JC Latham on Alabama's OL: 'We're gonna shock the world'

Ever since Nick Saban’s arrival in Tuscaloosa back in 2007, Alabama has typically fielded a good offensive line. Some of them have even been great. Of the eight groups to bring home the Joe Moore Award — given to the nation’s top offensive line — since its creation back in 2015, the Tide have two of them (2015 and 2020).

Unfortunately, we’ve seen a notable decline in that unit’s play over the past two seasons.

A year after losing tackle Jedrick Wills to the NFL following 2019, the award-winning group in 2020 featured four future NFL draft picks, three of which were taken amongst the top-37 selections. That offensive line consisted of Alex Leatherwood (No. 17), Landon Dickerson (No. 37) and Deontae Brown (No. 193), who all left after the 2020 season. Evan Neal, the No. 7 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, remained a part of that 2021 group, but he isn’t the reason behind the unit’s struggles.

Far from it, actually.

Yes, it’s true that Alabama’s offensive line last season showed steady improvement under first-year position coach Eric Wolford. The offense went from allowing 2.73 sacks per game in 2021 (No. 103 in the nation) to 1.69 in 2022 (tied for No. 45). Those numbers still aren’t where you want them to be, but at least it was a move in the right direction. The protection was a lot better, but run blocking remained an issue.

With that said, we’re expecting significant growth there, too.

Not everyone is convinced that things are heading in the right direction though. Some of the national media has been somewhat critical of Alabama’s offensive line — and team, for that matter — this offseason. It’s even carried into SEC Media Days in Nashville. And on Wednesday, we finally got a chance to hear from Saban and three of his top returning players: cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry, outside linebacker Dallas Turner and right tackle JC Latham.

Count Latham as one who’s expecting a big step forward from the offensive line.

“We’re gonna shock the world,” the veteran responded when the SEC Network’s Peter Burns asked about this year’s unit. “I think we’re a really physical group. We’ve got guys who are committed to being great, guys who are committed to giving great effort every single day and understanding what we have to do to be great because obviously, we lost Bryce Young and Will Anderson. We know that losing those two guys, everyone has to step up and do their job.”

Of course, Latham is correct in his assessment.

Young’s ability to buy time and create inside and outside of the pocket are now gone. Sure, the trio of quarterbacks currently battling for the job bring varying levels of mobility, but few players possess Young’s awareness. No one in that competition brings Young’s pure playmaking ability either. In other words, Alabama will have to rely more on its run game and defense in 2023. In order to create an effective and consistent run game, the offensive line will need to be better than we’ve seen the last two years.

Latham understands this, which is a major reason why he’s setting the expectations so high — both for himself and this offensive line.

“Specifically for the offensive line, Joe Moore [Award],” Latham replied when asked about his goals for himself and his linemates. “We’re not settling for nothing else. We’re not aiming at anything lower. We want to be the best group in the country. I’m coming for the Outland [Trophy] and I know guys everywhere else have their own goals. I know we’re all committed to being great.”

That’s the answer most fans want to hear.

Granted, it’s one thing to say all the right things; it’s another thing to do them. Alabama has the talent needed though. Not only does it have the star power, but most of the offensive linemen remaining on the 2023 roster fit what Saban, Wolford and new offensive coordinator Tommy Rees want to do upfront. There’s a size and power element in this group, but more importantly, there’s the potential for a nasty demeanor.

Latham and right guard Tyler Booker — both former five-star recruits — lead the way on that front.

They each saw their first extensive action in 2022. Latham played 875 snaps and started all 13 games while Booker played 427 snaps in a rotational role with a start in the Sugar Bowl. You’ve also got multi-year starters Seth McLaughlin and Darrian Dalcourt projected to man the center and left guard positions. Plus, the starter at left tackle will come down to redshirt freshman Elijah Pritchett or true freshman Kadyn Proctor. Either way, that’s another former top-40 talent in the lineup.

In other words, there’s a strong combination of talent and experience in that room.

And when Burns asked Latham if he believes people are doubting Alabama — as a whole — going into this season, he gave a simple answer: “Yeah, definitely… 100 percent.” When Burns pressed and asked what that doubt does for Latham and the team, the 6-foot-6, 335-pound tackle elaborated by sharing how extra motivation has been created by all the external doubt.

“It motivates me,” he said. “I know our group as a whole, we don’t like that. Guys try to say our culture’s changed or our dynasty’s over with and we just take that as a slap in the face because people think that we’re not out there trying to be the best. So, we’re going to silence it all this year, and we’re going to take each game by starting every day knowing what our goal is cause there’s guys out there who don’t think we are who we once were.”

The rest of the college football world has officially been put on notice.

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