🏈 Rebuilt offensive line beginning to take shape for Tide

[BAMANEWSBOT]

Alabama’s playmakers aren’t the only members of the offense that underwent an overhaul this offseason.

The offensive line also is breaking in three new starters, a transition that began this spring after several multi-year veterans graduated.

The new starters aren’t necessarily newcomers. And then there are two returning starters — senior center Ryan Kelly and sophomore left tackle Cam Robinson — to provide veteran leadership. Alabama’s offensive line spent the 15 spring practices working to build continuity among the five starters while adjusting on the fly to a potential shift to more of a no-huddle offensive approach. And although coach Nick Saban is quick to remind people the team has yet to establish an actual two-deep depth chart, it became evident within two weeks of spring how Alabama’s front line could shape out next season.

Projected Fall 2015 depth chart
Left tackle

Starter: Cam Robinson, sophomore

Backup: Korren Kirven, junior

Left guard
Starter: Ross Pierschbacher, redshirt freshman

Backup: Alphonse Taylor, junior

Center
Starter: Ryan Kelly, senior

Backup: J.C. Hassenauer, sophomore

Right guard
Starter: Bradley Bozeman, sophomore

Backup: Isaac Luatua, senior

Right tackle
Starter: Dominick Jackson, senior

Backup: Brandon Greene, junior

The rest: Josh Casher, redshirt freshman; Will Davis, junior; Grant Hill, junior; Brandon Kennedy, freshman; Chris Posa, junior; Andre Sims, junior; Dallas Warmack, freshman.

Newcomers: Lester Cotton, freshman; Richie Petitibon, freshman; Matt Womack, freshman.

Overview
Kelly is a three-year starter and widely considered the unquestioned captain on the line, while Robinson is perhaps one of the most gifted offensive line prospects to come through Alabama in some time, starting at left tackle by the first of last season. If only the rest of the new starters have as smooth a transition. Sliding in at right tackle is junior college transfer Dominick Jackson, who worked behind Austin Shepherd at right tackle last season and takes over the job now as a senior. Of course, Alabama isn’t without its youth and inexperience with sophomore Bradley Bozeman and redshirt freshman Ross Pierschbacher at right and left guard, respectively.

Question: What is going on with former four-star prospect Grant Hill? Hill wasn’t with the team this spring while dealing with an unspecified medical issue. He was believed to be a serious contender as a backup guard in his third year on campus, but Saban hasn’t been willing to disclose the root of Hill’s absence and it is unclear when — if at all — Hill might return.

Unknown: While it appears the first team offensive line appears set, whenever there’s turnover, there’s always opportunity for a shakeup or two. Junior guard Alphonse Taylor has been on the precipice of starting for the past few seasons and even opened spring with the first-team at left guard. And while it’s unlikely given most programs like to redshirt offensive linemen, don’t overlook four-star prospects Lester Cotton of nearby Central High School and Richie Petitibon of Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) High, the fourth and fifth-ranked guards in the 2015 class according to 247Sports.com.

Quotable
“So for us as an offensive line, and talking to coach Saban, the great teams that we’ve ever had here had great offensive lines. So that’s got to be the pillar of what we do as this offensive line. Because the five of us working in unity, brings everybody else up. So obviously with no-huddle it’s a little more challenging. But we’re up for it.” — Ryan Kelly, Alabama senior center


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[TerryP]

@uagrad93 This seems more inline with how I'm seeing the OL shaking out for the beginning of fall camp. It's certainly better than the one we talked about a week, or two, ago.

That said, IL at RG is the one that jumps out to me here: gut says it's Warmack.

 

[UAgrad93]

@TerryP this group just needs to gel. I really don't care which 5 are out there, just a healthy, cohesive 5 that are going to protect our QB and open holes for our backs. IL at RG is a headscratcher since he really hasn't made a move and cracked the starting rotation yet. I hope the light has turned on for DJ at RT as well. We have heard about his run blocking exploits, now lets see what comes about in pass pro.