Alabama
Alabama's improved pass protection trending up during final stretch
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – For the second game in a row, Alabama’s offensive line did not give up a sack as the Crimson Tide cruised to a 52-7 win over Mercer in its penultimate home game.
Alabama has kept Jalen Milroe’s jersey clean in its last two wins as its offensive line, particularly its pass protection, has improved as the Crimson Tide’s 2024-25 season has progressed.
“It’s definitely gotten better,” said Alabama center Parker Brailsford. “I feel like we’ve kind of meshed better as an O-line, as a unit especially. But even as a team, I feel like we’ve just meshed better, and that’s definitely helped us.
“I trust the guys to my right and my left that they’re gonna have my back just like they trust the guys to their right and left.”
Alabama (8-2, 4-2 SEC) has been better at protecting the quarterback this season, allowing 17 sacks in 10 games. For comparison, the Tide gave up a Saban Era-worst 49 sacks in 2023. UA still has at least three games left on the schedule, but that’s a drastic improvement.
The offensive line gets credit for the turnaround, but first-year Alabama offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan said the responsibility falls on all 11 players, as well as the coaching staff.
“Trying to minimize the opportunities the opponent gets to really pin their ears back, and when you are in those moments, being mindful of what you’re asking your players to do,” Sheridan said. “It takes all 11. It starts obviously up front.
“The identification, the technique, the fundamentals, but then the quarterback making sure he’s reading the play properly, getting the ball out on time, the running backs and their pass protection or their routes, and the skill guys getting open at the right time in the right spots.”
The offensive line hasn’t been perfect. Alabama ranks sixth in the SEC in terms of the fewest sacks allowed. But Milroe doesn’t blame his offensive line when he’s dropped for a loss.
“I think our pass protection has been outstanding,” Milroe said. “We do a really good job of blitz pickup. We do a really good job with communication.
“I believe that any sack that’s on the field is on the quarterback. I believe that the quarterback should solve problems. I feel as though it’s for the quarterback to have some integrity and have some details when it comes to communication up front, making sure we’re sliding to the right person, not being hot in protection, getting the ball out, not holding onto the ball.
Milroe continued, “I think they’re doing a really good job and they’re grinding, refining and competing at a very high level. I’m proud of those guys because they’re definitely gonna receive the fruits when it comes to all the hard work that’s been poured into each day during the week.”
Alabama will need to continue its recent trend this weekend when it travels to Oklahoma, as the Sooners rank third in the SEC with 32 sacks generated in their first 10 games in the league.
But the Crimson Tide is ready for the challenge.
Alabama’s offensive line is considered one of the best units in the country. It is a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award, given to the nation’s top O-line, and has played some of its best football of late. In the last three games, Alabama’s front has paved the way for a combined 771 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns in decisive wins over Missouri, LSU and Mercer.
The Tide has won the Joe Moore Award twice since its inception (2015, 2020), and Brailsford knows what that takes, being a part of Washington’s Joe Moore-winning offensive line a season ago. He sees the same traits from the line he is anchoring in Year 1 at Alabama.
“Just the want to finish,” Brailsford said. “I feel like that’s one thing that’s really talked about in offensive line play. Just the want, the intent to really bury another man.”
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SPANISH FORT, Ala. (WALA) – The YMCA of South Alabama held a Healthy Kids Day at Spanish Fort Town Center Park.
Saturday’s event featured games and demonstrations, along with interactive activities featuring police and fire vehicles.
“I think just seeing so many organizations come together that serve kids, and just seeing kids have fun,” said Gwen Summer, CEO of the YMCA of South Alabama.
Marissa Rennaker, director of development for the YMCA of South Alabama, said the event exposed children to new activities.
“I think it’s been seeing all the kids laugh and try different things that they probably haven’t tried before,” Rennaker said. “There was a big group doing pickleball and yoga. We had ballet earlier, so just getting them out and exposed to things, I think it’s been great.”
The event was designed to kick off a healthy, active summer.
The YMCA of South Alabama is located at 27080 Pollard Road in Daphne.
Copyright 2026 WALA. All rights reserved.
Former Alabama star Will Anderson Jr. has reportedly signed a three-year, $150 million extension with the Houston Texans, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Anderson instantly solidified himself as one of the top defensive players in football throughout his rookie campaign in 2023. The star defensive end was named as the Rookie of the Year in 2023, as Anderson’s extension will officially keep him in Houston long-term, as well as make him the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
Anderson recorded an impressive 12 sacks on the Texans’ defensive line in 2025, as the former Alabama star has made history following his head turning extension with Houston.
Anderson was nothing short of a superstar throughout his time at Alabama. Houston drafted the talented lineman with the third overall pick of the 2023 NFL draft, as Anderson was widely regarded as one of the top overall selections from his class.
The former Crimson Tide superstar has officially inked a massive extension with the Texans, as Anderson will undoubtedly continue playing a critical role on Houston’s defensive line over the coming seasons.
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Alabama head coach Rob Vaughn said that No. 4 Texas would be “hungry” against the No. 11Crimson Tide coming off its first series loss of the season to Texas A&M.
The Longhorns certainly were, as they pounced all over Vaughn’s team, striking out 17 Alabama batters en route to a 10-2 win.
“The story of the game was they just kind of kicked our tail in every phase tonight,” Vaughn said.
Alabama starter Tyler Fay had been elite over his past four starts, dating back to his complete-game no-hitter against Florida, allowing just six earned runs over the 26.0 innings pitched in those games. That changed instantly on Friday evening, as leadoff batter Aiden Robbins opened the game with a double and catcher Carson Tinney took him deep for a two-run blast moments later.
Texas added a third run in the first off an Ethan Mendoza RBI double, setting the tone for a dominant day. Alabama did not record a hit until the fourth inning as Longhorn ace Dylan Volantis tore through batters, striking out 12 over six innings.
Fay ended up going 5.1 innings, just the second time he did not make it through the sixth. The other, against Auburn, was only due to Vaughn wanting to keep his pitch count down in the wake of the no-hitter. He allowed season-highs of seven earned runs and 12 hits in the loss.
The Longhorns added a run each in the third and the fifth, before Alabama put the slightest amount of pressure on Texas in the top of the sixth. Bryce Fowler and Justin Lebron scored on the basepaths off an error and a wild pitch, respectively, to cut the Texas lead to three runs.
“You’ve got to find ways to score,” Vaughn said. “Those two guys just created two runs for us, and did a great job creating those runs and we crawl back in at 5-2, and it’s like, ‘Let’s go back to work…’ So thought we had that chance in those middle innings.”
The Longhorns effectively put the game to bed in the next frame, responding with three runs as Fay was relieved by Connor Lehman. Texas would add two more runs on the day, with the only silver lining coming in the fact that Alabama avoided a run-rule.
The Crimson Tide has now lost four straight SEC games after winning three consecutive series. Zane Adams takes the mound with the series on the line on Saturday, in a game that has been moved up to 12 p.m. CT due to anticipated rain in Austin.
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