Ryan Grubb Sheds Light on Alabama’s Plan on the Offensive Line

Alabama played a multitude of offensive linemen on Saturday night against the Georgia Bulldogs, and put them in situations they weren't used to, including 360-pound left tackle Kadyn Proctor catching a pass from Ty Simpson before rumbling his way toward the endzone.

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All in all, Alabama played nine offensive linemen on Saturday night:

LT Kadyn Proctor
LT Jackson Lloyd
LG Kam Dewberry
LG Williams Sanders
C Parker Brailsford
RG Geno VanDeMark
RG Jaeden Roberts
RT Wilkin Formby (Also took reps at right guard)
RT Michael Carroll

The offensive line rotation can be both beneficial and hurtful over the course of a season. On one hand, it keeps linemen fresh deep into SEC play. On the other hand, it lacks continuity in both the run and pass game. On Monday, Alabama offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb explained why the Tide continues to rotate linemen so heavily a month into the season.

"Yeah, we’re just still not where we want to be yet," Grubb said. "It’s really that simple. And so I know the gel part, but we also have guys that wear down a little bit, so try to keep guys as fresh as possible, and at the same time find the best five. And for us I think, there’s a little bit too, you don’t know what you got until you get some of those young guys in the game. Michael Carroll’s gotta play Will’s (Sanders), gotta play. And we don’t know how good they are or what they can do until they get in the football game. So we’ve been kind of falling back on that a little bit and seeing–that challenge, that competition, seeing if that can spur a little bit more production."

Part of the offensive line rotation on Saturday saw Michael Carroll, who is listed as the second-team right tackle, in the game for Alabama, and starting right tackle Wilkin Formby line up at right guard for the Crimson Tide. Ryan Grubb also said on Monday that Formby is doing a good job of cross-training at both guard and tackle.

"Yeah, Wilkin obviously has the athleticism to play inside, and the size. So I think there’s a couple things that happen for Wilkin in there, his natural pad-level because he’s got his hand in the dirt, and he’s got a good base and wide frame, so he’s really done a nice job in there. So we keep working on that and expand. As long as he can stay right-handed, playing on the right side, I think the transition for him is easy."

The offensive line rotation is working for Alabama so far this season, but we'll see if it continues to hold up as the Crimson Tide progresses through SEC play.

Alabama will face Vanderbilt on Saturday, October 4, at 2:30 p.m. CT.

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_.