Kelly Ward
On fourth-and-3 on Auburn's 42-yard line in the third quarter against Auburn on Saturday, Alabama was down by 12. The Crimson Tide was 1-for-1 on fourth down already.
The play was simple. It was a pass to wide receiver DeAndrew White. He got three yards.
He wouldn't have without the assistance of offensive lineman Austin Shepherd.
"I was trying to cut the guy," Shepherd said. "I think I kind of tripped a little in the process. It looked pretty bad. I watched the replay at home. I was trying to cut him. We are taught to kick that play out, but I saw the guy coming up behind me. I was just trying to get that guy down because I knew we just needed three yards, and I guess I did it."
Shepherd nearly missed the block, but White isn't giving him any trouble for it.
"Nah. Things happen in the game," White said. "I can't blame him. We got the first down so that's all I can ask for."
On Saturday, Alabama's offensive line will take on a Missouri pass defense that is No. 6 in the conference.
The Tigers have a pair of defensive ends who have combined for 22 sacks this season.
"Those guys, they move pretty good," fullback Jalston Fowler said. "They remind you of (Alabama linebackers) Tim (Williams) and Rashaan (Evans) coming off the edge all the time. You could put those guys, their front four, anywhere and they could just move up really good."
Alabama's offensive line has given up 11 sacks this season. Quarterback Blake Sims has been sacked eight times in 12 games.
"That's all I've heard about, how good their defensive line is," Shepherd said. "And I think he (defensive end Shane Ray) leads the SEC in sacks with about 13 or 14. Biggest thing I look at is who I'm going to play against. Are they a field-
boundary team or do the guys flip and the same guy is on me all the time, who the three technique is or whoever I block with Leon Brown. I just kind of look general and who's around me first."
Ray has 13.5 sacks this season, the most in the SEC. Missouri defensive end Markus Golden has 8.5 sacks and nine quarterback hurries.
"They're a great team," Alabama center Ryan Kelly said. "It's going to be the SEC Championship, so I think our team's really excited. I know we are up front. It's a great challenge for us up front. They've got a great front seven. It'll be a good game."
https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1711434
On fourth-and-3 on Auburn's 42-yard line in the third quarter against Auburn on Saturday, Alabama was down by 12. The Crimson Tide was 1-for-1 on fourth down already.
The play was simple. It was a pass to wide receiver DeAndrew White. He got three yards.
He wouldn't have without the assistance of offensive lineman Austin Shepherd.
"I was trying to cut the guy," Shepherd said. "I think I kind of tripped a little in the process. It looked pretty bad. I watched the replay at home. I was trying to cut him. We are taught to kick that play out, but I saw the guy coming up behind me. I was just trying to get that guy down because I knew we just needed three yards, and I guess I did it."
Shepherd nearly missed the block, but White isn't giving him any trouble for it.
"Nah. Things happen in the game," White said. "I can't blame him. We got the first down so that's all I can ask for."
On Saturday, Alabama's offensive line will take on a Missouri pass defense that is No. 6 in the conference.
The Tigers have a pair of defensive ends who have combined for 22 sacks this season.
"Those guys, they move pretty good," fullback Jalston Fowler said. "They remind you of (Alabama linebackers) Tim (Williams) and Rashaan (Evans) coming off the edge all the time. You could put those guys, their front four, anywhere and they could just move up really good."
Alabama's offensive line has given up 11 sacks this season. Quarterback Blake Sims has been sacked eight times in 12 games.
"That's all I've heard about, how good their defensive line is," Shepherd said. "And I think he (defensive end Shane Ray) leads the SEC in sacks with about 13 or 14. Biggest thing I look at is who I'm going to play against. Are they a field-
boundary team or do the guys flip and the same guy is on me all the time, who the three technique is or whoever I block with Leon Brown. I just kind of look general and who's around me first."
Ray has 13.5 sacks this season, the most in the SEC. Missouri defensive end Markus Golden has 8.5 sacks and nine quarterback hurries.
"They're a great team," Alabama center Ryan Kelly said. "It's going to be the SEC Championship, so I think our team's really excited. I know we are up front. It's a great challenge for us up front. They've got a great front seven. It'll be a good game."
https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1711434
