One more loss and Alabama is out of the championship race for the second year in a row. Ryan Grubb knows the writing on the wall and the fix for it. They are up for a revenge game against Oklahoma after last year’s 3-24 embarrassment, which didn’t just knock them out of the playoffs but raised questions about Kalen DeBoer’s coaching abilities. Now, much as they have, Alabama’s offensive line must protect Ty Simpson at all costs, as going up against the Sooners’ defense, which is third in pressure rate, won’t be a walk in the park.

Oklahoma has pressured opposing quarterbacks with 33 sacks this season, and to tackle that, “communication” is Alabama’s primary key, according to Grubb. “I know our communication has to be elite. That’s the one thing that we probably don’t talk about enough. Characteristics of good offensive linemen—all the things that physically you want to have,” said Grubb.

Well, the fear makes sense. Ty Simpson has been productive this season, throwing for 2,461 yards with 21 touchdowns and just one interception. However, he has taken 15 sacks so far this season, which might put all the pressure on him. Without communication, those sacks will increase.

Grubb continued, “But the number one thing is communication. When you have problems in the interior gaps and you don’t take care of the interior gaps, whether it’s pass protection or run blocking, those problems happen quick.” Moreover, this game might finally give Simpson the Heisman moment he’s been waiting for so long. “It’s why we play football,” Simpson said. “It’s why I came here; it’s why I stayed here.” But it won’t be that straightforward.

Brent Venables’ defensive expertise is not new to the college football world, and even Lane Kiffin feared playing against him. “You look at the Auburn game (against Oklahoma); I told Hugh after the game watching it that he might want to switch his signals,” Kiffin said. “It looks like they have the plays. The middle safety is running down the field to steal slants.”

That’s precisely why Ryan Grubb’s stressing over it. According to Teamrankings, the Sooners have allowed only 14.1 points per game so far. Their defensive numbers are solid. Oklahoma ranks seventh in total defense and eighth in scoring defense, eighth in third-down conversion percentage, and first overall in team tackles for loss. It’s a unit that doesn’t give breathing space. Whereas Alabama ranks 65th nationally in sacks allowed, having given up 16 so far this season, averaging 1.78 per game.

This is the same team that shut down Kalen DeBoer’s offense last year in Norman, holding them to just three points and 234 total yards. And they can still do it with their high-quality interior defensive linemen like David Stone, Marvin Jones Jr., and Jayden Jackson. So now you know why Ryan Grubb stresses over their defense so much.

However, despite all of this, even Alabama’s ground game is not particularly effective.

Ryan Grubb’s Alabama weak run game

Alabama’s run game has been an issue since their game against LSU, as they haven’t been good in blocking, and running backs haven’t pressed gaps properly to gain yardage.

Jam Miller’s struggles have intensified after a concussion against Missouri. Before that, he produced 136 rushing yards against Vanderbilt and added 85 yards on 4.3 yards per carry against Missouri’s strong run defense. But since then, he has carried the ball just 30 times for only 54 yards with a 1.8 yards per carry mark.

Even Daniel Hill has not dominated, averaging 3.6 yards per carry. Yet his production has been better than Miller’s; at over 244 pounds, Hill rarely gets tackled in the backfield and consistently falls forward to keep the offense moving.

Now, the offensive line’s run blocking remains a consistent issue, with all guards and RT Wilkin Formby struggling. So, it remains to be seen how Ryan Grubb’s offense holds up against Oklahoma’s defense, because if they falter, all effort will go to vain.