Alabama offensive line the key to Crimson Tide passing game
By Andrew Olson
Published:
With 197 passing yards per game in conference play (No. 9 among SEC teams), Alabama isn’t relying heavily on the pass. But when Lane Kiffin calls for QB Jalen Hurts to throw the ball, Hurts has been one of the conference’s most accurate quarterbacks, posting a completion percentage of 62.3 (139-of-223), which is No. 3 among SEC signal-callers.
Hurts’ completion numbers can be credited to Alabama’s offensive line, as whether or not the freshman quarterback is under pressure makes all the difference.
#Alabama QB Jalen Hurts is completing 74.6% of his passes when the Alabama OL keeps him clean — but just 21.2% when pressure gets to him.
— PFF College (@PFF_College) November 8, 2016
LSU was able to get some pressure on Hurts, and the quarterback posted below average numbers (10-of-19, 107 yards, INT), but the Crimson Tide left Baton Rouge with a 10-0 win.
If the Tide’s big uglies can keep Mississippi State’s pass-rush from entering the backfield, Hurts should be in for a big bounce back outing.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
