Former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback A.J. McCarron proves that an under-the-radar offensive hire will pay dividends in 2026
A.J. McCarron is fired up about the Alabama Crimson Tide’s big offseason hire.
The Alabama Crimson Tide has undergone a total makeover on offense. The offensive line has been reconstructed from the ground up with heavy-hitter additions from the transfer portal, and we know that either Keelon Russell or Austin Mack will be starting at quarterback in 2026.
But amid all of the additions up front, there was concern that Alabama didn’t have the right man leading that group. Kalen DeBoer and the staff acknowledged that concern when they hired Adrian Klemm to be the new offensive line coach. But should fans of the Crimson Tide really be bullish about the hire? Former Alabama national champion quarterback AJ McCarron thinks so.
A.J. McCarron is bullish on Adrian Klemm hire in Tuscaloosa
Whether it was with the Oregon Ducks or the Pittsburgh Steelers, one thing is certain about the units Klemm coaches: they protect the quarterback. The Ducks had the fewest sacks in the nation in 2022, and the Steelers had the fewest sacks in the NFL in 2020.
But what about the run game? You know the aspect where the Crimson Tide finished second-to-last in the SEC in terms of rush yards per game? Well, run blocking starts and ends with toughness. With the right mentality. A mentality that McCarron believes will be brought to Tuscaloosa through Klemm.
“He’s completely different from the past,” McCarron said via his podcast The Dynasty, on YouTube. “I think that is key for this team moving forward, this O-line moving forward, from a sense of, he’s not as polite-mannered as you recently just had. He has a great resume.”
“There’s a ton of guys out there in the coaching world that respect the hell out of him and talk about how great of a coach he is, how he gets after the players. He demands a certain level of play, a certain level of nastiness in that play. So, that’s awesome to hear because I think that’s truly something we’ve been missing up front for a couple years now.”
That’s exactly what Alabama needs up front. You can tell that the smashmouth aspect of play was missing in 2025, and even in 2024, despite the dual threat capabilities of Jalen Milroe. With a 5-star in the backfield and a new offensive line in front of him, we may see the best version of offense yet under Kalen DeBoer.
Alabama Crimson Tide News
Jalen Milroe defies the odds to become the first former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback to make NFL history in the Super Bowl
Jalen Milroe is now one of one in Alabama.
