Alabama Crimson Tide fans are hoping one offensive flaw can be improved during the bye week. Alabama's glaring weakness is its 'traditional' run game. Traditional is defined as rushes by running backs after a handoff or pitch from a quarterback. Lack of production from such plays came close to turning a win over South Carolina into a loss.
Before playing Alabama, the Gamecocks were near the bottom of the SEC in rushing, yards-per-carry allowed. Their success against the Crimson Tide pushed South Carolina's average down to 3.88 yards per carry. The average ranks the Gamecocks No. 11 among SEC teams. Alabama is ranked No. 14 in the same stat, but Kane Wommack's defense was mostly effective in rush defense against South Carolina.
In sack-adjusted rushing yards against South Carolina, the Crimson Tide rushed for an average of 3.9 y.p.c.. The stat is misleading. In traditional running plays, Jam Miller and Daniel Hill rushed 13 times against the Gamecocks and produced 36 yards; a 2.77 y.p.c. average.
The lack of rushing success is not on the Tide's running backs but on Alabama's offensive line. Holes on the interior for the running backs to attack were rare. Miller's longest run went for seven yards. Hill's longest was 11 yards. Take away this two run and the Tide's running back averaged 1.64 y.p.c. on 11 rushes.
Three SEC football teams allow a less than three yards per carry average. Alabama plays two of them in the coming weeks: Oklahoma is allowing an average of 2.58 yards, and Auburn is allowing 2.49 yards.
Against the Sooners and the Tigers, even against LSU, Alabama cannot become too pass-heavy predictable by abandoning interior runs. The best approach might be fewer interior runs called on first downs. Another approach already being used effectively by Ryan Grubb is getting receivers involved in Alabama's rushing attack. Effective use has also been made of running back screens. Daniel Hill had the Tide's most receiving yards against South Carolina, four catches for 76 yards.
Alabama also tried Kadyn Proctor up the middle against the Gamecocks. The play was blown up in the Tide's backfield. The failure was a blocking failure and not the fault of Proctor, but making the 369-pounder run 5-7 yards to reach the line of scrimmage is a big ask.
Can the Alabama Crimson Tide fix its traditional run game?
Alabama fans hope a fix is implemented this week and produces against LSU. Reality may limit much progress. It is unusual for any team to correct a serious flaw this late in a season. There are limits to what Kalen DeBoer and Ryan Grubb can successfully scheme if the offensive line only inconsistently gets enough push and too often fails to open holes.
Alabama's running game problems are more than a hindrance. But if the defense continues to improve and Ty Simpson starts connecting on long passes, the lack of dependable 'ground and pound' plays may not be fatal to championship aspirations.