Getting stoked for football season. The energy in the building seems calmly excited.

I think the success or failure will all depend on the offensive line.

I expect the Quarterback to be good enough, the WR's to be good enough, and the defense to be good enough.

Bad line and we're playoff bubble. Good line and we're among the title favorites in mid october

quote:

---

Hes made multiple comments this offseason about the portal additions.

---

I think some of the additions on the DL and LB are going to be borderline all-sec level players even if they arent splashy in terms of stats.

Offensively itll come down to OL and QB. This offense doesnt work without quality QB play and even if we get it we wont be championship level if we cant improve our running game to competent/complementary to keep defenses honest.

Theres plenty of reasons for optimism but we havent had this many questions or churn since at least 2007.

QB-New
RB-New
TE-New
OL-80% churn
DL-New
Edge - Elite returning
LB: New
CB: Elite returning
S: Elite returning

Loading Twitter/X Embed...
If tweet fails to load, click here.

It’s time

Aside from injuries, Offensive line play is hands down the #1 factor. If the O line can consistently be at least "pretty good" (If I was giving a grade of "A" to "F", if they can be at least a B-), this will tell the tale of just how improved this team is.

To me, I always think of something Coach Bryant used to say, "If you can't consistently pick up 1-2 yards, you probably deserve to lose". Seemed like there were way too many times last year where Bama desperately needed 1-2 yards for either a score or first down and we either got stuffed for no gain or a loss OR we got it but had to resort to some gadget play or finesse play.

I'm sorry but there are times where we need to just line up in a 2 or maybe even a 3 TE set and just play smash mouth for the 1 yard. No more cuteness. I'm cautiously optimistic that Grubb has learned this and that Adrian Klemm will get more out of this O line.

Offensive line is the only thing that matters. We are good enough at every other position group to be a national champ. We just need a mediocre O line. Not great, just mediocre.

my first thought is, can the oline play be any worse than it was? i agree with the thought that the season rests on the oline. also, if i remember, grubb killed as many drives with his playcalls as did the bad execution. he has to be better.

quote:

---

can the oline play be any worse than it was?

---

Yes. They can stay the same at run blocking but turn into South Carolina in pass protection. Pass protection wasn't elite last season, but it wasn't the unmitigated disaster that the run blocking was.

quote:

---

Washington rant the ball for 4.3 ypc in 2023 and we only averaged 3.5

If we can just get that extra yard it will be 4-5 extra first downs a game running the ball.

---

I went back and looked at the Washington's running back coach Lee Marks. I'm not sure why he didn't come Kalen or if Kalen hired Gillespie over him to have someone familiar with the program.

Marks and Scott Huff attended Boise State University at different times, but coach there at the same time.

Marks was running back coach at Memphis the last couple of years with Arkansas new coach at Memphis. Now he's at Oregon state with Coach Shepherd.

I hope the bad run game was more on the previous O-line coaches than Gillespie. Hopefully Gillespie and Kleem can jell together.

I do think the Rb's look fast in drills and watching Gillespie dropping an f-bomb on #17 Brown on the second day of practice sometime Around the 2:50 mark. It made me think Gillespie had a talking too.

quote:

---

They look much more focused this season.

We need a guy we can lean on. We need someone to show why they are RB1

---

I'm just assuming it will Hill 's job to lose to start the season.

I’d love to be wrong but we’re not going to get where we want to be at tailback with Hill. He’s sorta like Jalston Fowler. Probably should be playing H-B/FB.