TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Nick Saban delivered a challenge to Alabama’s offensive linemen before the game against Texas A&M.
The group was coming off a demoralizing performance against Arkansas when it played without injured center Ryan Kelly and couldn’t open many holes for the running backs and allowed a couple of sacks.
“I said, ‘You guys are starting to feel the pressure, being criticized and not being the Sergeant at Arms that we need you to be in terms of how you control the line of scrimmage, how you dominate the line of scrimmage,’ ” Saban said after the game. ” ‘None of the other the guys are going to make any plays unless you guys do that. And I believe in you. I trust in you.’ ”
The big men delivered for then-No. 7 Alabama (6-1, 3-1 Southeastern Conference) on both sides of the ball in a 59-0 victory against then-No. 21 Texas A&M. Alabama dominated like so many of the program’s best teams. Texas A&M couldn’t run or stop the run, two areas where Tennessee, No. 4 Alabama’s opponent Saturday, has struggled.
Against Texas A&M, the offensive line protected quarterback Blake Sims and powered the way for a running game that produced 298 yards, a week after Arkansas limited Alabama to 66 yards rushing.
“That’s the most I’ve seen them dominate this year,” Alabama fullback Jalston Fowler said. “We just talked to them the whole week and told them we just need them to play for us and the team. We want those guys to be the best up front. And like coach Saban says, it all starts up front.”
The group had come under some fire, and right tackle Austin Shepherd said the Arkansas game was the line’s worst performance of the season. Kelly returns to center against Tennessee (3-4, 0-3), which has been solid on the defensive front despite replacing the whole starting line.
Saban said Shepherd will be limited for a day or two in practice with a leg injury sustained against Texas A&M.
“They’re big, they’re physical up front, a very typical Alabama offensive line,” Tennessee coach Butch Jones said. “I think they’re playing to the strengths of their players. They did a lot of quick screens, a lot of dual packages where you have the run and the pass option off of it. I think they’re doing a great job.”
Alabama’s defensive front, meanwhile, kept up its strong play that has powered the nation’s No. 2 run defense. Alabama brought down the quarterbacks six times and had eight players credited for at least a share of sack.
“The defensive line before the game was very confident and enthused, and if we keep being enthused by everything we do, I think the sky is the limit for us,” Alabama linebacker Reggie Ragland said, “especially for those guys up front. Those guys are the reason we won the game because they were getting to the quarterback and doing their job.”
That group could present a big challenge for Tennessee. The Volunteers’ offensive line has two freshman starters and allowed 18 sacks in the past three games. Guard Marcus Jackson, offensive tackle Coleman Thomas, and quarterback Justin Worley were knocked out of the game against Ole Miss, but Jones anticipates all three will be able to play Saturday.
The only Football Bowl Subdivision team to give up more sacks than Tennessee’s 30 is SMU (34).
Alabama’s pass rush has been a strength of the team. Linebacker Xzavier Dickson has five and a half of the team’s 19 sacks.
“Their offensive line, in my mind, is very capable of being effective,” Saban said. “I think the thing we need to do is focus on what we need to do to dominate the line of scrimmage and try to affect the quarterback in a way that will not allow them to make the plays with the really good skill players that they have.”
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