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Nick Saban details reason behind moves along O-line.
TUSCALOOSA -- Last week in Alabama’s final practices ahead of game week, center Ross Pierschbacher and right guard Bradley Bozeman switched places during the media viewing periods of practice. Only five days away from the Crimson Tide’s season opener against USC, head coach Nick Saban explained the reasoning behind the late-preseason move.
“We’re going to play Bradley at center and Ross at right guard,” Saban said Monday. “It really wasn’t a competition at center, it really was more of what’s the best combination of guys for us to play. That’s kind of how it is.”
Pierschbacher started all 15 games at left guard in Alabama’s title-winning season a year ago and made the transition to center in the spring. On Monday when UA released the team’s depth chart, the redshirt sophomore was listed as the first-team right guard. The move to right guard is Pierschbacher’s third position in two years, but he is fine with whatever happens.
“It’s really whatever the coaches want,” Pierschbacher said. “I told them I’m willing to do whatever it takes for us to put the best unit out there that we can come USC. If that’s best for the team then that’s in my best interest, too.”
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Bozeman, who lined up at right guard most of fall camp, has experience at center, starting two games in 2014, and he will start Saturday’s season opener at the anchor position along the Tide offensive line. Making the move back to center after working at multiple other spots shows the redshirt junior’s flexibility and ability to pick the position back up so quickly.
“He’s done a great job, picked up the slack,” Pierschbacher said. “He’s played center before in the past, filling in for Kelly, I think, two years ago. So he’s done a great job and there’s been no drop-off, so it’s been great to see.”
Despite being at center for most of the offseason, Pierschbacher will now line up a few feet to the right against the Trojans. But, as he said, he learned a lot during his experiment while at center that he will use this year.
Will he make another move, maybe to left tackle? “No, we’re pretty set there,” Pierschbacher said with a smile.
“I enjoyed leading the offensive line and stuff like that,” he said. “I think I’m still in that position, just in a different role now and have other leads step up as well, which will only benefit this offensive line.”
TUSCALOOSA -- Last week in Alabama’s final practices ahead of game week, center Ross Pierschbacher and right guard Bradley Bozeman switched places during the media viewing periods of practice. Only five days away from the Crimson Tide’s season opener against USC, head coach Nick Saban explained the reasoning behind the late-preseason move.
“We’re going to play Bradley at center and Ross at right guard,” Saban said Monday. “It really wasn’t a competition at center, it really was more of what’s the best combination of guys for us to play. That’s kind of how it is.”
Pierschbacher started all 15 games at left guard in Alabama’s title-winning season a year ago and made the transition to center in the spring. On Monday when UA released the team’s depth chart, the redshirt sophomore was listed as the first-team right guard. The move to right guard is Pierschbacher’s third position in two years, but he is fine with whatever happens.
“It’s really whatever the coaches want,” Pierschbacher said. “I told them I’m willing to do whatever it takes for us to put the best unit out there that we can come USC. If that’s best for the team then that’s in my best interest, too.”
(What's the latest in Tide camp? Make sure you know by signing up for our FREE Alabama newsletter!)
Bozeman, who lined up at right guard most of fall camp, has experience at center, starting two games in 2014, and he will start Saturday’s season opener at the anchor position along the Tide offensive line. Making the move back to center after working at multiple other spots shows the redshirt junior’s flexibility and ability to pick the position back up so quickly.
“He’s done a great job, picked up the slack,” Pierschbacher said. “He’s played center before in the past, filling in for Kelly, I think, two years ago. So he’s done a great job and there’s been no drop-off, so it’s been great to see.”
Despite being at center for most of the offseason, Pierschbacher will now line up a few feet to the right against the Trojans. But, as he said, he learned a lot during his experiment while at center that he will use this year.
Will he make another move, maybe to left tackle? “No, we’re pretty set there,” Pierschbacher said with a smile.
“I enjoyed leading the offensive line and stuff like that,” he said. “I think I’m still in that position, just in a different role now and have other leads step up as well, which will only benefit this offensive line.”
