After its performance from last season, it was clear something needed to change along Alabama’s offensive line.
The unit had underperformed to a level unfamiliar to Nick Saban teams of the past as it proved to be inconsistent in both the run and passing game throughout the entirety of the season.
During the offseason, Saban replaced 2021 offensive line coach Doug Marrone with Kentucky’s Eric Wolford who came in with lofty expectations and quite the ship to right. Wolford’s calling card as a coach was the physical nature in which his units played which was on display during his final season with the Wildcats as it rushed for 199.8 yards per game.
Throughout fall camp the Crimson Tide have mixed and matched several players throughout the unit and brought in a few new players to try and get the mix right.
As Alabama completed its 17th fall camp session with the team now just 10 days away from its Week 1 matchup with Utah State, Saban is encouraged by the strides the line has taken which he addressed during his post-practice press conference on Wednesday.
But what Saban also noticed is that Wolford’s coaching is getting through to the players as the unit appears to be adopting his mentality on the field.
“I’m encouraged by the improvements that we’ve made on the offensive line,” Saban said. “We seem to have a little better mentality. I think the personality of their coach has definitely added something to the mentality of how we play and what we’re doing and how we’re doing it. I think the personality of the players is certainly something that has been a real positive in terms of how they approach things and what they try to do.
“I’m more comfortable in the running game that we have and we’re able to pass protect I think a little better. So I’ve been really pleased with the progress that group has made.”
While the first team offensive line appears to be coming together, there still may be something left to be desired from the second team. Exiting last week’s scrimmage, Saban said he was pleased with the performance of his starting group who has now had two solid performances in live play, but the reserves still have some ways to go along the entire offense.
“First team line did a nice job,” Saban said last Saturday inside Bryant-Denny Stadium. “Second team — not signifying and specifically talking about the line, the receives — they all struggled. We need to get better. That’s the most important thing we need to do.”
Saban and Wolford will have one more practice on Thursday to tighten up things from a depth chart standpoint before it turns its attention to Monday preparations for Utah State.
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Patrick Dowd is a Reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via Pat_Dowd77
