For all of the excitement surrounding Alabama football entering the 2026 season, one glaring question continues to hover over the Crimson Tide.
Can Alabama finally run the football the way fans have come to expect?
That became one of the biggest priorities of the offseason after Alabama struggled on the ground throughout 2025, finishing near the bottom of the FBS with just 104.1 rushing yards per game and averaging only 3.35 yards per carry. Those numbers simply weren’t good enough for a program that has built championship teams around a physical rushing attack.
Following Alabama’s second fall camp practice, offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb made it clear that changing those results is at the top of his priority list.
Ryan Grubb Wants Alabama to Be Great at What It Does Best
Rather than trying to reinvent the offense, Grubb believes the solution is surprisingly simple.
“Simplify and do your best stuff,” Grubb said. “Don’t get an inch deep and a mile wide; do what you’re good at and be great at it. Coach Adrian Klemm has done an excellent job with helping build that, and between him and Richard Owens, I’ve been super excited to work with those two guys and resurrect the run game. And we will.”
That final statement may have been the biggest takeaway.
“And we will.”
It’s a confident declaration from an offensive coordinator entering his second season in Tuscaloosa after watching Alabama’s rushing attack fall well below the program’s standard a year ago.
The Crimson Tide attacked the issue aggressively during the offseason, hiring veteran offensive line coach Adrian Klemm, adding Richard Owens to coach the tight ends after his success coaching offensive lines, and bringing in a large group of new offensive linemen to reshape the trenches.
Adrian Klemm Has Already Made an Immediate Impact
Grubb couldn’t say enough about what Klemm has already brought to Alabama’s offensive line room.
“I think the biggest thing about Klemm is that when you’re looking at a position coach, you’re like, ‘Does this guy got command, and is he a master teacher?'” Grubb said. “When I hear Klemm at practice, it’s always coaching points.”
Grubb explained that Klemm constantly provides immediate instruction and solutions instead of simply correcting mistakes.
“There’s an immediate answer, there’s a solution, and the guys know what that is, and they can move on quickly.”
With only one returning starter along the offensive line, Alabama will need Klemm’s teaching ability to accelerate the development of a group loaded with young talent and newcomers.
Tight Ends Could Hold the Key to Alabama’s Ground Attack
The improvements won’t rely solely on the offensive line.
Grubb also pointed toward Alabama’s tight end room as a major reason for optimism.
Oklahoma State transfer Josh Ford has quickly become one of the most physical players on the roster.
“Ford’s been great, man,” Grubb said. “His mindset, demeanor, how he works. He’s a big guy… 270-plus pounds, and he’s just a force in there at the Y position.”
Grubb also highlighted the return of Danny Lewis, who is back healthy after missing time, along with Kaleb Edwards, giving Alabama three imposing blockers capable of making a significant impact in the run game.
“But the guy that we’re excited about as well is Danny Lewis,” Grubb added. “Getting that guy back, you got two real Ys that are proven blockers… Then you got Kaleb Edwards. You got three guys that are long-levered players that are going to be impact players in the tight end room.”
Those players could become the unsung heroes of Alabama’s offense this fall.
Alabama’s Offensive Identity Starts With Running the Football
Explosive passing plays will always generate headlines, but Alabama knows championships are often won by controlling the line of scrimmage.
Grubb’s message entering fall camp was unmistakable: simplify the offense, lean on strong coaching, and build a physical identity that begins with the run game.
If Klemm’s offensive line develops as expected and the tight ends become the force Grubb believes they can be, Alabama’s biggest weakness from a season ago could quickly become one of its greatest strengths.
With fall camp officially underway, the Crimson Tide appears determined to ensure the struggles of 2025 stay firmly in the past.
Ryan Grubb Just Revealed Alabama’s Plan to Fix Its Biggest Offensive Problem—and Fans Will Love It