The Alabama offensive line that arrived at Death Valley two years ago was seasoned, loaded with NFL-caliber players and seemingly getting better with each passing game. Most importantly, the group played together in each of the previous eight games. It'd go on to play the final six together, too.
"You look at college football and there are injuries all the time. Seeing those guys play together for 14 games was great," Alabama center Ryan Kelly said Wednesday. "They were all great guys and I still stay in touch with them to this day. That kind of helped us younger guys. It set the bar for what Alabama offensive line means."
...Last year, Alabama adjusted on the fly when Kelly missed a combined four games with knee problems and right guard Anthony Steen missed a couple for his injuries. This year, there's been even more shuffling, as another Kelly knee injury and inconsistency at right guard has led to constant tweaks.
If freshman left tackle Cam Robinson is unable to play Saturday at LSU, Alabama likely will use its fifth different starting arrangement of the season on the offensive line.
"There are always moving pieces," Kelly said. "There are always guys moving to different positions. I hate to say it's business as usual, but we have a lot of guys playing different positions. Just keep working every week. The best five will be out there Saturday."
Without Robinson, the best five likely will require right tackle Austin Shepherd to make his first career start at left tackle. Sophomore Grant Hill, who saw some work with the first-team offensive line when Shepherd went down with an injury against Texas A&M, is anticipated to start at right tackle.
That double switch differs from the one Alabama used against Tennessee when Robinson suffered his high ankle sprain. Right guard Leon Brown, who seems to have solidified his hold on the job after a rocky start to the season, filled in at left tackle while redshirt freshman Bradley Bozeman, who started two games at center last month, took over at right guard...
The O-line injuries receive little attention, but were critical in the loss to Ole Miss this year and were central in the difficulties of the running game late last season. Let's hope these guys can stay healthy and plow open holes in the LSU front on Saturday night.