Ryan Grubb details aggressive vision for the Alabama offense in 2025

Oct 12, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Germie Bernard (5) catches a pass for a touchdown against South Carolina at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama defeated South Carolina 27-25. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images

It took multiple tries for Alabama to get offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb in crimson, but there is a word that can both describe the Crimson Tide’s persistence in hiring Grubb and his play-calling style: aggressive.

Aggressive is the word Grubb used the first time he was interviewed at Alabama in the spring. Head coach Kalen DeBoer has attached this word to what he wants to do offensively.

In 2024, Grubb was supposed to be the Tide’s offensive coordinator, but after a week, he took a job with the Seattle Seahawks in the same role. Alabama elevated then-tight ends coach and now-quarterback coach Nick Sheridan to the offensive coordinator position, but it happened under difficult circumstances.

Now with Grubb back in Tuscaloosa, the aggressiveness that DeBoer wants the offense to have will be instilled by the guy he wanted on day one.

“There’s two ways to go about it,” Grubb said on The Game with Ryan Fowler. “You obviously have to be respectful of any team you’re on and the situation you’re in offensively. You know, the type of defense you have. Controlling the football at the right times and things like that. Without question, we want people to pop our film on every week, look at it and know they’re going to have to defend every inch of the field. And that ball at some point is going to get down the field, and that is something we’ve been able to do for quite a few years at different stops. Making sure that our receivers and the type of players we have can match that, and we certainly have that at Alabama. It’s not a stretch to say that we’ll be able to work some of those same thoughts and concepts. But that’s really something we want to make sure it not all talk. When people put our film on and look at it and see what we’re doing, that they know they’re going to have to take care of the back end there with the DBs and have a little nervous energy back there.”

Grubb is big on the running game, and he certainly believes that a key to being able to be an aggressive play caller offensively is establishing a running game.

“I think with the physical style of play it takes to win championships in the SEC, you certainly have to have a presence obviously with the offensive line,” Grubb said. “It’s also the type of runner they’ve had over the years here at Alabama. There’s a presence they bring there. Just the explosiveness of being able to run the ball and control the line of scrimmage. I think that’s another element we’re really excited about, and I certainly think we have an offensive lineman here that can bring that energy. So, we’re certainly looking to expand on that and make it even better.”

As the offensive coordinator for the Seahawks, Grubb said learned that having the right run-pass mix can cause struggles in big moments.

In 2024, Jalen Milroe was Alabama’s leader rusher with 726 yards as a quarterback, but the Crimson Tide could not get running backs Jam Miller and Justice Haynes going. The two rushed for a combined for 1,116 yards and 14 touchdowns last season. That may seem alright, but compare it to the stats of one of the backs Grubb coached in his last season as the offensive coordinator in Washington in 2023.

“Back in 2023, Micheal [Penix Jr.] had an incredible year for us at Washington, but our running back Dillon Johnson ran for almost 1,200 yards and 16 touchdowns,” Grubb said. “So, it was certainly nothing to blink at.”

With Haynes transferred to Michigan, this year’s Tide backfield will primarily feature running backs Miller and Richard Young. When looking at what Grubb has done in the past, there are signs that he will give Alabama’s offense a boost of energy and aggressiveness.

GET THE BEST ALABAMA FOOTBALL INSIDER INFORMATION AND RECRUITING COVERAGE TODAY! SIGN UP HERE TO UNLOCK OUR SUBSCRIBER ONLY CONTENT!*