Alabama Football: Have offensive line woes been resolved?

Alabama football fans had the unpleasant and unfamiliar experience of watching poor offensive line play for much of 2021. Bama was uncharacteristically average in terms of running the ball. This was bizarre to watch, considering the program was built by being a perennial juggernaut on the ground.

While a misfortunate streak of critical injuries that ravaged the running back room was partially to blame, there were still far too many run plays in which the line was pushed into the backfield or unable to create holes.

Additionally, the line struggled to protect quarterback Bryce Young. Alabama quarterbacks were sacked 42 times (106th nationally), and Young was pressured incessantly. For reference, the 2020 offensive line allowed only 19 sacks.

It goes without saying that Bryce Young is extremely valuable to this team, and his diminutive stature makes pass blocking that much more important. The 2022 offensive line unit will have to show drastic improvement in this category, and it will have the opportunity to do so under new leadership.

Shortly after the conclusion of the 2021 season, Alabama football parted ways with offensive line coach Doug Marrone, who did not impress fans much in his first and only season in Tuscaloosa.