Alabama 2014 Position Preview: Offensive Line
As we inch closer to the 2014 Alabama football season, it’s time to take a look at each and every position on the Crimson Tide squad, breaking down man-to-man what we can expect and look forward to this year.
Previous Previews:
Offensive Line
Key Departures: Cyrus Kouandjio (NFL Draft), Anthony Steen (graduation), Chad Lindsay (transfer)
Key Additions: Dominick Jackson (transfer), Cameron Robinson (freshman)
Returning Players: Bradley Bozeman, Leon Brown, Brandon Greene, Brandon Hill, Grant Hill, Ryan Kelly, Arie Kouandjio, Isaac Luatua, Cole Mazza, Austin Shepherd, Alphonse Taylor, Paul Waldrop
Breakthrough Players to Watch: Cameron Robinson, Dominick Jackson
Alabama once again has big holes to fill across the offensive line. With two All-Americans gone from the 2013 offensive line – offensive tackle Cyrus Kouandjio and offensive guard Anthony Steen – the anchors of this line will be a duo of juniors in guard Arie Kouandjio and tackle Austin Shepherd, along with junior center Ryan Kelly.
Kouandjio is a power blocker that excels in the running game but has struggled with penalties like false starts, leading some to question his mental makeup. With a full year starting under his belt, a much more consistent Kouandjio should be the type of player we see in 2014.
Next to him at center is Ryan Kelly, who may actually be the most consistent player on the line. The junior missed significant time last season with injuries, so that will be something that Alabama will need to watch for, considering his solid backup Chad Lindsay transferred in the offseason.
Austin Shepherd has turned into a very solid and consistent right tackle, and though he will likely get a shot at winning the left guard spot vacated by Cyrus Kouandjio, he is probably best suited at right guard.
Freshman Cameron Robinson came in during the spring and was given a shot at winning the left guard spot and struggled at times. The experience in the spring will give him a big boost coming into the fall. He will need it, with massive JUCO transfer Dominick Jackson coming in.
More than likely, Jackson and Robinson will battle it out for the other tackle spot opposite of Shepherd. The Alabama coaches seem to be confident that Robinson is a star of the future, but Saban does not go after junior college players he doesn’t think will be able to play and potentially start right away. Give the edge to Jackson in this battle.
The guard spot vacated by Anthony Steen will more than likely be taken by senior Leon Brown, who played several positions across the line last year, but excelled at the end of the season playing at guard. He or anyone else that takes this spot has some big shoes to fill.
Alphonse Taylor, Brandon Hill, Grant Hill, and Brandon Greene are all younger players that have played at multiple spots, and shouldn’t be ruled out either at any of the open positions. Grant Hill played a lot as a freshman and could very well end up at either tackle or guard, and will likely compete at both spots during the fall.
Expect the lineup to end up as Dominick Jackson and Austin Shepherd at the two tackle spots, Arie Kouandjio and Leon Brown at the two guard positions, and Ryan Kelly returning to his center position. Regardless, true freshman Cameron Robinson will see playing time throughout the year, much like Cyrus Kouandjio did as a true freshman.
With the return of the I-formation to the Alabama offense, it is very clear that Lane Kiffin and Nick Saban are looking to bring back that physical, straight-ahead running style we have grown accustomed to under Saban at Alabama.
For an in-depth look at all the position battles for the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2014, download our 2014 Alabama Football Viewing Guide.