Alabama OC details blocking issues in run game

Nov 8, 2025; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; LSU linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. (7) and LSU linebacker Davhon Keys (42) upend Alabama running back Daniel Hill (4) at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images

No. 4 Alabama is set to face No. 11 Oklahoma on Saturday, and after a 20-9 defeat of LSU that consisted of an unstable rush attack, specifically due to struggles on the offensive line, the Crimson Tide will need to ensure it improves before the weekend.

Although the Tide ultimately finished the game with 56 rushing yards, only 39 of the yards were actually recorded by running backs. And on top of that, those 39 yards were recorded off 16 rushes, which makes it an average of 2.4 yards per carry.

Alabama has struggled all season to establish an effective run game, and what success the Tide has seen on the ground has come in large part from the utilization of other positions, like Germie Bernard at wide receiver.

Ahead of the Crimson Tide’s matchup with the Sooners, offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb detailed Alabama’s issues with run blocking and what it can do to ensure that it is successful in the future.

“A big part is being able to handle movement, and then just having bent knees, low angles, tight hands and tight feet,” Grubb said.  “I think right now, we’re playing with our feet, a little bit long on our second step, all the little details that you’ve got to be better at, and then some of our double teams have lacked coming together, and that’s all things we’ve got to keep working on. So, the guys already know what it is, I believe in them, I know they’re going to be able to get it done, and we just got to stick to the process. What I told the guys was is if we’re only focused on the outcome right now, I think that that’s part of the problem; there’s too much noise going on where they’re listening to the narrative of we can’t do this, we can’t do that, we’ve got to focus on what we can do. There’s some things we’re really good at, and it’s not showing up right now, but it will. We got good players that are committed to the process, and we’re lucky to have them.”

The Tide has been successful up to this point, but Grubb will need to ensure that the issues get solved soon enough, or else Alabama may see results similar to Florida State, whether it be against Oklahoma, Auburn or sometime in the postseason.

Oklahoma has a strong defensive line that’s headlined by sophomore defensive lineman David Stone, so not only will the offensive line have to play better and keep up the standard on the ground, but they will also have to do so in pass protection as well.

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