Before the 2025 season, Alabama football faces offensive line concerns, with Ryan Grubb emphasizing the need for improved cohesion, depth, and consistency to compete at elite levels.
As the 2025 college football season approaches, Alabama football finds itself at a crossroads in terms of its offensive line. For years, Alabama’s offensive line has been one of the most dominant in college football, creating holes for star running backs, providing time for elite quarterbacks, and paving the way for high-scoring offenses. However, entering the 2025 season, the Crimson Tide has questions to answer on the offensive line. While Alabama has an abundance of talent across its roster, including at key positions like quarterback, running back, and wide receiver, the offensive line could be a potential weak link.
Ryan Grubb, the respected offensive coordinator and quarterback coach at the University of Washington, has been a key voice in the college football world regarding offensive line play. As someone with a deep understanding of how an offensive line can shape the success of a team, Grubb has spoken on numerous occasions about what makes or breaks a unit up front. For Alabama to maintain its position as one of the top programs in college football, addressing their offensive line issues will be paramount. Here’s an in-depth look at the concerns surrounding Alabama’s offensive line as the 2025 season looms, and why Grubb’s emphasis on cohesion, depth, and consistency could be crucial to the Crimson Tide’s success.
The Legacy of Alabama’s Offensive Line
Historically, Alabama football has boasted one of the best offensive lines in college football. Under head coach Nick Saban, the Crimson Tide’s offensive line has been a dominant force, often paving the way for Heisman-winning running backs like Derrick Henry and Najee Harris. The line has long been known for its physicality, depth, and ability to control the line of scrimmage, setting the tone for the entire offense. With this legacy of success, it’s no surprise that expectations for Alabama’s offensive line have always been sky-high.
However, the landscape of college football is constantly evolving, and offensive lines everywhere must adapt to new defensive schemes, faster play, and increasing demands on versatility. Alabama is no exception, and while they still possess incredible talent in other areas, their offensive line has become a point of concern. Over the past few seasons, the Crimson Tide has seen some inconsistency in their line play, with a few key positions being in flux. As of 2025, questions loom over both the personnel and the coaching strategies that will be employed to ensure that Alabama’s offensive line can regain its previous form.
Personnel Changes and Depth Concerns
One of the most significant challenges for Alabama’s offensive line entering the 2025 season is the loss of key players. Offensive linemen, especially at a program like Alabama, are often early-round NFL draft picks. Alabama has seen several top-tier offensive linemen leave the program in recent years, with names like Evan Neal, Alex Leatherwood, and Christian Barmore (defensive line, but his impact still matters) all making their mark in the NFL.
In 2025, Alabama faces a significant personnel gap in terms of experience and leadership on the offensive line. While the team has brought in highly regarded recruits, the immediate impact of these younger players cannot be guaranteed. Freshmen and sophomores, while talented, often require time to adjust to the speed and physicality of SEC football. This means that Alabama will likely rely on a blend of veteran players and younger talents, which can present challenges in terms of cohesion.
The depth of the offensive line is also a concern for Alabama. In a league as competitive as the SEC, depth is crucial for an offensive line. Injuries, fatigue, and matchups against elite defensive lines require coaches to rotate players in and out regularly. Alabama has a solid recruiting class, but building depth across the line remains a challenge. If key players go down with injuries, there may be questions about whether the team has the necessary depth to stay competitive at the highest level.
Ryan Grubb’s Philosophy on Offensive Line Play
Ryan Grubb has made a name for himself as an offensive mind who values cohesion, depth, and consistency—exactly the qualities Alabama’s offensive line will need to address before the 2025 season. Grubb’s offensive philosophy centers on the importance of balance, versatility, and teamwork across the offensive line. His approach to coaching offensive lines has often been praised for creating units that are both disciplined and adaptive, capable of executing in a variety of situations.
One of the key points that Grubb emphasizes is the idea of offensive line cohesion. The offensive line is only as strong as its weakest link, and if players are not on the same page, it can lead to breakdowns in protection, missed assignments, and lost yardage. This is particularly important for a team like Alabama, which often faces formidable defenses in the SEC. In order to execute successful plays, Alabama’s offensive line will need to be a well-oiled machine. Grubb has spoken at length about the importance of offensive line communication, with players needing to be in sync in both pass protection and run blocking.
Additionally, Grubb has stressed the need for offensive line depth. A successful offensive line cannot be built with just five solid starters—it requires a deep roster of capable players who can step up when called upon. This is a principle that Alabama will need to address. In recent years, the Crimson Tide’s offensive line has had to rely on a small group of players, which has led to issues in maintaining consistency. With depth, however, the team can rotate players more freely, ensuring that fatigue doesn’t set in and that Alabama is prepared for the physical demands of a full season.
Lastly, consistency has been a hallmark of Grubb’s philosophy. Offensive lines need to maintain a high level of performance over the course of an entire season, not just in one or two games. Grubb understands that for an offensive line to thrive, it must execute at a high level week after week. For Alabama, this will be critical, as they face several elite defensive lines throughout the SEC and the national landscape. The offensive line cannot afford to be a liability; it must be a consistent strength.
The Importance of Coaching
Nick Saban, the legendary head coach of Alabama, has long been known for his ability to develop talent and adapt his coaching strategies to changing dynamics in college football. However, Alabama’s offensive line coaching staff has seen some turnover in recent seasons, which has added an extra layer of uncertainty heading into the 2025 season. The departure of long-time offensive line coach Doug Marrone left a void that new coaches will need to fill. With the loss of key figures, it will be important for the new coaching staff to come in with a clear vision for improving the offensive line.
Saban’s decision to bring in new coaching staff members will likely place an emphasis on improving the fundamentals, especially given the personnel changes and depth issues. The offensive line must learn to gel quickly and adjust to the new coaching strategies. This will require not only an understanding of technical skills but also a deep sense of camaraderie among the players. In this sense, the coaching staff’s ability to build chemistry and establish strong leadership will play a significant role in determining the success of Alabama’s offensive line.
The Road Ahead for Alabama Football
Looking ahead to the 2025 season, Alabama football must face a few undeniable realities. The offensive line will need to overcome some significant challenges in terms of personnel, depth, and consistency. With new players stepping into key roles, the Crimson Tide will need to get back to the fundamentals of offensive line play: controlling the line of scrimmage, providing protection, and creating holes for the running game.
Ryan Grubb’s philosophy on offensive line play—focusing on cohesion, depth, and consistency—can be a model for Alabama as it works to solve its offensive line issues. If Alabama can develop the necessary chemistry and depth on the offensive line, they will remain one of the most dangerous teams in the country, with an offense capable of competing with the best.
As Saban and his coaching staff work to integrate new players and solidify their offensive line, they must keep in mind that the SEC is not forgiving. Rival programs like Georgia, LSU, and others will be looking to capitalize on any weaknesses. The key for Alabama will be addressing their offensive line concerns early, developing the right depth, and ensuring that the unit can remain consistent throughout the course of the season.
Ultimately, if Alabama’s offensive line can regain its form, it will only further strengthen their already impressive roster. The 2025 season could be another championship-contending year for the Crimson Tide—provided that they can solve their offensive line concerns and return to the dominant form that has long been a hallmark of Alabama football.
