Alabama left tackles coming off best game prior to tough matchup with Texas A&M

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama’s offensive tackles, particularly true freshman left tackle Kadyn Proctor, are coming off their best game of the season, according to head coach Nick Saban.

While the box score will reveal four sacks were allowed, the Crimson Tide offensive line as a whole was not responsible for any of them in the road win at Mississippi State, according to Pro Football Focus’ postgame grades, and the position unit only gave up two pressures.

For the second week in a row, Alabama used a rotation at left tackle. Proctor started for the fifth straight week but was replaced by Elijah Pritchett on the fourth drive. Proctor would return on the next series, but the two continued to rotate. The true freshman ended up playing 44 of the 55 snaps that the first-team line was on the field and finished with the third-best, pass-blocking grade of the afternoon, according to PFF, and only allowed one pressure.

“I thought they played better in this game,” said Saban of the left tackles. “This is probably the best they’ve played all year. The offensive line as a whole played one of their better games against a difficult front that stunts a lot. But (Proctor) probably played the best he’s played all year, which is a good thing, and hopefully, there’ll be some confidence.

“And I still think we have confidence that (Pritchett) can do a good job for us, as well.”

Right guard Darrian Dalcourt agreed, “They’re both young, but every week, you see them get better. Really proud of them for putting work in during the week and working on what they need to work on. Really proud of them both going out there and playing their best game so far.”

After the 40-17 win over Mississippi State, Saban said the offensive line did a “fantastic” job in controlling the line of scrimmage. That being the case and Proctor, who struggled to begin Year 1 of college, showing signs of progress is great news for Alabama, and they both come at an ideal time with a matchup against a stout Texas A&M front seven on the horizon.

The Aggies have recorded seven sacks and 15 tackles for loss in back-to-back games – the 14 sacks are the most in consecutive outings for the team since it joined the league in 2012. Texas A&M currently ranks second in the SEC in sacks with 20 through the first five games and leads the league in tackles for loss with 49; the Crimson Tide is tied for third with 37.

Two names to know along the Aggies’ defensive front are linebacker Edgerrin Cooper, who tops the SEC with nine tackles for loss and is ninth with three sacks, and defensive lineman Shemar Turner, who ranks among the league’s top six with 3.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss.

RELATED: Nick Saban, Jalen Milroe address issues with snaps

“I think we’ve got to do a much better job of having a firm pocket and protecting the quarterback against really good pass rushers,” said Saban of dealing with the A&M pass rush. “And I also think it’s important that we get the ball out of our hand on time so that we don’t give them an opportunity to affect us.

“So it’s really a combination of both, and it’s a combination of the receivers getting open, playing fast so that we can make quick decisions about what we do and how we get rid of the ball.”

Turner leads a Texas A&M defensive line that has been disruptive to begin the 2023 season. He is one of four defensive linemen that have recorded multiple sacks this fall. McKinnley Jackson is back as a veteran presence inside to complement Turner on the outside, and they have been joined in the starting group by junior Fadil Diggs and sophomore Walter Nolen, who has posted a whopping 5.5 tackles for loss and three sacks over the last two games.

The defensive line has played a vital role in the Aggies leading the SEC and ranking in the top five nationally in total defense (253.8 ypg) entering the month of October. A&M ranks 21st in the country in rushing defense (96.2 ypg) and has allowed just one rushing touchdown. The Aggies held New Mexico (91), Miami (77) and Arkansas (42) to under 100 rushing yards.

Alabama’s offensive line will need to continue its upward trend this weekend in College Station against a formidable front in what will be a challenging matchup in a hostile environment.

“Their front seven is really, really good,” Saban said. “They’ve got some individual players who are really good pass rushers. And then they create some circumstances where they’re gonna get those individual guys one-on-one with people relative to the stunts in the games.

“They’re very well coached on defense, and they’ve got some really, really good players up, front run and pass. So this is going to be the biggest challenge we’ve had up front, no doubt, all season long.”

Not a member, Alabama fans? Join BOL today!

Have you subscribed to BamaOnLine.com yet? You can sign up for ONE MONTH of premium access to our Alabama coverage for just $1! Be able to read all of BOL’s premium articles and nuggets covering Alabama sports and recruiting and also join thousands of other Crimson Tide fans around the globe on the BOL Round Table message board! CLICK HERE!