DeBoer on Alabama’s Run Game, “I Think There’s Going to be A Lot of Positives”

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The biggest question for the Crimson Tide this offseason was the run game, with the Crimson Tide ranking 15th in the SEC and outside of the top 120 nationally a season ago. On Saturday, in the Crimson Tide's season opener against East Carolina, Alabama rushed 49 times for 227 yards (averaging 4.6 yards per carry) and five touchdowns against the Pirates. Quarterback Keelon Russell led the way with 13 attempts for 86 yards and a score, while starting running back Daniel Hill had nine carries for 47 yards and two scores.

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“I think there’s going to be a lot of positives we’re going to find in it," DeBoer said about Alabama's run game against the Pirates. "I think there’s a physical presence — we’ll be able to, I’m sure, execute better. Some of it is, there was a lot of stuff we had to prepare for, because we didn’t know exactly what we’d see. I think we got that dialed in as the first quarter went along, limiting what we had to tell the guys to be ready for."

Alabama's run game featured two new faces to Crimson Tide fans that they've heard about all offseason: true freshmen EJ Crowell and Trae'shawn Brown. Crowell finished the day with seven attempts for 37 yards and a touchdown, while Brown had seven carries of his own for 15 yards and a score. He also had a 68-yard touchdown run called back due to a holding call on Alabama's offensive line.

"I thought they adapted well, and those guys — I think they had their moments. Good to see EJ on the touchdown get around the edge — break a tackle or two," DeBoer said.

"Trae’shawn, unfortunately, got called back, but he really hit that seam and was gone. I thought that was — you could kind of see what he’s capable of. Maybe a run early that was a negative play — I can’t say that was really on him, that he had much of a chance. Like the way he runs. I think he runs with low pads. Both those guys have good feet in the hole, good balance. They just — good to get out there and get some experience. I can think of an EJ run where TB was blocking for him that could have been a better block, and that could have been a much better play, so that’s something we just got to get better at.”

Brown was a highly anticipated three-star from Huntsville, Texas, who generated significant buzz during fall camp with strong performances in scrimmages. Meanwhile, Crowell is a former five-star signee from Jackson, Alabama, who ran for over 2,600 yards in his final season of high school.

Alabama's rushing attack on Saturday came against one of the most veteran defensive lines that Alabama will face this season, with East Carolina's defensive front featuring several players in their fourth and fifth seasons of college football.

Alabama improves to 1-0 on the season following Saturday's victory. The Crimson Tide's next game will be Saturday, September 12, when Alabama travels to Lexington, Kentucky, for the SEC opener against the Kentucky Wildcats. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT on ABC.

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.