The assistant coach Alabama fans feel is under the most pressure for 2026 season

Photo comes via Alabama athletics

Much of Kalen DeBoer’s coaching staff at the University of Alabama is in its third season, but Crimson Tide fans have highlighted one name they feel is under the most pressure.

Ryan Grubb, Freddie Roach, Robert Gillespie, and Jay Nunez all need to step up at their respective positions.

How an Alabama linebacker went from 3-Star recruit with no major offers to potential starter

David Ballou, Alabama’s Director of Sports Performance, has to make sure this team is physical and healthy.

The Tide has been bullied in the trenches in the last few years.

Alabama OL coach Adrian Klemm under most pressure

Regardless of the names mentioned above, the one that fans feel is under the heat is a newcomer. Adrian Klemm, 48, comes over the University of Southern California as Alabama’s new offensive line coach.

The Tide has had an underwhelming offensive front since 2020, which led to it running through three coaches. Doug Marrone, Eric Wolford, and Chris Kapilovic could not get the job done. Coach Kap had one year remaining on his contract, yet Alabama parted ways from him to land Klemm on a one-year deal.

Klemm played under Bill Belichick with the New England Patriots, winning three Super Bowls. He has had success in college and the National Football League as a coach, but is he the answer up front in Tuscaloosa (Ala.) for this group?

Heisman-Trophy winner says Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer would get the praise he deserves at another program

Tide fans have targeted him as the one who must step up. Their responses are below:

 

O-Line definitely! We gotta block better this season!

— Kimberly 🐘 (@k_8651) May 10, 2026

The 2025 running game was atrocious.

— Atticus Ripley (@atticus_ripley) May 10, 2026

Oline. They better get their shit together.

— SF (@picklesf87) May 9, 2026

OL. Hands down. We have to be able to convert on a run play when they know we’re going to run the ball. Period.

— PT (@PT_Woodworks) May 9, 2026

I’d say offensive line coach. The damn OL has underperformed literally for years, including Saban’s last couple of years. 2 of those guys were drafted, others got NFL free agent offers? Last year was the worst fucking OL performance I remember, bar none.

— Walter the Elder (@WalterKMusk) May 10, 2026

Got to be Oline. They changed coaches, changed the majority of the line too. If the Oline doesn’t show improvement throughout the season, this team will maybe make it to the playoffs, but will not last long.

— Dwayne Norman (@PastorDwayneN) May 9, 2026

Offensive Line. All that talent but can’t block the avg DL smh

— 🖕🏾FDT🖕🏾 (@hashira_eman) May 10, 2026

O Line no doubt.. they have to get stout…with this current setup… O Line will win or lose the games this season…IMO

— BigDookie55 (@porkchawp55) May 9, 2026

There’s no way it’s not the O-Line coach.

— Kyle (@thekwebcamper) May 9, 2026

OL X’s 100

— Chuck Brand (@ChuckBrand1414) May 9, 2026

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Stephen M. Smith is a team writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine.  You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.