Nick Saban had some dominant offensive lines during his 17-year tenure as Alabama’s head football coach, but last year’s group did not live up to its standard.
Alabama starter says Crimson Tide ‘wants to be in SEC title game’
The Crimson Tide allowed 49 sacks and most came in critical matchups versus Texas and Michigan, where the Tide took two defeats. Kalen DeBoer, Nick Sheridan, and Chris Kapilovic have done a fine job of getting this offensive unit to gel better.
Alabama has allowed 17 sacks in 10 games, a difference of 32 in showing marquee improvement.
The Tide is also in the running for the Joe Moore Award that goes to the best offensive front in college football. Alabama has surged up front in the last two weeks as it did not surrender a sack versus LSU or Mercer. The Tide ran the ball to a tune of 311 yards and six touchdowns against the Tigers, while the offensive line protected Jalen Milroe to toss two touchdowns last week versus the Bears.
Parker Brailsford, Alabama’s starting center, detailed to reporters on Tuesday about how the Crimson Tide has grown up front.
Brailsford, a transfer from Washington, has the Tide communicating at the right time in making a Southeastern Conference Championship push and a College Football Playoff push.
“It has definitely gotten better,” Brailsford said about the growth of Alabama’s offensive line.
“I feel like we’ve kind of meshed better as an O-line, as a unit especially. But even as a team, I feel like we’ve just meshed better, and that’s definitely helped us.”
The players up front have trusted each other from left to right in terms of communication, checking into the right protections, and run-blocking.
“I trust the guys to my right and my left that they’re gonna have my back just like they trust the guys to their right and left,” Brailsford said.
Alabama will need its front line to be at its best for Saturday’s matchup against a good Oklahoma defense on the road.
*Get the BEST Alabama football insider information, message board access, and recruiting coverage today! SIGN UP HERE to unlock our subscriber-only content!*
Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
