Alabama Offense Emphasizing Fast Starts Ahead of South Carolina Matchup

Tight end Marshall Pritchett and the Crimson Tide offense are focusing on avoiding early down-and-distance deficits against the Gamecocks.

Alabama hosts South Carolina on Saturday, Sept. 26, with kickoff set for 6 p.m. on ESPN, and the Crimson Tide offense has made faster starts a priority in practice this week.

Tight end Marshall Pritchett said fan criticism of the team's slow offensive starts comes with the program's high expectations. He noted Alabama began well in its 50-36 win over Florida State, opening with a Daniel Hill 4-yard run before a penalty set the drive back.

The offense uses the acronym GBOT, short for "get back on track," a concept offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb emphasizes. Pritchett said the focus is avoiding second-and-9 and second-and-10 situations and staying ahead of the down markers, especially early in games.

Along the offensive line, William Sanders said quick communication is the key, with each lineman needing to know his assignment and trust the teammates beside him for the group to gel quickly.

For the tight ends, Pritchett said the approach involves opening with 12-personnel sets and establishing physicality from the first snap.