Behind Enemy Lines: Looking at Texas vs. Alabama with Bama OnLine's Charlie Potter

As No. 11 Texas heads to Tuscaloosa this weekend to battle No. 3 Alabama, Inside Texas caught up with BamaOnLine‘s Charlie Potter to get a crimson point of view on the primetime interconference matchup.

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1. Bryce Young’s Houdini heroics helped the Crimson Tide escape Austin with a 20-19 win at the beginning of the 2022 season. What can Texas fans expect to look different with Jalen Milroe leading Tommy Rees‘ offense?

I’m actually interested to see how the offense will look on Saturday. Now, I don’t expect it to be unrecognizable, but as one would expect – and I’m sure Texas took a similar approach – Rees and Alabama didn’t throw out the entire playbook in the first game against a team where it was a heavy favorite. Rees came in and learned the Crimson Tide offense, not the other way around, but I do think he will add his own wrinkles throughout the season, whether that be a balanced approach with more emphasis on the run game, usage of the tight ends or whatever.

As for Milroe, I think Rees will look to put him in favorable spots and get the ball out of his hands as quickly as possible. I think Milroe has improved as a passer and in his ability to read defenses, but this is going to be a wild environment against a good defense. Rees will most likely try to put him in positions to succeed while looking to get the ground game going. With that in mind, it’s possible that we see more designed runs by Milroe. He’s a freak athlete who could run options to not only make plays but open things up for play-action passes. There are a lot of possibilities, some not even mentioned here, and I, like most, am intrigued to see it.

2. Texas has another strong defensive front with veteran players at defensive tackle, EDGE, and linebacker. What are the strengths of the Alabama offensive line, which (like Texas’ last year) features a five-star true freshman at left tackle in Kadyn Proctor?

Alabama has power at the tackle positions with a couple of towering starters in Proctor and JC Latham. Proctor obviously doesn’t have a lot of experience, but he is a massive human being who had some good and not-so-great snaps in the opener. How he fares against the Texas front will be an interesting element to watch play out. I’m just guessing here, but I could see Rees give him some tight end help early on. As for the other spots, Darrian Dalcourt, Seth McLaughlin and Tyler Booker all are back, making for a veteran interior trio.

That group talked all spring and summer about wanting to be more physical up front, and we’re still in wait-and-see mode on that. This week will go a long way in determining if it was just talk or something that can prove to be a strength for the 2023 offense. For the most part, at least as a whole unit, the offensive line did a nice job in protecting Milroe and the other quarterbacks in the first game. The competition ramps up this week with Texas’ defensive line and edge rushers, but it was an encouraging start for a group that many have high hopes for.

3. The Longhorns have talent at wide receiver with Xavier Worthy, Jordan Whittington, and Adonai Mitchell. Will veteran stalwarts like Malachi Moore and Kool-Aid McKinstry be available, and how has Caleb Downs fared in early action?

McKinstry is fine. He didn’t go back in after taking a big hit on a return, but he was available for interviews after the game and said he was alright. Moore and Jaylen Key are the big question marks ahead of this game after both went to the locker room with injuries. They were able to practice on Tuesday, but just how much remains to be seen. I suspect both will be game-time decisions and will be at the top of our list of players to watch in pregame warmups. 

Key started the opener at safety after transferring in from UAB, while Moore started in the slot at Star. If they are unable to play, cornerback Terrion Arnold could move inside to Star with another transfer, Trey Amos, getting more reps at corner. As for Key at safety, Kristian Story looks to be the next man up there to play alongside Downs. On Downs, the true freshman doesn’t look like a true freshman at all. I wrote an in-depth feature on him last week, and the kid is just different, man. He led Alabama in tackles and earned SEC Co-Freshman of the Week honors. He seems to be a star in the making and will be a fixture on defense the next three years.

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4. The Bama running back room has a Texas flavor with Jase McClellan and Jam Miller. Who is the lead back from that group and what should we expect from Crimson Tide rushers?

McClellan is Alabama’s top running back. He led all players in carries last week with 10 and was the only non-quarterback to score a rushing touchdown. The Tide’s running back room is one of the deepest position groups on the roster, though, with five scholarship players who were all top 100 recruits before enrolling. Miller received rave reviews this summer but was the third back to see the field Saturday behind McClellan and Roydell Williams, UA’s other senior. Behind him are a couple of talented true freshmen backs, Justice Haynes and Richard Young.

This weekend, I fully expect McClellan to once again be the starter. He was UA’s second option after Jahmyr Gibbs last year and is a complete back that can catch the ball out of the backfield, pass protect and, of course, make plays in the run game. He’s now two years removed from an ACL injury and seems to have gained his confidence back. Williams will most likely be next up, and he’s more of a bowling ball type. Miller and even Haynes could also see carries in this one, especially if the Tide has success on the ground.

5. How do you see Saturday’s game playing out? Score prediction?

I’m excited for this one. This is my 10th season at BOL, and I’ve never covered a home game against a Power 5 opponent from out of conference. I think the atmosphere before and during the game will be electric and what makes college football so great, and I think we’re in for an entertaining matchup. For Alabama, it’s going to need to keep Texas’ receivers in check and get pressure on Quinn Ewers. If its defensive backs are healthy, I think it can do that, but we won’t know that until much closer to kickoff. Offensively, if Milroe can take care of the ball and keep making plays down the field, UA win this one. I’ll go with Alabama 32, Texas 24.