August 14, 2015
Ben Jones
TideSports.com Staff Writer
The first job for the University of Alabama's offensive line isn't to worry about opening holes or making room for a running back. The linemen's first job, head coach Nick Saban said, is to manhandle the men in front of them.
"What we would like for this offensive line to be, not just this offensive line but every offensive line, is to be very physical on the line of scrimmage, be able to create movement and play with a relentless tenacity and toughness that makes it more difficult for the defensive front that they're playing against and have a mentality that we're going to wear these people down because of how physical we can play," Saban said.
Saban said there are "other things that are important," like pass protection and playing as a unit. But the first goal is to keep their eyes on the defensive front.
"We don't think about what's behind us too much," sophomore Cam Robinson said. "We know we have great backs. If we do what we do and what we're coached to do, block our assignments the right way, we know we have great backs and they're going to find a way to find the hole and make the play."
The Crimson Tide is still trying to find the players to make those holes. Robinson has a lock on left tackle and senior Ryan Kelly is a reliable presence at center, but the other three positions will see competition this August. Redshirt freshman Ross Pierschbacher and sophomore Bradley Bozeman have taken most of the snaps at left and right guard, respectively, during the open portions of practice. Senior Dominick Jackson has been working with the first string at right tackle.
Other players have gotten their chances as well. Bozeman said eight or nine players rotated through with the first team in the opening days of fall camp as the group searches for the right combination of players. That's normal for this time of year, Bozeman said.
That's one Saban's other directives for the line in fall camp. Once the players have found their positions, they'll have to learn to play with each other as well as within themselves.
"This is something that has to develop, first of all with getting the best players in the best positions to do it," Saban said. "Secondly, those players playing with one another so that they can have the kind of continuity to communicate and do the things they need to do together as a unit to be effective."
If the line does its job, the defense will be feeling the effects. Robinson, Kelly and the rest of them can worry about what's behind them later. To start with, they're looking ahead.
"We first have to take care of the line of scrimmage," Bozeman said. "What comes after that is up to the backs. We make holes, and they just have to hit them. Just trying to move the defense off the line and keep rolling."
- See more at: https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1792301#sthash.3kD6E1M4.dpuf
Ben Jones
TideSports.com Staff Writer
The first job for the University of Alabama's offensive line isn't to worry about opening holes or making room for a running back. The linemen's first job, head coach Nick Saban said, is to manhandle the men in front of them.
"What we would like for this offensive line to be, not just this offensive line but every offensive line, is to be very physical on the line of scrimmage, be able to create movement and play with a relentless tenacity and toughness that makes it more difficult for the defensive front that they're playing against and have a mentality that we're going to wear these people down because of how physical we can play," Saban said.
Saban said there are "other things that are important," like pass protection and playing as a unit. But the first goal is to keep their eyes on the defensive front.
"We don't think about what's behind us too much," sophomore Cam Robinson said. "We know we have great backs. If we do what we do and what we're coached to do, block our assignments the right way, we know we have great backs and they're going to find a way to find the hole and make the play."
The Crimson Tide is still trying to find the players to make those holes. Robinson has a lock on left tackle and senior Ryan Kelly is a reliable presence at center, but the other three positions will see competition this August. Redshirt freshman Ross Pierschbacher and sophomore Bradley Bozeman have taken most of the snaps at left and right guard, respectively, during the open portions of practice. Senior Dominick Jackson has been working with the first string at right tackle.
Other players have gotten their chances as well. Bozeman said eight or nine players rotated through with the first team in the opening days of fall camp as the group searches for the right combination of players. That's normal for this time of year, Bozeman said.
That's one Saban's other directives for the line in fall camp. Once the players have found their positions, they'll have to learn to play with each other as well as within themselves.
"This is something that has to develop, first of all with getting the best players in the best positions to do it," Saban said. "Secondly, those players playing with one another so that they can have the kind of continuity to communicate and do the things they need to do together as a unit to be effective."
If the line does its job, the defense will be feeling the effects. Robinson, Kelly and the rest of them can worry about what's behind them later. To start with, they're looking ahead.
"We first have to take care of the line of scrimmage," Bozeman said. "What comes after that is up to the backs. We make holes, and they just have to hit them. Just trying to move the defense off the line and keep rolling."
- See more at: https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1792301#sthash.3kD6E1M4.dpuf
