Alabama’s offense will look relatively different in 2025.
During the offseason, Kalen DeBoer decided to hire his long-time friend and former assistant Ryan Grubb to be Alabama’s offensive coordinator.
Grubb has a history of orchestrating and coaching some of the most explosive offenses in the country. His gameplan is usually centered around a good passing attack and complimented by a strong run game.
A great run game from Alabama in 2025 could be massive for Tide.
There will inevitably be a new starting quarterback in Tuscaloosa who will be stepping into the starting role for the first time. A solid run game would take some pressure off whoever lines up as QB1 for DeBoer and company.
In 2024, Alabama oftentimes struggled to run the football. Sometimes it was a result of the offensive line not creating lanes for the running back to run through. At other times, it was the running back not hitting the right hole. That trend will need to change in 2025 if Alabama’s running backs want to maximize their potential and impact in Alabama’s offense.
History illustrates the importance of having an effective run game in a Ryan Grubb-led offense. Alabama will need to win at the line of scrimmage and impose its will in the run game. Otherwise, the offense will become more predictable and less explosive — two traits that typically do not bode well for the Crimson Tide. In 2024, there were several games where the run game was absent and Alabama relied too heavily on the passing attack. As a result, Alabama suffered several losses.
Oftentimes, in the past, Alabama has made it look easy running the football. There is an illustrious history of elite running backs to come through Tuscaloosa in the last 20 years. Alabama has six running backs on scholarship for the 2025 season. Can any of them blaze a similar path for themselves in Tuscaloosa during the 2025 season?
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Brody Smoot is a team reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “follow” him on X, via @brodysmoot.
