Tyler Booker reveals his advice to Alabama's struggling left tackles

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama’s offensive line has had problems keeping the pressure off of quarterback Jalen Milroe through the first seven games of the season. The Crimson Tide ranks 130th nationally with 31 allowed sacks so far – or nine more than all of last year.

Some have been due to Milroe holding onto the ball too long, but for the most part, it has been problems with things like the line’s technique – hand placement, footwork, etc. Head coach Nick Saban said the issues aren’t due to capability and believes they can be fixed, but with Alabama entering its eighth game of the year, is there still time to right the wrongs?

Left guard Tyler Booker is trying to help his younger teammates improve, and do so quickly.

“I’m telling these guys to be a lot more consistent,” Booker said Tuesday. “The thing that gets them in trouble is not focusing on their technique. They have all the talent in the world. It’s just consistency and focusing on technique. So that’s what I’m going to be reiterating to them all week long.”

The position that has struggled the most, left tackle, is manned by younger players. Freshman Kadyn Proctor has started every game and has seen the majority of the reps there to begin the season. The former 5-star is responsible for 17 of the team’s 81 pressures and seven sacks, which both lead the offensive line. He and redshirt freshman Elijah Pritchett, who has rotated at left tackle the last four weeks, have both had issues in pass protection.

Booker believes the biggest challenge for the youngsters is dealing with speed off the edge, but the sophomore starter also remains optimistic that both left tackles will clean things up.

“When you’re on the inside, like I was last year, there’s not much of a speed element,” Booker said. “When you’re on that edge, on that island by yourself, you have to adjust to the speed and the multitude of moves somebody could throw at you. When you’re on the inside you have two side boys, but when you’re on that island, you’re essentially out there by yourself. 

“So I’m really proud of both those guys for the way they’re weathering the storm right now. Brighter days are definitely ahead. I like how they improve each week.”

Considered the leader of Alabama’s offensive line, Booker was asked if the mental errors for the young players can be corrected in practice or does that take more in-game experience?

“I feel like it’s a bit of both, honestly,” Booker said. “Experience is the best teacher, so the more those guys play, the better that they’ll get. But at the same time, you have to play with technique in order to earn that playing time that will in turn get you better in the future. 

“So those guys just have to pay more attention to their technique and what they do off the field to prepare. But that’s everybody on the offensive line. They’re not the only guys that have made mistakes. We can all be better as a unit.”

Booker has been one of Alabama’s best offensive linemen this season, twice earning player of the week recognition from the Crimson Tide coaches and receiving SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors after the Ole Miss game. Right tackle JC Latham is another, who was named the SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week after Alabama’s win over Arkansas.

Their relationship dates back to high school ball at IMG Academy, and together, the veterans have tried to be mentors for Proctor, Pritchett and UA’s other young offensive linemen.

“Me and JC, we’ve been on teams before to where we fell short, and we don’t want to do that again,” Booker said. “Back when we were at IMG, we lost to Chris Braswell at Saint Francis (Academy), and me and him spoke and we were like, ‘We don’t want to feel this feeling again.’ And we had that same kind of talk this past offseason. 

“So we just have to continue to step up as leaders, pull those young guys to the side a bit more and give them a little bit more time to think.”

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