BREAKING Alabama Expected to Hire Adrian Klemm as OL Coach

[BamaMoon]

I got distracted with my former post, but I came to this thread to say that I saw where AJM is sticking his neck out for our new OL hire. He thinks he's going to bring a "nastiness" we've been missing to our OL play.

 

[OBMS]

The things we don't know-----is there a blocking check that the qb should call? Is there a blocking check the center should call? Is there an instinct coached that if this guy lines up on your nose, you can't expect the guy beside you to reach him---you gotta hit him? Is there any check at all to account for alignment? Too many unknows except that this wasn't the first time (or the 50th) time this year that RBs got hammered in the backfield by backside pursuit.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

I'm about to show my ignorance on OL blocking schemes, but when the defense is in that alignment, why not just put a hat on a hat? Our center blocks the guy lined up over him, our RG chips the nose guard and moves to linebacker, our RT blocks the end. RW blocks the DB. Our #5 block the DB nearest him. Then our RB only has to make one DB miss who's coming down from the secondary. Seems more straightforward and less difficult to do IMO. But again, I know very little about OL blocking schemes.

A lot of OL blocking schemes try to get downfield blocking advantages with big bodies. In order to do that, they won't have a blocker for the backside of a running play. It allows one of the linemen on the play side to release from the line early and start going downfield to pickup a LB or safety. To do that, linemen have to shift to the playside on who they block, leaving the backside hole unaccounted for. I've listened to former players who are now on air analyst, point this out during broadcasts.

 

[AlexanderFan]

A lot of OL blocking schemes try to get downfield blocking advantages with big bodies. In order to do that, they won't have a blocker for the backside of a running play. It allows one of the linemen on the play side to release from the line early and start going downfield to pickup a LB or safety. To do that, linemen have to shift to the playside on who they block, leaving the backside hole unaccounted for. I've listened to former players who are now on air analyst, point this out during broadcasts.

We were also hurt by the hesitation of the running backs, allowing the backside time to catch up and make the play.

Maybe it should just be a hat on a hat downhill style.

Maybe that style is an attempt to make up for a talent disparity that they may no longer have. Maybe it’s just time to line up and see who wins the battles.

 

[Padreruf]

We were also hurt by the hesitation of the running backs, allowing the backside time to catch up and make the play.

Maybe it should just be a hat on a hat downhill style.

Maybe that style is an attempt to make up for a talent disparity that they may no longer have. Maybe it’s just time to line up and see who wins the battles.

Did you see the running style of Kenneth Walker III in the Super Bowl...he would almost stop while waiting for the hole to open and then burst through...almost impossible to stop? I grew weary of seeing our RB's just run into the backside of the OL when the hole was one man to the left or right.

 

[BamaMoon]

Did you see the running style of Kenneth Walker III in the Super Bowl...he would almost stop while waiting for the hole to open and then burst through...almost impossible to stop? I grew weary of seeing our RB's just run into the backside of the OL when the hole was one man to the left or right.

I suspect (again not knowing much about OL schemes) that the Seahawks were employing zone blocking schemes, which seems to play toward Walker's strength of hesitation and then hitting the open hole.

Much of our problem last year was RBs vision. There were times we had gaping holes and the RBs refused to run into them and #26 was the worst offender, which didn't make sense to me with his seniority.

But if they were leaving a free rusher from the end to pull (like we did at times) I don't think his hesitation tendency would work as well. One thing for sure, the Seahawks were getting some push off the LOS. Our guys didn't last year and that's one reason it seemed our RBs were running up into their backs because their backs were getting pushed into the back field.

 

[Padreruf]

I suspect (again not knowing much about OL schemes) that the Seahawks were employing zone blocking schemes, which seems to play toward Walker's strength of hesitation and then hitting the open hole.

Much of our problem last year was RBs vision. There were times we had gaping holes and the RBs refused to run into them and #26 was the worst offender, which didn't make sense to me with his seniority.

But if they were leaving a free rusher from the end to pull (like we did at times) I don't think his hesitation tendency would work as well. One thing for sure, the Seahawks were getting some push off the LOS. Our guys didn't last year and that's one reason it seemed our RBs were running up into their backs because their backs were getting pushed into the back field.

Perhaps (last paragraph) but not all the time...our RB's could not see the hole if it was a man or 2 over from where it was supposed to be...that's on them and the RB coach.

 

[CaliforniaTide]

I suspect (again not knowing much about OL schemes) that the Seahawks were employing zone blocking schemes, which seems to play toward Walker's strength of hesitation and then hitting the open hole.

Much of our problem last year was RBs vision. There were times we had gaping holes and the RBs refused to run into them and #26 was the worst offender, which didn't make sense to me with his seniority.

But if they were leaving a free rusher from the end to pull (like we did at times) I don't think his hesitation tendency would work as well. One thing for sure, the Seahawks were getting some push off the LOS. Our guys didn't last year and that's one reason it seemed our RBs were running up into their backs because their backs were getting pushed into the back field.

Klint Kubiak is the son of Denver Broncos OC Gary Kubiak, who is in the Mike Shanahan offense tree, which utilizes zone blocking. Klint worked under Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco, and he still uses a zone blocking system. When run well, it gets good and great pushes on the LOS against the defensive line. When it struggles, it can be a combination of the OL and perimeter blocking (TEs, WRs). The 49ers struggled to run the ball this season when TE Kittle (a fantastic running and catching TE) was out due to injuries, and at times, the WRs struggled to their job run blocking, and Kyle Shanahan always dogged after WRs who can't run block.

Having an RB who can be patient, and be able to find the seam is monumentally amazing with zone-blocking. A free edge rusher into the backfield will always affect the RB's vision ability. While I believe that our running game issues were OL+RB dominant, I think it's possible that those issues were amplified w/poor run blocking by the WRs. Where that line lies b/w the possible reasons, I have no idea. Grubbs, Klemm, and Nix need to align on this issue, even if they're passing the ball to run the ball.

 

[TiderJack]

I got distracted with my former post, but I came to this thread to say that I saw where AJM is sticking his neck out for our new OL hire. He thinks he's going to bring a "nastiness" we've been missing to our OL play.

He and Trent both are impressed based on some things they have heard from others. See below quotes and I like what I'm hearing.

A pair of former Alabama players love what they have heard about new Crimson Tide offensive line coach Adrian Klemm.

AJ McCarron and Trent Richardson, who both won National Championships with the Crimson Tide, said they have talked with people in the coaching world about Klemm, and the responses they have gotten have been positive. Both players expressed what they have heard on “The Dynasty: A Podcast On The Alabama Crimson Tide.”

“He’s completely different from the past,” McCarron said. “I think that is key for this team moving forward, this O-line moving forward, from a sense of, he’s not as polite-mannered as you recently just had. He has a great resume. There’s a ton of guys out there in the coaching world that respect the hell out of him and talk about how great of a coach he is, how he gets after the players. He demands a certain level of play, a certain level of nastiness in that play. So, that’s awesome to hear because I think that’s truly something we’ve been missing up front for a couple years now.”

Richardson echoed McCarron’s statement with what he heard.

“I’ve heard he’s one of those guys, who create yard dogs if they’re not,” Richardson said. “I heard a lot of good news about him. Me and AJ, one of our close friends in the coaching world, he loves the guy, kind of grew up with him. You hear stuff like that for some guy that is gonna always be real to us about any guy on the field, any coach out there on the field, I respect that a lot.”

Alabama is looking for its offensive line to have bounce-back season in 2026.

 

[CB4]

Has there been any word on any further additions to the coaching staff? Bryan Ellis moved from TE’s to coaching QB’s when Nick Sheridan left for Michigan State. I’m wondering if there is a plan to hire a replacement or have TE’s work with both Nix and WR’s AND Klemm at Oline?

 

[BamaMoon]

Has there been any word on any further additions to the coaching staff? Bryan Ellis moved from TE’s to coaching QB’s when Nick Sheridan left for Michigan State. I’m wondering if there is a plan to hire a replacement or have TE’s work with both Nix and WR’s AND Klemm at Oline?

I've heard that some of the contracts are up in late Feb. Maybe some changes start happening then?

 

[JDCrimson]

Did you see the running style of Kenneth Walker III in the Super Bowl...he would almost stop while waiting for the hole to open and then burst through...almost impossible to stop? I grew weary of seeing our RB's just run into the backside of the OL when the hole was one man to the left or right.

I believe I'm correct in saying this but Kapalovic was OL coach at Michigan State when KW3 was the RB there...

 

[Tideflyer]

We were also hurt by the hesitation of the running backs, allowing the backside time to catch up and make the play.

Maybe it should just be a hat on a hat downhill style.

Maybe that style is an attempt to make up for a talent disparity that they may no longer have. Maybe it’s just time to line up and see who wins the battles.

“ Maybe it should just be a hat on a hat downhill style. “ We’re FAR too sophisticated for that !

 

[Tideflyer]

I suspect (again not knowing much about OL schemes) that the Seahawks were employing zone blocking schemes, which seems to play toward Walker's strength of hesitation and then hitting the open hole.

Much of our problem last year was RBs vision. There were times we had gaping holes and the RBs refused to run into them and #26 was the worst offender, which didn't make sense to me with his seniority.

But if they were leaving a free rusher from the end to pull (like we did at times) I don't think his hesitation tendency would work as well. One thing for sure, the Seahawks were getting some push off the LOS. Our guys didn't last year and that's one reason it seemed our RBs were running up into their backs because their backs were getting pushed into the back field.

Lack of push by the O line HAD to be evident in practice.

 

[Snuffy Smith]

Didn’t see this posted anywhere - hiring TE coach from Louisville.

https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/story/sports/college/football/2026/02/11/richard-owens-hired-alabama-football-tight-ends-coach-louisville-offensive-line/88552208007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z113411p117350c117350v113411d--34--b--34--&gca-ft=86&gca-ds=sophi

 

[BamaMoon]

Didn’t see this posted anywhere - hiring TE coach from Louisville.

https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/story/sports/college/football/2026/02/11/richard-owens-hired-alabama-football-tight-ends-coach-louisville-offensive-line/88552208007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z113411p117350c117350v113411d--34--b--34--&gca-ft=86&gca-ds=sophi

Been reading some about him this morning. This is a HUGE development. Since the TE is a part of the OL, we are essentially getting another OL coach. At the 'ville, he coached several all ACC linemen and got several guys drafted. They were also top 15 in sacks allowed.

I can only imagine CKD sees a team of coaches who are going to get our OL and running game in sync.

 

[Transplanted]

Been reading some about him this morning. This is a HUGE development. Since the TE is a part of the OL, we are essentially getting another OL coach. At the 'ville, he coached several all ACC linemen and got several guys drafted. They were also top 15 in sacks allowed.

I can only imagine CKD sees a team of coaches who are going to get our OL and running game in sync.

Totally agree. He coached under some really good offenses and play calling at Louisville and has a lot of good OL metrics/historical tight end jobs.

This is a guy who would have been better than Kapilovic for OL the first time around but we’re lucky he has a lot of good TE experience, too.

 

[BamaMoon]

Totally agree. He coached under some really good offenses and play calling at Louisville and has a lot of good OL metrics/historical tight end jobs.

This is a guy who would have been better than Kapilovic for OL the first time around but we’re lucky he has a lot of good TE experience, too.

It's almost like we hired 2 coaches in 1! Nobody can say CKD isn't making some very good coaching moves!

 

[Bamabuzzard]

If we hire the TE ends coach along with getting Klemm. It looks like we very well may get what we all wanted and that's a double dose of OL coaching. I know Trent Richardson and AJ McDCarron are REAL high on Klemm. I watched their podcast the other day and both of them are extremely high on what Klemm can do for our OL. So that is a good sign and I hope their excitement comes to fruition. I would LOVE nothing more than to roll into 2026 with a drastically improved OL so our RB's can have a shot at displaying their talent.

 

[BamaMoon]

If we hire the TE ends coach along with getting Klemm. It looks like we very well may get what we all wanted and that's a double dose of OL coaching. I know Trent Richardson and AJ McDCarron are REAL high on Klemm. I watched their podcast the other day and both of them are extremely high on what Klemm can do for our OL. So that is a good sign and I hope their excitement comes to fruition. I would LOVE nothing more than to roll into 2026 with a drastically improved OL so our RB's can have a shot at displaying their talent.

I didn't see a thread on the new hire, so I started one. I agree on all your points. I think this is some very positive news for the OL and running game!!!