It wasn’t supposed to be like this, really.
Entering the 2021 season, the offensive line had some question marks, as usual. Alabama is a program that routinely turns over critical starters in most personnel groups — and each season the Tide tends to lose generally at least two starters up front: senior leaders are a rare privilege in Tuscaloosa. The loss of Landon Dickerson, the beating heart and mascot of the 2020 team was big, and so was Alex Leatherwood, the reigning Outland Trophy winner.
But here weren’t that many real red flags. In fact, there was reason for some guarded optimism.