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The quarterback battle is at the center of Alabama football's attention. But quarterback is not the only position on offense that is under scrutiny heading into the Crimson Tide's first fall camp scrimmage.
Outside of a handful of players like Ryan Coleman-Williams, Lotzeir Brooks and Michael Carroll, much of the Alabama offense remains a question mark even if position battles are already being won.
Here's three key areas on offense Alabama will be looking at during its first scrimmage.
Ryan Grubb wants to talk about the Alabama run game.
From the hires the Crimson Tide made in the offseason, looping in tight ends coach Richard Owens and offensive line coach Adrian Klemm as catalysts for reviving one of the worst rushing offenses in team history, and from the development of returners Daniel Hill, AK Dear and Kevin Riley, and freshmen EJ Crowell and Trae'shawn Brown, Grubb is excited about what is being built. The Alabama offensive coordinator gushed about bursts he saw on the practice field, from Hill and Brown to Dear.
"It was a competitive day for the running back, so I felt like it was coming from all different directions," Grubb said. "Everybody was showing up and doing a really good job. So I think that the competition, you know, has held strong. Those guys are, I think, that's one of the biggest parts right now is the guys feeling that level of competition in the room.”
Run game success is not solely on the running backs. But this unit will get the brunt of the praise and blame come September, regardless of the blocks they are given up front or out wide. Those inside the building see potential, see explosion. Can that translate into live reps?
Alabama's top two receivers have been set since the end of the 2025 season with the return of Coleman-Williams and Brooks. Noah Rogers was penciled in as the No. 3 wide receiver until an A-Day injury sidelined the NC State transfer for the first part of 2026.
Progress has been made to develop depth in the wide receiver room. Grubb said Rico Scott and Derek Meadows "are growing every day," while four-star freshman Cederian Morgan is "still learning, but is making a lot of plays."
The question isn't who can be an option behind Coleman-Williams or Brooks. The question is about how much production could Scott, Meadows, Morgan or even Rogers bring in an offense that, at times, has struggled to find consistency from a third receiver. That rapport between Mack and/or Russell with options like Scott, Meadows and Morgan will be vital during opportunities like this first fall scrimmage.
Three spots are secured on the Alabama offensive line with Jackson Lloyd at left tackle, Racin Delgatty at center and Michael Carroll at right guard. Four players are fighting for two spots: Jayvin James and Nick Brooks at right tackle, and Mal Waldrep and William Sanders at left guard.
Alabama is looking for its best five offensive linemen, something the Crimson Tide is getting closer to, close enough to where Grubb is pushing "lines of communication" to allow the starting unit to gel together more effectively.
Answers are coming more quickly for the Alabama offensive line, answers that could be determined during this first scrimmage and should allow for more time for what Grubb wants: the communication, the gel, the cohesion.
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at [email protected] or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter or Instagram @colingaytnews.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Three focuses for Alabama football offense's first fall camp scrimmage
Continue reading...
Outside of a handful of players like Ryan Coleman-Williams, Lotzeir Brooks and Michael Carroll, much of the Alabama offense remains a question mark even if position battles are already being won.
Here's three key areas on offense Alabama will be looking at during its first scrimmage.
Is Alabama run game heading in the right direction?
Ryan Grubb wants to talk about the Alabama run game.
From the hires the Crimson Tide made in the offseason, looping in tight ends coach Richard Owens and offensive line coach Adrian Klemm as catalysts for reviving one of the worst rushing offenses in team history, and from the development of returners Daniel Hill, AK Dear and Kevin Riley, and freshmen EJ Crowell and Trae'shawn Brown, Grubb is excited about what is being built. The Alabama offensive coordinator gushed about bursts he saw on the practice field, from Hill and Brown to Dear.
"It was a competitive day for the running back, so I felt like it was coming from all different directions," Grubb said. "Everybody was showing up and doing a really good job. So I think that the competition, you know, has held strong. Those guys are, I think, that's one of the biggest parts right now is the guys feeling that level of competition in the room.”
Run game success is not solely on the running backs. But this unit will get the brunt of the praise and blame come September, regardless of the blocks they are given up front or out wide. Those inside the building see potential, see explosion. Can that translate into live reps?
Does Alabama have a No. 3 wide receiver?
Alabama's top two receivers have been set since the end of the 2025 season with the return of Coleman-Williams and Brooks. Noah Rogers was penciled in as the No. 3 wide receiver until an A-Day injury sidelined the NC State transfer for the first part of 2026.
Progress has been made to develop depth in the wide receiver room. Grubb said Rico Scott and Derek Meadows "are growing every day," while four-star freshman Cederian Morgan is "still learning, but is making a lot of plays."
The question isn't who can be an option behind Coleman-Williams or Brooks. The question is about how much production could Scott, Meadows, Morgan or even Rogers bring in an offense that, at times, has struggled to find consistency from a third receiver. That rapport between Mack and/or Russell with options like Scott, Meadows and Morgan will be vital during opportunities like this first fall scrimmage.
Can Alabama find cohesion on its offensive line?
Three spots are secured on the Alabama offensive line with Jackson Lloyd at left tackle, Racin Delgatty at center and Michael Carroll at right guard. Four players are fighting for two spots: Jayvin James and Nick Brooks at right tackle, and Mal Waldrep and William Sanders at left guard.
Alabama is looking for its best five offensive linemen, something the Crimson Tide is getting closer to, close enough to where Grubb is pushing "lines of communication" to allow the starting unit to gel together more effectively.
Answers are coming more quickly for the Alabama offensive line, answers that could be determined during this first scrimmage and should allow for more time for what Grubb wants: the communication, the gel, the cohesion.
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at [email protected] or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter or Instagram @colingaytnews.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Three focuses for Alabama football offense's first fall camp scrimmage
Continue reading...
