Alabama football fans notice miscues on the offensive line but solid performance too often goes unrecognized. Don’t underestimate Matt Womack.
The offensive line story most noticed from the latest Alabama football national championship has been Alex Leatherwood filling in for an injured Jonah Williams at left tackle. The Leatherwood story is a good one. The true freshman played most of the second half after Williams was hurt. He played well though not without mistakes.
Leatherwood was badly beaten on the Tide’s first offensive play of overtime. The result was second-and-26. He held off his man on the next play as Tua and Devonta Smith made history. The Crimson Tide survived the loss of Williams because Leatherwood’s mistakes in technique are often overcome by his athletic ability.
Comparing Williams, Leatherwood and Matt Womack, Womack is the least athletically blessed. For that reason and also because Leatherwood was a 5-Star while Womack was only a 3-Star, most Alabama football fans expect Womack to lose his right tackle starting role. Don’t be surprised when that does not happen.
There are multiple reasons why. The most important one is Matt Womack is much better than many fans believe him to be. While he had some problems with edge rushers, that issue has been exaggerated. Check out these 2017 game performances from rolltide.com.
Matt Womack 2017 highlights
- In Womack’s second start against Fresno State, he graded out at 90 percent; no penalties; no sacks or QB hurries; three knockdown blocks. Named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week and the Tide coaches named him Offensive Player of the Week.
- Colorado State Womack’s performance was four knockdowns; no sacks; no QB hurries; no penalties.
- Vanderbilt – five knockdowns and no sacks; graded out at 93 percent
- Ole Miss – two knockdowns, no sacks, graded 85 percent
- Arkansas – two knockdowns; no sacks; graded 86 percent
- Tennessee – one knockdown; no sacks; no QB hurries
- Mississippi State – no sacks; no QB hurries
- Auburn – no sacks; no penalties
- Clemson – graded 90 percent
- Georgia – no sacks; no penalties
In his first season as a starter, Matt Womack played well. Well enough he will be difficult to beat out in 2018 fall camp. Leatherwood may surpass Womack at some point but just as Alex improves over last season, so should Matt.
Two more reasons for Womack to start at right tackle
There are two more reasons Womack is the best bet to start at right tackle against Louisville. As a run blocker, Womack is a force and as effective as Leatherwood. When performance is relatively equal, Nick Saban will choose more experience over less experience.
The last reason is why Womack will not move to guard. He is 6-foot-seven. Tua is maybe a shade over six-feet. Guards that much taller than their QB, block too much of the quarterback’s vision of the middle of the field on pass plays. The height obstruction also limits Leatherwood moving to guard at six-foot-six. Lester Cotton and Jedrick Wills at six-feet-four are better suited to play guard in front of Tua.
Next: Five reasons the Tide might not win it all in '18
Alex may beat out Matt at some point in 2018. If it happens, it will not be because Matt Womack is not a good football player. It will be because Alex Leatherwood has become a better one.