Though coach Kalen DeBoer saw some signs of encouragement after fielding the No. 126 rushing offense in the country last year, he knows his run game is still a work in progress. After preaching all offseason about the program's return to physicality, Alabama's revamped run game received mixed reviews in Week 1's win over East Carolina, where the Crimson Tide averaged just 3.9 yards against last week on attempts by players not named quarterback Keelon Russell. "In the run game, there was consistency; you just want to keep raising the level," DeBoer said.
"We're talking about keeping the pads down. Goal line, there were some times they got underneath of us. Good learning moments there.
I thought our backs ran hard down in the red zone. We've got to keep our pads low." Eight SEC teams managed at least two rushing plays spanning 20 or more yards in Week 1. Alabama's only such explosive was a 23-yard scramble from Russell.
Only LSU had more rushing attempts (58) than the Crimson Tide (49) last weekend. "There was a couple negative plays and I think that's where it starts," DeBoer said on how to improve production on the ground. "We've always been really good as far as I can remember at taking care of the first level.
Having plays that are set up against the defense you want or at least not against a bad look. Staying away from the negative plays and the execution. I saw some times where we were four or five yards downfield without getting touched.
"I showed those guys those clips. We diagnosed that this offseason -- what is it that makes an explosive run? I saw some of those things, where the pictures were clean and the guys were padded up.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
