The good news for the Auburn Tigers entering Saturday’s Iron Bowl in Tuscaloosa is that Derrick Henry no longer plows through tacklers for Alabama.
Unfortunately for Auburn, the Crimson Tide remain very much committed to establishing the run. Freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts and sophomore tailback Damien Harris lead this year’s ground attack that averages 249.8 yards per contest, and it all starts with another imposing offensive front headed by left tackle and Outland Trophy finalist Cam Robinson.
“From an execution standpoint, their offensive line looks very similar,” Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said. “Their quarterback has done a good job being that dual-threat runner, and I think that’s helped everyone. From an execution standpoint, they look very solid.”
Chance Warmack, D.J. Fluker, Barrett Jones, Cyrus Kouandjio, Arie Kouandjio, Austin Shepherd and Ryan Kelly are former Alabama offensive linemen who have been picked in the last four NFL drafts, but not before helping the Tide pound out yards against their state rival. Alabama has averaged at least 5.7 yards per carry in each of the last five Iron Bowls and 6.2 or more in three of them.
The Crimson Tide have produced a 100-yard rusher in each of the last five Iron Bowls as well, with Trent Richardson amassing 203 yards in 2011 and Henry 271 last year.
Alabama does not yet have a 1,000-yard rusher a year after Henry set a Southeastern Conference standard with 2,219 yards, but Harris has 850 and averages 7.4 yards a carry, while Hurts has 803 and averages 5.7. Backup tailbacks Josh Jacobs and Bo Scarbrough have combined for 842 yards, so there hasn’t been any hesitance at all this season in using an offensive line that has undergone its share of change.
“If I had to say what was the most improved part of our team, that is it,” coach Nick Saban said. “I don’t think we played especially well in this past game (the 31-3 victory over UTC), and I certainly think we’ll have to play a lot better in this game against the quality of people we’re playing against to be effective.”
The Crimson Tide entered last offseason with Robinson returning at left tackle, Alphonse Taylor returning at right guard and with Ross Pierschbacher moving from starting left guard to take over Kelly’s role at center. Touted freshman and early enrollee Jonah Williams became a quick hit at right guard, and Bradley Bozeman wound up with the job at center in late August, bumping Pierschbacher back to left guard.
Robinson, Pierschbacher, Bozeman and Williams have started all 11 games, but right guard has been shared among Taylor (four starts), Lester Cotton (five) and Korren Kirven (two). Taylor suffered a concussion at Arkansas on Oct. 8 and may not play again this season, while Kirven started the past two games but sustained a shoulder injury against the Mocs.
“Losing Alphonse Taylor at right guard and playing several different guys at that position has made it still sort of a work in progress,” Saban said, “but the two tackles have done a good job, and so has Bradley Bozeman at center. As a group, they’ve made very nice progress and developed a lot of confidence.”
With Auburn possessing the likes of Montravius Adams and Carl Lawson up front defensively and allowing just 117.7 rushing yards a game, the success of Alabama’s offensive line Saturday is among the more obvious keys to the game.
“Our defense has done a very good job of not letting offenses get explosive plays,” Malzahn said. “They’re going to run the football, and their quarterback is going to run, but where he’s been really good is when things break down. He always seems to make something positive happen.”
Said Bozeman: “We still have things we can improve on, from our run-blocking to passes and screens. They’re a really good defense that plays hard and plays every snap, so we’ll have to bring our ‘A’ game.”
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.