Alabama Crimson Tide

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- They never took a snap that meant much, but it didn't keep Alabama's second-team offensive line from taking pride in its work last season. The "Touchdown Twos" they'd call themselves, a hungry group of reserves eager to make the most out of the garbage time at the end of games.

Alabama had no trouble getting out to a big lead last season -- the Tide averaged a two-touchdown lead at the half and won games by an average of nearly 28 points -- which meant plenty of playing time for offensive linemen like Ryan Kelly, Austin Shepherd and Arie Kouandjio. The fourth-quarter reps they'd receive would add up to nearly two full games by the time the season was over.

The snaps would also prove invaluable as all three reserves are now projected starters on a line that will also feature Anthony Steen and Cyrus Kouandjio.

"That was awesome," said Kelly, who is tasked with replacing Barrett Jones at center. "I remember the first game going in against Michigan. There’s five minutes left in the fourth quarter and I hadn’t played in a game since my senior year in high school. It was my second year and I was so nervous. I didn’t know what we were supposed to do, got in there, messed everything up. Arkansas (Week 3) came around and we’re beating them pretty good at halftime and come into the third quarter, they asked us to play the third, the rest of the fourth and from there you just feel more comfortable as the games go on.

"I give all the credit to the ones for making that happen. That’s only going to spark our careers and every rep you get in a college game is more valuable than you can imagine."

Kelly and Co. made the most of their opportunity, not just sustaining leads in the fourth quarter, but building upon them. After a few late scores, the Touchdown Twos were born.

"That was something we joked around about when we went in because that was our chance to shine because we couldn’t get the playing time," Shepherd, the projected starter at right tackle, said. "Touchdown Twos, try to score, have fun with it. It was just kind of a joke."

Looking back, though, Kelly said it was more than a joke. The twos were learning a lesson. They were learning how to be starters.

"Being a one is a little more serious," Kelly said. "Being a two you still need to be ready but at the same time mentally it’s kind of hard. You don’t know if you’re going to play so you get ready mentally, but at the same time you might not play. That’s the best you can ask for, to go out and have fun with it."

Kouandjio, who is battling for the starting job at left guard, said the fourth-quarter experience was just the beginning, he explained.

"We’re going to keep building," he said, "keep stacking those bricks.”

As Alabama hits the homestretch of spring practice, a picture of the offensive line is emerging. The area once viewed as the biggest question mark this offseason is suddenly one of the team's most promising units.

"I like the way the offensive line is progressing," UA coach Nick Saban said on Wednesday. "They obviously need to continue to improve, but Arie has really had a good spring and done a nice job at left guard. Kellen Williams continues to make improvement, and he's playing center and guard. Austin Shepherd and (Leon Brown) both are making good progress at right tackle. Some of the other younger players are making progress as well. Ryan Kelly has really done a good job at center.

"That part of it, I feel like is taking shape. I think we have some other parts of our team that we really have to be concerned about, trying to get some depth created, but I kind of like the way the offensive line is coming along."

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- At a certain point, there's too much work to be done on the football field. So much so that the idea of competition goes out the window. With three vacant starting positions on the Alabama offensive line this spring, the idea of actually battling for playing time is unthinkable, at least to left tackle Cyrus Kouandjio.

The depth chart, he noted, is still open.

"Everybody is just working," Kouandjio said following Wednesday's practice. He and guard Anthony Steen are the only two returning starters on the line. "At this time, we're not even thinking about competition."

They might be the only ones, though.

If Alabama is going to have anywhere near the success it had last season, the offensive line must come together, and in a hurry. Kouandjio might have the luxury of feeling good about his position on the depth chart, but he's the exception to the rule, as Alabama must replace three NFL-caliber offensive linemen in Barrett Jones, Chance Warmack and D.J. Fluker. That's not to mention the other seven former starters now plying their trade elsewhere.

At least Kouandjio would admit that practice felt different without his former teammates around.

"It feels weird," he said. "I've been with those guys for a long time."

But he's been with his brother, Arie, longer. And with Warmack gone, Arie has a chance to start alongside his twin at left guard. He'll have to fend off Kellen Williams for the spot, but so far he's the favorite to win the starting nod.

Chemistry, the glue of any good offensive line, is already set on the left side. After playing together in high school, the Koundajios don't have to say a word to communicate to one another.

"It's my brother" Cyrus said, "of course we already have camaraderie. We already understand each other.

"I love playing with my brother. He's always pushing me, and I'm always pushing him."

The camaraderie of the line as a whole won't come from either Kouandjio, though. Ryan Kelly, the man charged with replacing Jones at center, is looking to make his stamp as the leader of the unit now. And as Cyrus put it, he brings a lot to the table, rivaling Jones in at least one respect.

"He's the most professional person I know," Cyrus said of Kelly. "He's really serious, and that's the perfect center right there. Most centers have to be really tough, and I trust him 100 percent. I trust him as much as I trusted Barrett Jones last year.

"I think things are looking good for him."

Cyrus also singled out rising sophomore Brandon Greene for his improvement this offseason. He, Williams, Isaac Luatua, Alphonse Taylor and newcomers Leon Brown and Brandon Hill have added depth to the offensive line.

"He's doing so much better from last year," Cyrus said of Greene. "He got so much better over the break. His hands are where they're supposed to be, his footwork is good, he is where he's supposed to be right now."

Head coach Nick Saban, for his part, downplayed the transition taking place on the offensive line. He said new position coach Mario Cristobal is doing a "really good job" at coaching and connecting with the players.

"He’s done a good job teaching them," he said. "He’s got good energy and enthusiasm. He brings some new ideas. That’s always welcome when you have new coaches join the staff. So everything about this so far from a transition standpoint has been positive."

And like everything with the offensive line, Saban's remarks came with a caveat.

"But that's a work in progress, too," he said.

Editor’s note: Each day between now and Alabama's date with Notre Dame in the BCS National Championship, we will review the season for a key Crimson Tide player or coach and attempt to project what’s next for him. Today we’ll look at left guard Chance Warmack.

No. 65 Chance Warmack
Left guard
First-team All-America selection

Role in 2012: Warmack was the most effective blocker on the best offensive line in all of college football.

The good: The senior rose from a possible NFL prospect to the top-rated offensive lineman overnight. As scouts looked at his game film, it was obvious -- Warmack was dominant and tenacious. Every time Alabama was running the ball, it was his direction and he could be seen 3, 4 and 5 yards ahead of the play, churning his feet and barreling over defenders.

The bad: Truth be told, there aren't many weaknesses to Warmack's game. His strength and durability are obvious. He started 39 career games and missed a team-low six assignments this season. His toughness and production speak for themselves. He had a team-best 36 pancake blocks. His only weakness, which comes more by way of a default, might be pass protection. He struggles with pad placement at times, though he doesn't have much trouble recovering from any minor flaw in technique.

Crystal ball: Warmack will go somewhere in the first round of April's draft. Barring catastrophe, that much is certain. Who replaces him at Alabama is not as obvious. Sophomore Arie Kouandjio could slide in at either right or left guard, depending on what the coaching staff does with Anthony Steen. But the real tantalizing option is freshman Alphonse Taylor, who will likely redshirt this season. The former four-star prospect transitioned from the defensive to offensive line in fall camp and seems well on his way to a career at guard. He's already 6-foot-5 and 340 pounds and has great athletic ability for a man his size.

Editor’s note: Each day between now and Alabama's date with Notre Dame in the BCS National Championship, we will review the season for a key Crimson Tide player or coach and attempt to project what’s next for him. Today we’ll look at right guard Anthony Steen.

No. 61 Anthony Steen
Right guard
Blocked for two 1,000-yard tailbacks

Role in 2012: Steen came back from injury a season ago to play and start in all 13 games at right guard in 2012.

The good: The junior was a quiet force in the interior of the offensive line. He didn't grab headlines like center Barrett Jones, left guard Chance Warmack or right tackle D.J. Fluker. His potential wasn't hailed like that of sophomore Cyrus Koundjio. Nonetheless, Steen was effective and helped Alabama form one of the best offensive lines in all of college football. The Crimson Tide ranked 20th nationally in rushing offense (224.6 yards per game) and 15th in red zone efficiency.

The bad: If there's one area in which the offensive line struggled, it was pass protection. Alabama ranked 53rd in sacks allowed, letting quarterback AJ McCarron go down more often than he should. For that, Steen shares in some of the blame. Whether it was a lack of communication or execution, defenders were able to get into the backfield far too often.

Crystal ball: It's likely Steen will remain an interior lineman next year, but he could switch sides as Warmack heads for the NFL draft in a few months. Alabama might see an opportunity to pair two experienced linemen in Steen and Kouandjio and allow T.J. Yeldon and the rest of the stable of tailbacks to run left next season. Sophomore Arie Kouandjio, who served as the second-team right guard this year, could slide in to replace Steen should he move positions.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The fact that Arie Kouandjio is back on the football field is remarkable, surprising even. Multiple injuries have stymied the offensive lineman's young career, sending more road blocks than shortcuts his way in three years at Alabama.

The former top-15 guard out of high school played in two games last season before a knee injury required surgery and forced him to miss the rest of the year. A setback during rehabilitation kept him from participating in spring practice.

For Alabama coach Nick Saban, it was beginning to look like Kouandjio might never see the field.

"We weren't even sure that he would be able to get back and be able to play this season," he said.

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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The two linebackers set up on different sides of the defense, so it's only right that they would have differing styles.

Adrian Hubbard, the tall, lean athlete on the strong side at Sam. Xzavier Dickson, the stockier, bullish pass-rusher on the weak side at Jack.

Hubbard is the speedier of the two, and the more vocal, too. When the outside linebackers practice, it's the redshirt sophomore who is usually in charge.

"Hard work is what I pride my guys on," Hubbard said. "Those outside linebackers, those are my guys."

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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The picture of the Crimson Tide, circa 2012, is coming into full view. On Tuesday afternoon, Alabama released its depth chart.

There were a couple surprises on the list, including Jalston Fowler and T.J. Yeldon sharing duties as the No. 2 tailback and Ed Stinson winning the second defensive end spot. True freshmen Denzel Devall and Geno Smith also won coveted backup roles at Jack and cornerback, respectively.

Quarterback
AJ McCarron, Jr.
Phillip Ely, RS Fr.

Running back
Eddie Lacy, Jr.
Jalston Folwer, Jr. -- OR -- T.J. Yeldon Fr.
Dee Hart, RS Fr.

Tight end/H
Michael Williams, RS Sr.
Brian Vogler, Soph.

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