Kilkenny may have scored 1-22 against Clare in their defeat at Cusack Park, but the lack of star quality in attack is costing them, according to the RTÉ League Sunday panel.
Kevin Kelly scored 1-11 for the Cats - all from placed balls - as they fell just short of the Banner.
Ken McGrath said: "Brian Cody is waiting for these big lads to come back to offer the threat in the air.
"For years as a centre-back you would hate marking any Kilkenny forwards because they would win ball after ball over your head.
"There was always a worry that if you went too far behind them you couldn’t catch them.
"Today 1-22, all from low balls in and trying to work the scores. It’s a credit they kept in the game but they will have to improve on that."
Brendan Cummins added: "Once the club final is out of the way there will be a fair amount of cotton wool going to be put around TJ Reid.
"You could say last year that TJ Reid carried them in the league including the final where he was exceptional.
"Walter Walsh was a big loss against Limerick. Limerick scrapped through in that quarter-final and Walter wasn’t playing. I think Brian Cody has that skill of keeping his players fit and healthy.
"They are still building and growing so if they get two or three lads on to their team, there are plenty of lads to win the ball in Kilkenny and hand it out to others. They are trying to build for the rest of the summer."
