Paul Finebaum: Alabama 'better get better' along offensive line before Wisconsin game
Alabama faces its tallest task of the season this weekend when they take a trip to Camp Randall Stadium to face Wisconsin in a matchup featuring two of the most historic programs in college football. Both of which have started off the season undefeated with hopes of adding a signature non-conference win to their resume.
The Crimson Tide rank No. 4 in the country entering the game as new head coach Kalen DeBoer looks to continue maintaining the high standard left behind by Nick Saban. But in order to leave Madison with a win this weekend, college football analyst Paul Finebaum believes they’ll need to improve in one particular area.
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“Well they have a really good team, starting at the quarterback position, David, with Jalen Milroe,” Finebaum said on SportsCenter Wednesday morning to David Lloyd. “The problem is, and we saw some of this last year at this point in the season, their offensive line is struggling.”
Milroe was sacked there times Alabama’s Week 2 win over South Florida, a game that was quite close until the Crimson Tide pulled away late with an offensive onslaught. A matchup that may have never been in question in the eyes of Finebaum if one of their star offensive linemen was available.
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“The reason it’s struggling is Kadyn Proctor, the tackle, has been out and they are playing makeshift and that’s why South Florida looked like a world-beater against Alabama. They created all kinds of problems.” Finebaum explained. “This game was in doubt in the fourth quarter 21-16, and finally, Alabama got three late touchdowns. But they better get better before they head up to Madison this weekend.”
Proctor was a late scratch in Alabama’s season opener against Western Kentucky after suffering from a shoulder injury during pregame warmups. Missing the first two weeks of the season with an injury status that according to DeBoer will be a close call for Saturday’a game against the Badgers.
“Kadyn Proctor? You know, he’ll continue to work on his functional movement and all that kind of stuff early in the week and keep progression in a way where I feel, you know, where we’ll be pretty dang close by the weekend of getting him on the football field,” DeBoer said. “Feel like he’s coming along real well, especially at the end of last week. Working extremely hard to get back out there.”
Elite play at the offensive line position will be crucial for Alabama’s success not just on Saturday, but for their entire season similar to years past during their era of dominance under Saban.
Alabama and Wisconsin kick off at noon ET this Saturday in a matchup airing on FOX and streaming on Fubo.