Alabama OL Shows Early Struggles, Steady Improvement Through Scrimmage

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Alabama's offense struggled early during the first scrimmage of fall camp, but improved as the Tide scrimmaged for two hours inside Bryant-Denny Stadium on Thursday morning.

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Alabama's first-team offensive line was relatively consistent through the scrimmage, with Jackson Lloyd at left tackle, Mal Waldrep Jr. at left guard, Racin Delgatty at center, Michael Carroll at right tackle, and Mississippi State transfer Jayvin James at right tackle.

"I thought pass protection; this has been a really good week. You can see every practice; they’re sort of understanding their assignments. They’re working together. The communication is there. Run-game-wise, I feel like it improved as well. There’s some plays early where it’s really not their fault. It might look like it, but it’s not. And today’s scrimmage, that’s just stuff we’ve got to clean up," DeBoer told reporters following the scrimmage.

"Again, getting numbers right and things like that. So it's been a steady improvement. That’s what we expect, and that’s what we’ve got to have. So I like the direction it’s going, but then for the most part, with the ones, a consistency with who’s in the rotation, who’s getting the snap, and that’s really important. So our twos certainly gotta find their rhythm. There’s less continuity there. We got some young guys that are taking a lot of snaps."

Alabama's left guard spot is a battle between Mal Waldrep Jr. and William Sanders, with Waldrep gaining steam in the battle after positive comments from offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb earlier this week.

At right tackle on Thursday, it was primarily Jayvin James, who DeBoer said is "stacking play after play" and becoming more consistent.

"Days like today are huge for him. And it’s making sure, just like for everyone, right, it’s about stacking play after play after play after play. And so, I think he’s done that more consistently throughout practice and fall camp," DeBoer said. "And I think he can become a complete player, so, you know, just getting better. He doesn’t have, like, glaring strengths, glaring weaknesses. He’s just a solid player that’s getting better in all facets of his game, and so, he’s working at it. You can see the commitment that he has with just some of his habits, things that are important to him that can help him be his best. That’s what we ask of a lot of our guys, but that’s certainly something you him growing and understanding how that can impact his play when he gets on the ball field."

For an offensive line that struggled with consistency last season, it's good to see potential starters becoming more consistent as the Tide prepares for week one.

The Crimson Tide will return to the practice field on Sunday, August 16. The Crimson Tide will scrimmage again in one week for the second time this fall camp in preparation for Alabama's first game against East Carolina on Saturday, September 5.

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.