Aaron Suttles
TideSports.com Senior Writer
It didn't need to be said, but he said it anyway.
The five guys along the front of the offensive line didn't need independent verification that their collective play needed to improve or the results would be similar to last Saturday's production. In other words, 227 yards of total offense (the total yardage put up against Arkansas).
So Nick Saban sat those guys down during the week and laid it all out. "If you don't play better, our skill players can't make plays."
Whether or not it was Saban's speech or the fact that Texas A&M came in allowing almost 400 yards per game, the offensive line responded.
The big guys up front earned their dinners Saturday night.
With redshirt freshman Bradley Bozeman making his second start at center for an injured Ryan Kelly and with Leon Brown in the revolving door spot of right guard, the starting offensive line dominated.
Unlike the last two weeks, holes were created for running backs, allowing for an established running game to open up the passing game.
The highlights will feature T.J. Yeldon, Blake Sims and Amari Cooper, but none of it happens without Cam Robinson, Arie Kouandjio, Bozeman, Brown and Austin Shepherd. And when Shepherd went down with an ankle/knee sprain, Grant Hill came in at right tackle and produced.
By the time the starters were lifted with nine minutes remaining in the third quarter, Alabama's offense had 15 plays of 10 or more yards and held a 52-0 lead.
"We had a little gathering on the offensive line this week," Saban said. "We said, 'Look guys, you guys are starting to feel pressure. You're being criticized. You're not being sort of the sergeant of arms that we need you to be in terms of how you control the line of scrimmage, how you dominate the line of scrimmage because none of these other guys are going to make any plays unless you guys do that. I believe in you, I trust in you…'"
It extended beyond the physical to the mental, too. The unit that bewildered Saban through six games with sloppy penalties, committed no infractions Saturday afternoon.
The holes weren't predominantly created on one side of the line either. Running lanes were opened on the right, to the left and up the middle.
Shepherd was injured during the fifth offensive series, favoring his leg as he was helped off the field. Hill, who missed two weeks of practice and did not travel with the team to Ole Miss and Arkansas due to an undisclosed illness, finished the fifth drive and played right tackle for the next three series.
When the starters were pulled, Hill moved to left tackle and continued with the back-ups.
"I feel like Grant really stepped up," Kouandjio said. "He did his thing on the right side and held it down for Shep.
"I feel like we got in a rhythm. We've been having a tougher time lately. We used that as motivation. I feel like we're back on track, but we still have a lot to improve on."
https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1694346
TideSports.com Senior Writer
It didn't need to be said, but he said it anyway.
The five guys along the front of the offensive line didn't need independent verification that their collective play needed to improve or the results would be similar to last Saturday's production. In other words, 227 yards of total offense (the total yardage put up against Arkansas).
So Nick Saban sat those guys down during the week and laid it all out. "If you don't play better, our skill players can't make plays."
Whether or not it was Saban's speech or the fact that Texas A&M came in allowing almost 400 yards per game, the offensive line responded.
The big guys up front earned their dinners Saturday night.
With redshirt freshman Bradley Bozeman making his second start at center for an injured Ryan Kelly and with Leon Brown in the revolving door spot of right guard, the starting offensive line dominated.
Unlike the last two weeks, holes were created for running backs, allowing for an established running game to open up the passing game.
The highlights will feature T.J. Yeldon, Blake Sims and Amari Cooper, but none of it happens without Cam Robinson, Arie Kouandjio, Bozeman, Brown and Austin Shepherd. And when Shepherd went down with an ankle/knee sprain, Grant Hill came in at right tackle and produced.
By the time the starters were lifted with nine minutes remaining in the third quarter, Alabama's offense had 15 plays of 10 or more yards and held a 52-0 lead.
"We had a little gathering on the offensive line this week," Saban said. "We said, 'Look guys, you guys are starting to feel pressure. You're being criticized. You're not being sort of the sergeant of arms that we need you to be in terms of how you control the line of scrimmage, how you dominate the line of scrimmage because none of these other guys are going to make any plays unless you guys do that. I believe in you, I trust in you…'"
It extended beyond the physical to the mental, too. The unit that bewildered Saban through six games with sloppy penalties, committed no infractions Saturday afternoon.
The holes weren't predominantly created on one side of the line either. Running lanes were opened on the right, to the left and up the middle.
Shepherd was injured during the fifth offensive series, favoring his leg as he was helped off the field. Hill, who missed two weeks of practice and did not travel with the team to Ole Miss and Arkansas due to an undisclosed illness, finished the fifth drive and played right tackle for the next three series.
When the starters were pulled, Hill moved to left tackle and continued with the back-ups.
"I feel like Grant really stepped up," Kouandjio said. "He did his thing on the right side and held it down for Shep.
"I feel like we got in a rhythm. We've been having a tougher time lately. We used that as motivation. I feel like we're back on track, but we still have a lot to improve on."
https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1694346
