Tide's Offensive Line a Success Story

AUBURN, Ala. -- It just might be Alabama's biggest success story this season.

For an offensive line that lost All-Americans Andre Smith and Antoine Caldwell and opened the year with three first-time starters, the Tide's unit has come together just fine this season, thank you. The o-line will get another opportunity to show off in Friday's Iron Bowl against an Auburn defense that ranks last in the SEC in scoring defense (27 points per game) and ninth in total defense (359.2 ypg).

"I don't know if it was as much of a motivating factor as much as we just knew that we had to come to work," senior left guard Mike Johnson said of preseason questions surrounding the line and if those concerns served as motivation.

"It wasn't anything motivational about it. In order for this football team to be successful we knew that we had to come to play and get better. We just put in that much effort in the offseason, and we came together."

Like one big, happy family.

Second-ranked Alabama (11-0, 7-0 SEC) needs to hurdle rival Auburn (7-4, 3-4) to keep alive its national title hopes heading into the SEC Championship against No. 1 Florida (11-0, 8-0) in Atlanta Dec. 5.

Alabama's rebuilt offensive line has gradually and effectively become a team strength.

Actually, the unit made an impressive opening statement in the Tide's 34-24 win over Virginia Tech in its September season opener. Alabama, which also replaced a three-year starter at quarterback and a 1,000-yard rusher, rolled to 498 yards of total offense, 182 in the pivotal fourth quarter.

And, what has become an Alabama trademark over the past two seasons, is the unit's ability to control the line of scrimmage and the temp of the game.

Last year, the Tide finished 11th nationally with an average time of possession of 32:08. Alabama is again a leader in that category, ranking tied for sixth nationally at 32:56.

For what it's worth, the Tide has held the advantage in possession time in 18 of its last 25 games and nine of 11 this season.

Heisman Trophy front runner Mark Ingram, quarterback Greg McElroy and receiver Julio Jones may get all the media loving' but the Tide's offensive line is genuinely appreciated closer to home.

Alabama coach Nick Saban says the unit's success is not a secret.

Junior left tackle James Carpenter, sophomore center William Vlachos and sophomore right guard Barrett Jones have joined seniors Mike Johnson and Drew Davis, and the results speak for themselves.

"From an offensive line standpoint, we've had some guys step up," said Saban, whose offense is averaging 418 yards per game -- up from last year's average of 376.1 heading into Auburn.

"[William] Vlachos, Barrett Jones and Mike Johnson have played very well this year. To get a junior college left tackle [James Carpenter] that has played really well for us this year and developed very quickly and has done an outstanding job.

"Drew Davis is back from last year. So, things just kind of fell into place for that group and the guys that had an opportunity took advantage of it, and they have done a really, really good job as a group."

Of course, there have been challenges, too.

In a four-game stretch against Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee and LSU, Alabama scored only one touchdown in 12 red-zone opportunities.

In its past two games against Mississippi State and Tennessee-Chattanooga it is three of six.

Auburn's defense, meanwhile, has struggled mightily against opponents in the red zone, allowing 27 touchdowns in 39 trips (most in the SEC).

Alabama also has relied on its offensive line to help finish games. And that could be a good thing against the Tigers since 17 of the last 21 games in the series have been decided by 10 points or less.

Plus, Auburn's offense is not too shabby itself. The Tigers' current pace of 441.5 yards would result in a school-record 5,740 yards of total offense.

The Tide has outscored its opponents 96-24 in the fourth quarter, a margin of 72 points, this season. That number grows to 163-56 in the third and fourth quarters for a margin of 107 points.

Auburn coach Gene Chizik readily admits that Alabama, across the board, has the characteristics of a national-title team. The Tide's win last year over the Tigers snapped a school-record six consecutive wins for Auburn in the series.

"They are at the point in the season when obviously that's their goal. They have gotten to the point where they are one of the teams that's a viable option to play in that game," Chizik said.

"Are they a tremendously talented and good football team? Yes. I haven't seen everybody else out there. I don't know. I don't know who to compare them to. I just know they are a very good football team."