Most folks in Tuscaloosa believe the biggest reason for Alabama’s downfall over the last couple of seasons has been the run game. Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb fully acknowledges that reality, and he believes 2026 is the year Alabama finally gets it right, following his latest announcement.

“You look at a couple of guys we brought in this year. With EJ [Ezavier Crowell] and Cederian Mordan, and that’s what Alabama has been built on for a long, long time,” Grubb spoke to Julianna Reichenbach regarding the major announcement. “They’re already here on campus, back in Tuscaloosa. But really, there are a lot of physical characteristics they share. They’re outstanding players.

But the maturity and mindset of those two guys at this point in their careers have been really impressive. So I’m excited to see what they can do this year. They’re not going to have to wait long to get on the field.”

It’s safe to say coach Grubb is betting on these freshmen to elevate their offense, especially in the run game. Morgan, an early enrollee, has impressed the coaches during practice.

He’s currently projected as the primary backup at the Z-receiver spot behind Ryan Williams. Given Ryan Williams’ inconsistency, it shouldn’t come as a surprise if he takes the WR1 or WR2 role by the end of the season. Some fans believe this 6’4”, five-star wideout has the same ceiling as Malachi Toney.

To put a band-aid on the running problem, Alabama is prepared to use Ezavier Crowell from day one, as the #1-ranked back in the state is widely viewed as one of the most ‘college-ready’ prospects in the country. The five-star Alabama native really showcased some incredible skills during his time at Jackson High School. Considering his impressive high school achievements, it’s quite possible he’ll get meaningful playing time; perhaps even more than the team’s current RB1.

Crowell’s high school tape shows why he’s considered ‘college-ready.’ He didn’t just accumulate stats; he dominated, rewriting state records with over 6,300 yards and demonstrating game-breaking ability by averaging 12.6 yards per carry as a senior.

For Grubb, his priority is to get his best players on the field as soon as possible, regardless of age. The last thing he wants is another season defined by a weak run game and an unbalanced offense. With Ezavier Crowell, Cederian Morgan, and Khalifa Keith in the mix, Grubb believes everything will start to fall into place by the time next season arrives.

“I know everybody is dying to see (us be) a little bit better in the run game,” Grubb said at the ALFCA convention last week. “Obviously, I would be one of those people. I think for us, the physical mindset that we got to have week in and week out in the SEC to be successful running the football will be paramount to how we can play next year on offense.”

The Crowell situation recalls September 1, 2012, against Michigan. T. J. Yeldon became Alabama’s first freshman to rush over 100 yards in his debut, with 111 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries (10.1 avg). Sharing carries with Eddie Lacy, Yeldon quickly established the Crimson Tide’s rushing attack after Trent Richardson left.

For a program that usually prides itself on being physical and “punching you in the mouth,” the ground attack was almost nonexistent. The Tide averaged just 3.35 yards per carry, and this has to be one of their worst marks in decades, if not the worst.

What’s more difficult to comprehend is that Bama rushed for just -3 yards in their SEC championship game against Georgia. So who is to blame, actually?

The real culprit behind Bama’s poor run game

A lot of the blame fell on the offensive line because they couldn’t block to save their own lives. Then again, the coaches kept rotating seven or eight guys in and out instead of sticking with a solid five. This led to issues with team chemistry. As a result, Alabama allowed 33 sacks, the most in the SEC.

This lack of a run game made the whole offense feel lopsided most of the time. Ty Simpson actually had a great year on paper, throwing for over 3,500 yards and 28 touchdowns. But because teams didn’t have to worry about the run, they could just drop everyone back into coverage and pin their ears back to chase Simpson.

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It turned Alabama into a one-dimensional passing team that struggled to score when it mattered most against top-tier defenses. By the end of the season, Simpson got banged up, playing through things like fractured ribs and a messed-up elbow. When your best players are limping, and you have no backup plan on the ground, things tend to go south quickly.

For a program that prides itself on fortitude, the embarrassing rushing stats were a clear sign of a broken identity. Now, the pressure is on Grubb to prove that his new crop of freshmen can restore the ‘Bama Standard’ before another season is defined by ‘what ifs’.