Alabama’s run game issues might be getting worse before they get better following latest Crimson Tide injury news
Alabama could be without a key piece up front vs. Eastern Illinois.
The Alabama Crimson Tide has struggled to run the football all year. That was never more evident than last week against the Oklahoma Sooners. Alabama was unable to run the ball and put the Sooners away, despite taking a step in the right direction when analyzing the games prior.
That’s how bad it has been for Alabama. The team rushed for 80 yards last week, and it actually looks better than it has in recent weeks. And the effects have been rippling for the Crimson Tide. Not only has Ty Simpson fallen into some bad habits as he tries to play hero ball, but now they may be penalized in the CFP rankings because of it.
Oh, and if they want to get better this week against a lesser opponent, Alabama might have to do it without arguably its best run blocker.
Parker Brailsford status up in the air vs. Eastern Illinois
“He’s a little bit up in the air with where he’s at for this week, just from Saturday,” said HC Kalen DeBoer during his weekly SEC call on Wednesday.
Brailsford, who has started every game at center this year, is not only critical to sorting pass protection and helping Simpson, but he’s the straw that stirs the drink in the run game.
What little movement Alabama has created up front in its power run scheme has been thanks in large part to Brailsford. As for the injury, he was seen in a walking boot after Saturday’s loss to Oklahoma, and we should gain more clarity on the injury as the week goes on.
“I feel like we sustained blocks. I feel like our communication was better. I think there were some running lanes for us to run through, you know, normal down at distances,” added DeBoer. “You know, there was an average. I think that was probably better than pretty much most of the teams that have played Oklahoma. And for us, that was, that was better than what we’ve done the last month, for sure, against a very good defense.”
The issue with Alabama’s run game goes beyond the product on the field. When pressed about the committee’s decision to rank Notre Dame ahead of Alabama, and why Alabama dropped so far after the OU loss, the committee cited the run game.
“Go back and look at Alabama’s game at South Carolina, where they scored two TDs late to win the game. The next game, against LSU, where they won both but didn’t rush the ball for 100 yards. Again, against Oklahoma, was not able to move the ball on the ground,” said CFP Committee Chairman Hunter Yurachek on Tuesday.
Why that is a part of the criteria, as if the committee even has a criteria, is beyond me, but Alabama needs to figure out the ground game nonetheless.
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