Alabama football tackle Wilkin Formby didn’t play well against South Florida. The Crimson Tide’s starter on the right side got rung up for three holding penalties, and allowed four quarterback pressures according to Pro Football Focus advanced stats.
On Monday, Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan was asked about Formby’s performance, specifically the holding calls.
“I think in all those moments you’re trying to just teach and help a player improve,” Sheridan said. “I think Wilkin cares a whole bunch and wants to be as good as he can possibly be. And I think in some of those moments, it goes back to what we talked about, and it’s not just specifically to him, it’s for the whole group. If your fundamentals aren’t right, if your eyes aren’t in the right spot, you can get out of position.
“I think that not just for him specifically, but our whole group, it goes back to footwork, eye discipline, simple things to make sure that you’re in the right position to make the play the right way, within the rules.”
Formby wasn’t the only issue on Alabama’s offensive line. Kadyn Proctor missed the USF game with a shoulder injury.
His absence caused Tyler Booker to slide over to tackle, with Geno VanDeMark filling the hole at left guard. Elijah Pritchett was dealing with a minor injury, so the Tide tried to rest him against the Bulls, though he played late during Alabama’s most successful offensive stretch.
Alabama ended the game with four holding penalties, an illegal block in the back and two false starts. All told, the offensive line cost UA 70 yards in penalties, not to mention two nullified touchdowns.
Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer said Monday that the line needed to realize how tight the game was being called, and adjust to that. He said the ability to watch film on the sideline between drives can help with that.
“We just kept grabbing cloth longer when they were pulling away from us,” DeBoer said. “Just for that split second and holding getting called. Unfortunately it brought back— I don’t know this is a rough tally, but I just wanted to do my own numbers— I think it was probably at least 180, 190 yards worth of offense, not counting the yards that we lost because of the penalty assessment.
“That’s a game changer. In the first half alone, I think it was probably 180. We’ve got to adjust and make sure we’re playing the game the way it’s supposed to be played.”
Alabama is back in action on Saturday against Wisconsin. The Tide might be getting healthier up front this week, as DeBoer sounded optimistic about Proctor and Pritchett’s status.
In the meantime, they’ll be getting back to basics.
“That’s what I would say to the whole group, is just making sure that we’re detailing the right details so that we can execute simple football well,” Sheridan said. “And as we all know, you’re a foot off, an inch off, or the wrong hand placement away from not getting called for a penalty. So that’s what we’re focusing on, not just with Wilkin, but with the whole group.”
Saturday’s game is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT in Madison. It will be aired on FOX.
