The main issue Alabama football’s offense right now is starting games slow, and an offensive lineman shared what the Crimson Tide are focusing on this week to fix the problem.
Starting left guard William Sanders said the Crimson Tide had an intense team period during Tuesday’s practice, and he detailed a key thing the offense has to do to avoid slow starts.
“It’s pulling each other along,” Sanders said. “Everybody has a role or a job to play. At the end of the day, we got to make sure that we do those roles, our roles to the best of our abilities, pull each other along. If somebody’s slacking, grab them and bring them along. At the end of the day, if we just keep the team mentality, we’ll start faster and faster each game.”
Sanders shared some insight into what the offensive line has been emphasizing when it comes to starting faster.
“In the offensive line, we definitely have to make sure we are pushing each other along, and communication is key,” Sanders said. “At the end of the day, with the most communication, you’ll feel comfortable in your job, comfortable who you’re working next to, and then, you don’t have a choice but to work faster because you know your guy to your left, to your right, wherever you may be on the line, is going to have your back.”
Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb shared on Monday that the Crimson Tide’s first two offensive drives of the Florida State vs. Alabama game were one mistake away from turning into longer drives. Grubb mentioned that a missed down block on third down led to Alabama being stopped on the first drive, and Grubb said wide receiver Lotzeir Brooks should have worked to the sideline after catching a pass on a third down on the second drive of the game.
Ultimately, the Crimson Tide had to punt the ball away after failing to pick up a first down on both of the first two drives. Alabama trailed 21-6 at one point in the game, but the Crimson Tide won 50-36.
Alabama will look to start faster in this Saturday’s home game against South Carolina. The game is set for 6 p.m. CT and will broadcast on ESPN.
