Tide’s Ross Pierschbacher not expecting to move this season
Familiarity is just fine right now for Alabama redshirt junior left guard Ross Pierschbacher, who is working this spring between fifth-year senior center Bradley Bozeman and sophomore left tackle Jonah Williams.
Pierschbacher worked last spring in Tuscaloosa as the first-team center, which was a tall order given that predecessor Ryan Kelly was the 18th overall selection in the 2016 NFL draft. The 6-foot-4, 304-pounder from Cedar Falls, Iowa, maintained the center role throughout spring and preseason camp, but Pierschbacher was replaced by Bozeman just days before last season’s opener against Southern California.
There has been no tinkering so far this year for Pierschbacher, who has 30 career starts at left guard, including 15 each of the past two seasons.
“It feels good,” Pierschbacher said during a recent news conference. “I feel like I’ve improved my footwork and become more comfortable with Jonah and Bozeman. Not having to switch positions the week before the game is nice for sure.”
Alabama held its 13th spring practice Tuesday afternoon, working out for two hours in full pads. The Crimson
Tide will practice again Thursday and hold their A-Day game Saturday afternoon.
Pierschbacher was part of an Alabama offense last season that averaged 455.3 yards per game and a league-leading 38.8 points a contest. The Crimson Tide won a third straight Southeastern Conference title with a third new starting quarterback, and the return of Jalen Hurts has made this spring different from any Pierschbacher has experienced.
“You see our quarterbacks make so much progression throughout the year, and then they’re gone,” Pierschbacher said. “It’s nice to see him carry that progression and continue to get better. He’s really slinging the ball back there.”
Pierschbacher added that Hurts has stepped up as a leader, become more vocal and developed a great relationship with new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. Alabama is returning receiver Calvin Ridley and running backs Damien Harris and Bo Scarbrough, which has placed most of the attention this spring on replacing tight end O.J. Howard and left tackle Cam Robinson.
Williams has shifted from right to left tackle, which has resulted in Lester Cotton, Matt Womack and Deonte Brown vying for the two starting spots on the right side.
A potentially unique dynamic for this year’s offense could occur if Hurts went out and was replaced by early enrollee Tua Tagovailoa, who is left-handed. With the left side of the Crimson Tide line having far more experience, what would happen if Tagovailoa was put in passing situations?
“I think it would stay the same,” Pierschbacher said. “There is really not a big difference as far as calls. Maybe there will be a couple of run calls that are called a certain way and he rolls out a certain way, but that’s really it.”
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@ timesfreepress.com or 423757-6524.
“I feel like I’ve improved my footwork and become more comfortable with Jonah and Bozeman. Not having to switch positions the week before the game is nice for sure.”
– ROSS PIERSCHBACHER