Paul Finebaum believes the Alabama football program has slipped.

Now, the degree in which it has slipped is certainly up for debate, but the SEC Network analyst part of the reason for that slip is a narrative following Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide.

That narrative developed prior to spring practice and continues into today.

Why?

“The quarterback dilemma has cost them,” he told me Thursday during his weekly appearance on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5. “There have been mistakes made. There are two new coordinators, which has happened many times in the past, but this one seems to be more striking, primarily because Tommy Rees is not Brian Daboll, Steve Sarkisian or Lane Kiffin.

“As a result of that, the program has slipped.”

The quarterback situation is well-documented. In less than a week last month, former Notre Dame quarterback Tyler Buchner entered the NCAA transfer portal, visited Alabama and committed to the Tide.

Current Alabama quarterbacks Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson haven’t exactly separated themselves from each other.

Milroe completed 19-of-37 passes for 245 yards in the annual A-Day Game, including two touchdowns and two interceptions. He was sacked seven times and ran for a 35-yard touchdown. Simpson went 12-of-26 for 155 yards and one interception.

Still, the degree in which the program has slipped gives Finebaum pause.

“Where has it slipped from?” he asked. “It has slipped from No. 2 behind Georgia – it was No. 1 a year ago – to five or six. The new narrative in college football is that Alabama has slipped at least a hair.”

Earlier in the week, Finebaum was asked on ‘McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning’ if he was starting a team and needed a head coach, would he take Saban or Georgia’s Kirby Smart?

“I think the answer is obvious,” he said during his appearance on WNSP. “You would hire a 48-year-old coach who is going for his third national championship over an about-to-be 72-year-old coach who has had the greatest career of all time but still how much runway does he have?

“I think Kirby Smart has a better operation today. What does that mean? Overall, top to bottom, I don’t know about Alabama’s coaching staff.”

Finebaum pointed to Rees being the biggest unknown, which he suggests is a reflection on Saban.

“His future is in play for the first time legitimately.”

Mark Heim is a sports reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim.