No. 4 Alabama's big men on pose challenge to Tennessee on both sides of ball

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Nick Saban delivered a challenge to Alabama’s offensive linemen before the Texas A&M game.

The group was coming off a demoralizing performance against Arkansas when they couldn’t open many holes for the running backs and gave up a couple of sacks, playing without injured center Ryan Kelly.

“I said, ‘You guys are starting to feel the pressure, being criticized and not being the Sergeant at Arms that we need you to be in terms of how you control the line of scrimmage, how you dominate the line of scrimmage,'” Saban said after the game. “‘None of the other the guys are going to make any plays unless you guys do that. And I believe in you. I trust in you.'”

The big men delivered for the fourth-ranked Crimson Tide (6-1, 3-1 Southeastern Conference) on both sides of the ball in a 59-0 win over then-No. 21 Texas A&M. Alabama dominated physically like so many of the best Tide teams.

Texas A&M couldn’t run or stop the run, two areas where Saturday’s opponent, Tennessee, has struggled.

The Tide’s offensive line protected quarterback Blake Sims and powered the way for a running game that produced 298 yards, a week after Arkansas limited the ‘Bama to 66 yards on the ground.

“That’s the most I’ve seen them dominate this year,” Alabama fullback Jalston Fowler said. “We just talked to them the whole week and told them we just need them to play for us and the team. We want those guys to be the best up front. And like coach Saban says, it all starts up front.”

The group had come under some fire, and right tackle Austin Shepherd said the Arkansas game was the line’s worst performance of the season. Kelly returns to center against the Volunteers (3-4, 0-3), who have been solid on the defensive front despite replacing the whole starting line.

Saban said Shepherd will be limited for a day or two in practice with a leg injury sustained against Texas A&M.

“They’re big, they’re physical up front, a very typical Alabama offensive line,” Tennessee coach Butch Jones said. “I think they’re playing to the strengths of their players. They did a lot of quick screens, a lot of dual packages where you have the run and the pass option off of it. I think they’re doing a great job.”

The Tide’s defensive front, meanwhile, kept up its strong play that has powered the nation’s No. 2 run defense. Alabama brought down the quarterbacks six times with eight players credited for at least a share of sack.

“The defensive line before the game was very confident and enthused, and if we keep being enthused by everything we do, I think the sky is the limit for us,” Alabama linebacker Reggie Ragland said. “Especially for those guys up front. Those guys are the reason we won the game, because they were getting to the quarterback and doing their job.”

That group seems to present Tennessee with a big challenge. The Volunteers’ offensive line has two freshman starters and allowed 18 sacks over the past three games. Guard Marcus Jackson, offensive tackle Coleman Thomas and quarterback Justin Worley were knocked out of the Ole Miss game but Jones said he anticipates that all three will be able to play Saturday.

The only FBS team to give up more sacks than Tennessee’s 30 is SMU (34).

Alabama’s pass rush has been a strength of the team with 268-pound linebacker Xzavier Dickson racking up 5.5 of the team’s 19 sacks.