Alabama OL coach explains why Geno VanDeMark rotated with Jaeden Roberts
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama right guard Jaeden Roberts has been a mainstay on the offensive line since winning the job in the middle of last season. He’s rarely left the game, if at all, when the outcome has still been in question since he’s won the job. That is, until in the second half Saturday against Vanderbilt, when backup Geno VanDeMark spelled Roberts for a drive.
Speaking with the media after practice on Wednesday, Alabama offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic explained why VanDeMark rotated in, and divulged some details about Roberts’ current health.
“You know, J-Rob is one of my favorite people in the world, and he is going through a lot. He’s in pain on a daily basis, and you don’t have to be a doctor to see that watching him move around,” Kapilovic said. “He’s playing through some things that I don’t know most people would. We know we’ve got to give him a series here and there to kind of, let him get his body feeling a little better, take a breath and go. He’s good with it. We kind of work together, how are you feeling, what do we need to do, Geno has filled in for him and done a good job. That’s been helpful as well.”
Roberts has dealt with injuries galore since the end of last season, going through a leg injury during the spring and needing surgery on his hand back in August. Kapilovic couldn’t pinpoint one single issue Roberts is dealing with, explaining that there’s a multitude of issues that he’s working through.
“He’s dealing with a few things,” Kapilovic said. “He’s living in the training room, doing everything he can do. Hopefully he’ll start to feel better soon.”
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In Roberts’ place, VanDeMark is a backup with plenty of experience. Having transferred in from Michigan State, he already started one game this season against South Florida back on Sept. 7. On Monday, offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan said VanDeMark earned the opportunity to play based on how he’s been practicing.
Kapilovic echoed Sheridan’s sentiment, stating his and the offense’s trust in VanDeMark.
“He’s done a good job since he’s been here, he’s practiced well, he’s played all three spots inside, which is valuable,” Kapilovic said. “He’s earned the right to be able to go on the field to where we feel like when he’s out there, we can function as an offense and do the things we need to do. Obviously, when we have a guy that’s banged up we need him to be ready to go, and he’s been able to answer the bell to this point.”
Kapilovic didn’t give a timetable for when Roberts would be fully healthy, but was clearly confident in VanDeMark’s ability to fill in for Roberts when necessary as he works through his various injuries.
