Julio Jones. He was protected by two first-round draft picks (Chance Warmack and DJ Fluker), as well as one of the most decorated offensive lineman in the history in college football in Barrett Jones. He simply managed the team. He wasn't great, but he didn't lose football games.

AJ McCarron won the National Championship both years and played on all time great Alabama football teams. In 2011, he had arguably the best defense in college football history. That defense had four first-round draft picks, along with Courtney Upshaw, who was picked up early in the second round. He handed the football off to two first-round draft picks and threw the ball to another in Amari Cooper, arguably Alabama's best all-time receiver.

The moral to the story is Alabama's season won't hinge on the play of the quarterback. The secondary must and should improve. The offensive line must be more physical and aggressive at the point of attack, and the kicking game must improve. So, let's not focus strictly on the quarterback.