2015 Alabama Crimson Tide Position by Position Breakdown
Apr 18, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide offensive line during the A-day game at Bryant Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
OFFENSIVE LINE
– Key Departures: Arie Kouandjio (graduation), Austin Shepherd (graduation), Leon Brown (graduation), Paul Waldrop (left team)
– Key Returners: Cam Robinson (sophomore), Alphonse Taylor (junior), Ross Pierschabcher (freshman), Isaac Luatua (senior), Ryan Kelly (senior), Dominick Jackson (senior), Bradley Bozeman (sophomore), Josh Casher (freshman), Grant Hill (junior)
– Key Newcomers: Dallas Warmack (true freshman)
One of the biggest question marks on the Alabama football team heading into 2015 is the offensive line with a ton of experience graduating last year with Arie Kouandjio, Austin Shepherd, and Leon Brown all gone. The 2014 offensive line, however, was nowhere near the dominant group that Alabama fans and coaches have come to expect from the Tide. At times the mental mistakes the group made were maddening and those mistakes led to a QB having to run for his life and few holes for the runners at times.
Despite the departures there still is a ton of depth and talent across the Alabama offensive line. The leader of the group is senior center Ryan Kelly who is probably the most consistent member of the group and the unquestioned verbal leader. The best player on the line is sophomore Cam Robinson though. The young monster was a Freshman All American and started all 14 games as a freshman. He still made some freshman mistakes but his upside is incredible and if he continues to improve in the way that is expected he will surely be a future first round draft pick.
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Grant Hill is one of the most versatile players on the line but he is also one of the biggest question marks. He missed much of 2014 with an undisclosed illness and he missed all of the spring for a sickness that the Alabama coaches did not reveal as well. If Hill is able to get his health where it needs to be he could very well make a push for one of the guard spots. Otherwise the mauling run blocking duo of Bradley Bozeman and Ross Pierschbacher will handle the guard spots. Both are tough, strong run blockers with a sure mean streak.
Playing opposite of Robinson at the other tackle spot will be junior college transfer Dominick Jackson who is one of the strongest players on the team and an absolute monster in the run game. He played in a triple option offense in JUCO so pass blocking was almost a new concept for him when he transferred to Alabama last year. He struggled with that aspect of the game last year but he has made massive strides in that department heading into the fall.
Run blocking should unquestionably be the strong point of this line and could be reminiscent of the pure maulers the 2012 team had across the line with guys like Chance Warmarck and DJ Fluker. The unit still needs to gel together and work on pass blocking so that whoever is in at QB doesn’t have to run for his life like Sims had to at times last season.