'We wanna make people quit': Tyler Booker fired up about run-first mentality

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama offensive coordinator Tommy Rees played quarterback at Notre Dame and coaches the position for the Crimson Tide. But in another life, Rees would have rather been a pulling guard, claiming the physical part of the game always resonated with him.

Sophomore right guard Tyler Booker joked that his new offensive coordinator doesn’t have the frame for it, but Rees’ mindset does match that of the Alabama offensive line this offseason.

“Knowing how he likes to call plays, I think he has the mentality for it, for sure,” said Booker prior to the Tide’s fourth preseason practice on Monday. “Just having an offensive coordinator who has that run-first mentality, has that, ‘Yeah, we’re gonna pass the ball as a complement to the run,’ that’s very reassuring to the offensive line, especially ours.

“We wanna make people quit this year, and there’s no better way to do that rather than to run the ball. So we’re gonna run the ball this year. We’re gonna pass the ball, as well, because we have a lot of talented guys at receiver and we have a lot of guys who can throw the ball very well. Just having that run-first mentality as an offensive line, that just gets us going because we wanna make people quit.”

Alabama’s offensive linemen have shared the same sentiment all spring and summer that they want to be more physical up front and control the line of scrimmage, especially on the ground. In 2022, the Tide averaged 195.69 rushing yards per game, which ranked seventh in the SEC and 30th overall in the nation, but Booker and company want more – to strike fear in 2023.

“Physically dominating,” said Booker of his attitude as a blocker. “And that’s the mindset of the whole room. We wanna physically dominate you. We wanna intimidate you. We want the third quarter to roll around and the defense to be like, ‘Oh my gosh, we still can’t stop the run. How are we gonna stop this run?’ We want guys to tap out. We want guys to fear us.

“But that’s a mindset that we have to develop now in camp. Being here at the University of Alabama, that’s the mindset of running the ball. You’re not gonna play offensive line here if you don’t have that mindset. Whoever you see on the field has that physically dominating mindset. We’re going out there like we’re trying to make you quit every play.”

Booker is one of four returning offensive linemen that saw first-team reps last year, along with centers Seth McLaughlin and Darrian Dalcourt and right tackle JC Latham. There is still plenty of competition on the left side of the offensive line as players like Dalcourt, Terrence Ferguson, Elijah Pritchett and Kadyn Proctor compete for the left tackle and left guard spots, but according to Booker the group as a whole is excited about leaning on the run game this fall.

Even though Alabama lost its starting running back from last year in Jahmyr Gibbs, the position is considered a strength for the 2023 team with Jase McClellan, Roydell Williams and Jam Miller back and true freshmen Justice Haynes and Richard Young joining the fold. Asked about blocking for a deep stable of backs, Booker smiled and stated there is “nothing like it.”

“We love all the running backs that we have there,” Booker said. “No matter how young or old they are, they’re hungry. They’re ready to contribute. And Coach (Robert Gillespie) holds them accountable, and we’re very grateful to him for that. We really work together. We have the ability to talk to the running backs, like, ‘OK, what do you see right here? What’s your aiming point on this play? Do you want me to take the front side or the back side of this once we get to the second level?’

“So having a great relationship with our running backs, that’s gonna open up a lot for our offense. I’m excited to block for them this year.”

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