Alabama's improved pass protection trending up during final stretch

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – For the second game in a row, Alabama’s offensive line did not give up a sack as the Crimson Tide cruised to a 52-7 win over Mercer in its penultimate home game.

Alabama has kept Jalen Milroe’s jersey clean in its last two wins as its offensive line, particularly its pass protection, has improved as the Crimson Tide’s 2024-25 season has progressed.

“It’s definitely gotten better,” said Alabama center Parker Brailsford. “I feel like we’ve kind of meshed better as an O-line, as a unit especially. But even as a team, I feel like we’ve just meshed better, and that’s definitely helped us.

“I trust the guys to my right and my left that they’re gonna have my back just like they trust the guys to their right and left.”

Alabama (8-2, 4-2 SEC) has been better at protecting the quarterback this season, allowing 17 sacks in 10 games. For comparison, the Tide gave up a Saban Era-worst 49 sacks in 2023. UA still has at least three games left on the schedule, but that’s a drastic improvement. 

The offensive line gets credit for the turnaround, but first-year Alabama offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan said the responsibility falls on all 11 players, as well as the coaching staff.

“Trying to minimize the opportunities the opponent gets to really pin their ears back, and when you are in those moments, being mindful of what you’re asking your players to do,” Sheridan said. “It takes all 11. It starts obviously up front. 

“The identification, the technique, the fundamentals, but then the quarterback making sure he’s reading the play properly, getting the ball out on time, the running backs and their pass protection or their routes, and the skill guys getting open at the right time in the right spots.”

The offensive line hasn’t been perfect. Alabama ranks sixth in the SEC in terms of the fewest sacks allowed. But Milroe doesn’t blame his offensive line when he’s dropped for a loss.

“I think our pass protection has been outstanding,” Milroe said. “We do a really good job of blitz pickup. We do a really good job with communication. 

“I believe that any sack that’s on the field is on the quarterback. I believe that the quarterback should solve problems. I feel as though it’s for the quarterback to have some integrity and have some details when it comes to communication up front, making sure we’re sliding to the right person, not being hot in protection, getting the ball out, not holding onto the ball.

Milroe continued, “I think they’re doing a really good job and they’re grinding, refining and competing at a very high level. I’m proud of those guys because they’re definitely gonna receive the fruits when it comes to all the hard work that’s been poured into each day during the week.”

Alabama will need to continue its recent trend this weekend when it travels to Oklahoma, as the Sooners rank third in the SEC with 32 sacks generated in their first 10 games in the league.

But the Crimson Tide is ready for the challenge. 

Alabama’s offensive line is considered one of the best units in the country. It is a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award, given to the nation’s top O-line, and has played some of its best football of late. In the last three games, Alabama’s front has paved the way for a combined 771 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns in decisive wins over Missouri, LSU and Mercer.

The Tide has won the Joe Moore Award twice since its inception (2015, 2020), and Brailsford knows what that takes, being a part of Washington’s Joe Moore-winning offensive line a season ago. He sees the same traits from the line he is anchoring in Year 1 at Alabama.

“Just the want to finish,” Brailsford said. “I feel like that’s one thing that’s really talked about in offensive line play. Just the want, the intent to really bury another man.”

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