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    • Can Alabama football win with this offensive line after USF’s struggles?
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    Can Alabama football win with this offensive line after USF’s struggles?

    Vaseline Posted on

    The Alabama American football team’s offensive line has been a major point of focus this season, particularly the battle for right tackle between Elijah Pritchett and Wilkin Formby.

    In Saturday’s 42-16 win over South Florida, the Crimson Tide’s offensive line was once again a flashpoint, but for reasons it would probably rather avoid: penalties. In all, Alabama committed 13 penalties for 120 yards. Of those 13 penalties, eight came from the Crimson Tide’s offensive line, two of which were returned touchdown runs.

    Left guard Geno VanDeMark and right tackle Wilkin Formby each committed three penalties, all holding calls except for a false start call on VanDeMark in the second quarter. VanDeMark’s first holding penalty canceled a 21-yard Jam Miller touchdown run in the first, while a holding call on Formby in the third reversed a 74-yard Jalen Milroe touchdown run.

    Additionally, Alabama’s offensive line allowed four sacks for 20 yards.

    “We weren’t focused on what our responsibility was,” center Parker Brailsford said after the game. “I think that’s why we were a little slow on the court.

    “Just the punishments, the simple things, we have to be more disciplined.”

    Left tackle Kadyn Proctor’s shoulder injury has impacted the Crimson Tide’s starting offensive line rotation early in the season. Proctor initially warmed up for Alabama’s season opener, then left the field shortly after to return to street clothes. The same thing happened against South Florida; Proctor came out in full uniform for warmups, but eventually returned to the field in street clothes to watch from the sidelines.

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    DeBoer later said that Proctor was dealing with a shoulder injury and that it was more of a “day-to-day” situation than a “week-to-week” one.

    In Proctor’s place last week, it was Elijah Pritchett who got the start. Pritchett had initially been manning the left tackle position during fall camp amid Proctor’s transfer to Iowa. With his return to Tuscaloosa, Proctor earned back his starting spot at left tackle, while Pritchett spent the majority of fall camp battling Formby for the starting right tackle spot.

    Pritchett suffered a “little dent” against WKU that forced him to miss practice earlier this week. With that, DeBoer and his staff opted to move Tyler Booker from left guard to left tackle, while VanDeMark was moved to Booker’s typical left guard spot. DeBoer added that Pritchett was “ready to go,” but they opted to keep him sidelined for his health.

    Pritchett eventually saw action during the Alabama-South Florida game, midway through the fourth quarter, as right tackle for Formby.

    Alabama’s offense was able to find a rhythm in the final 10 minutes of the game. Jam Miller and Justice Haynes both ran for touchdowns in the final minutes — Miller’s 56-yard rush and Haynes’ 22-yard run — and ran for more yards than Alabama had run for in the entire first half (34). The change was simple: no penalties.

    Alabama started the fourth quarter with a 14-13 lead and finished the game with a 28-3 score.

    “If we just keep fighting, good things can happen,” DeBoer said. “In the fourth quarter, staying away from the penalties and turnovers, it’s amazing what can happen.”

    Just like last year, despite all the mistakes, Alabama’s offensive line eventually wore South Florida down and took control of the ground game in the final period. This could give the Crimson Tide offense something to build on moving forward, as pass protection and keeping the opponent out of the backfield are paramount.

    “There’s a lot of cleaning up to do,” DeBoer said. “…There’s going to be a lot to learn. I’m excited about the challenge, the opportunity, because that’s what this is. I think you need these types of games.”

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