Alabama football’s report card vs. the Florida Gators

Alabama football’s report card vs. Florida Gators

Offensive Line: C

This year, the Tide’s offensive line has been questionable. They’ve made some good plays, but Alabama still hasn’t fully decided what the starting group is. Chris Owens has moved around, and it has hurt the team’s ability to gel as a unit.

Going into a hostile environment, it was crucial for the O-line to take a step forward. Not only did they need to protect Bryce Young against an aggressive defensive front, but they also had to avoid the mental errors that come with playing in a hostile environment. Gainesville was loud, and it’s easy for offensive linemen to commit penalties or miss assignments.

That’s exactly what happened in Gainesville. There were too many missed assignments and false starts. That can’t continue against even better defenses.

Defensive Line: C+

With injuries at outside linebacker, it became even more crucial for the defensive line to step up. They dictate the line of scrimmage, and that was harder to do against an SEC opponent.

Thankfully, Alabama football has depth for every situation. They have big guys for run-specific scenarios. They have players who can rush the passer from the interior. They have hybrids that can be used in a variety of situations. The flexibility of the defensive front is impressive, and it has been a strength all season.

The depth was a key in this game, and the defensive line stepped up in key places. However, they were unable to stop the run game despite Florida being mostly one-dimensional. This wasn’t a great game. It was solid, but it wasn’t elite. Alabama football expects elite.