How Alabama's offensive focus can change overall team in 2023

The Alabama Crimson Tide enter the 2023 campaign hungry to return to what once was theirs — the throne atop the college football world. Last year, the Tide offense struggled mightily in short-yardage situations, and they’ll look to remedy that this fall with a stable of talented running backs, led by uber-talented freshman Justice Haynes.

On3’s Andy Staples noted on his podcast on Sunday evening that it feels like Alabama can be a “pretty run heavy team” this season. On3’s Tim Watts of BamaOnline.com joined him on the show to share his thoughts on the Crimson Tide’s running game heading into 2023.

The podcast video is below. You can also read the transcribed quotes below the video.

“Yeah. The thing with Alabama fans they wanted to score 50. They were tired of winning 19-11, you know. Well, they scored 50. Well, the other team started scoring 40 and 38, you know….Alabama fans want to score 50 and give up nothing, which is you know, obviously, impossible,” Watts began.

Simply put, Watts said there’s no shortage of depth in the Alabama backfield this season.

“But you’ve got the running backs back there. We talk about Justice [Haynes] and those guys. But a guy like Jamarion Miller. Highly recruited guy. He’s shown small flashes of what he can do. Obviously, Jase [McClellan] is an older guy. Roydell [Williams]. You’ve got guys on campus. Richard Young is another freshman,” Watts continued on Sunday evening.

“So, they’ve got some backs that can do some damage and they’re big guys,” the BamaOnline.com writer said.

Alabama struggled in short yardage situations last season

Watts diagnosed the biggest problem for the Tide offense in the 2022 campaign.

“I think last year when you look. One of the problems with that team was they couldn’t get that third and one. That fourth and one. It was a given for many years. Just that third and one was nothing. I mean, you knew they were coming right at you. They could have told you the play and got it. But last year, you saw it, even in the Texas game. You saw fourth and one. Couldn’t seal the game away by getting that yard. Had a slip in the backfield with Roydell Williams,” Watts said.

Not only will the Crimson Tide have a stable of talented running backs, but all of their quarterbacks that are competing for the starting job this fall have the added element of being able to run and make plays with their legs.

“So, I think you’re gonna see a little bit more of that physical [style]. All of these quarterbacks. The main guys competing are guys that can tuck it and run. So, there’s the added element. Everybody talks about Jalen Milroe and what a great athlete he is, and he is, but you know, Ty Simpson and Tyler Buchner. They’re not anything to shy away from if they want to get them out in the open and bootleg,” Watts said.

It’s certainly going to be fascinating to watch the Crimson Tide this fall, as they look to prove the doubters wrong who believe their changes could stifle their ability to return to the top of the college football world.

The Alabama Crimson Tide open up their 2023 campaign against the MTSU Blue Raiders. That one will kick off on Sept 2nd at 7:30 p.m. EST.