One of the most frustrating parts about last season for Alabama was the Crimson Tide's inability to run the football effectively. While much of the team proved to be playoff-caliber, a severely limited rushing attack ended up being this team's Achilles' heel. Now entering year three of the Kalen DeBoer era, Alabama must find an identity fast in the ground game to not lose any more ground in the SEC.
While Josh Pate does believe Alabama could forge it, he is dubious of their chances of finding it...
"We all watched Alabama last year, and I think we all agree Alabama looked a little down physically, couldn't run the ball, and struggled to stop the run at times. Not terrible, but just not great. Defensively overall, they're pretty good, but can they find it? People talk about physicality and toughness like it's an Easter egg. Like, you just go search for it, and once you find it, you got it. It's a lifestyle. It's not an Easter egg. It's a lifestyle. You have to live it."
Pate continued on by saying that talent was not the issue for Alabama's struggles last season.
"And so the question is not are they gonna find it, the question is are they living it? Are they living in an environment? Are they creating a culture? Do they have a DNA that exhibits that toughness? You don't find it. You don't, you just have it. You develop it. You live it. It isn't a talent thing either because there are far less talented teams than Alabama that were far better running the ball than Alabama last year."
He then found a temporary remedy for what plagues the Crimson Tide. That would be the RPO game.
"Now I do think with Alabama, the element of the RPO in their offense this year is gonna be a game-changer for them, regardless of who starts at quarterback, but especially if it's Keelon Russell, the element of the RPO is going to open up their ground game. I think they will be very, very much improved running the ball this year just because of that. And so that's one thing, and a lot works off of that, but there's no shortage of effort."
Here is what Pate said on Sunday's episode. The Alabama comments come in at around 56 minutes...
Even if Pate was hypercritical of DeBoer's football culture, Keelon Russell or Austin Mack can fix this.
Alabama can turn around its ground game issues with the help of the RPO
As Alabama does its part to revamp its running back room on the recruiting trails, Pate is absolutely right in that great dual-threat quarterback play could be huge for this team. Jalen Milroe's threat to tuck it and run made this offense much harder to defend during his two seasons as the starter from 2023-24. While Ty Simpson could really sling it, he was not known for his abilities to run with the ball.
With Mack and Russell duking it out to be this year's starting quarterback, their inherent dual-threat playmaking abilities could help offset some deficiencies in the trenches, as well as in the running back room. Pate made it a point to say Russell could be the one to really make things happen from a ground-game standpoint. Mack has the physicality to be a punishing runner if he needs to be as well.
Overall, having a mobile quarterback is even more paramount for DeBoer's Crimson Tide teams moving forward. While last year's team made the playoff and the 2024-25 team did not, the lack of a ground game is why Alabama was no match vs. a well-rounded team like Indiana in the Rose Bowl. Simpson may have gone on to be a first-round pick, but Milroe covered up more while in Tuscaloosa.
Read more: Paul Finebaum sees right through Kalen DeBoer’s Alabama QB smokescreen
Ultimately, DeBoer, offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, and whoever ends up winning the starting quarterback job for Alabama all have to get on the same page right away. They have to agree that QB1's legs need to be a vibrant part of this offense. It cannot be as one-dimensional as it was a season ago. Pate does not think it will be, but the great passing game cannot take a step back either.
As long as Alabama is willing to put in the work, it can forged whatever it wants, instead of finding it.
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