"With Alabama poised to start 5th different O-line combination, can run game keep rolling at LSU?"

[WALL-E]

With Alabama poised to start 5th different O-line combination, can run game keep rolling at LSU?

By Andrew Gribble | agribble@al.com
Published November 06, 2014, 04:43:24 AM

The shuffling just hasn't stopped along the Crimson Tide offensive line. Read more...

[Chechem]

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.

 

[2Stater]

This really is a scary proposition, considering how noisy it's going to be in Death Valley. I hope they have practiced with a lot of noise. Leon Brown, particularly, tends to get happy feet too early. He's done better lately, but the noise level will equal that of the Ole Miss game. we all are familiar with his false starts in that game. I hope he has enough experience now, that it doesn't happen anymore.

LSU has nothing to lose and is at home. I want to see the fire in the belly we showed against TAMU and the first part of the UT game. If we can do that for both halves and play with confidence and poise, we have the potential to blow them out.

Oh yeah, and no turnovers!

[ricky023]

I have to agree with the no turnovers. We have the Punter this year that can flip the field for us. When the play goes south then throw it away and no sack. Trying for that one extra 1/2 yard but make sure to hold the ball cause we can live to play another down. NO, please no short fields. This hurts us when we give the opponent the short field anywhere our 45 inward. RTR!

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