SEC Nation analysts weigh in on Alabama OC Ryan Grubb’s playcalling

By Creg Stephenson | cstephenson@al.comAlabama’s losses the last two weeks have increased the backlash against offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, whose offense produced just 17 points against Georgia and 10 vs. Tennessee. SEC Nation analyst Paul Finebaum said numerous callers to his show lobbied for Grubb to be fired after head coach Kalen DeBoer called Grubb a “great” play-caller during his Monday press conference. While he said that’s probably an “overreaction,” Finebaum said, there’s no question the drumbeat surrounding Grubb has increased.Grubb’s game plan vs. Tennessee was particularly puzzling to SEC Nation analyst Roman Harper, a former Alabama and NFL safety. He said he couldn’t understand why the Crimson Tide came out passing against the Volunteers, given the relative youth and inexperience of quarterback Keelon Russell. “I can love somebody; it doesn’t mean I’m happy with them,” Harper said. “I can still get their back; it doesn’t mean I’m happy with them. And you don’t have to be happy with the performance, because ultimately I’m looking at Kalen DeBoer and his whole staff that they have to figure out a path to victory each and every week and coach your team up accordingly to that week in regards to the team you’re going against. “It was almost like Ryan Grubb didn’t know that they were going to be playing a road game in Knoxville last week. Coming out, throwing the football all over the ballpark, understanding how tough the Neyland (Stadium) environment is? You have to [support] your players, give them an easy outlet.”Harper noted that the first “downhill run” Alabama called came late in the first quarter, on the Crimson Tide’s third drive. Fellow SEC Nation analyst Chase Daniel, a former Missouri quarterback, was equally puzzled.“What are we doing?,” Daniel asked. “You are physical. You are Alabama and got out-physicaled. And look Keelan Russell, for everything that I’ve seen on tape … he’s playing well but he’s still a young quarterback. You have to gain that confidence as the game goes on. So Ryan Grubb — I did not like the play calling this past week. We’ll see how it goes this week.”Tim Tebow, the former Florida Heisman Trophy winner, noted that we must also give Tennessee’s defense credit for the way it played against Alabama’s offense.“I think when we evaluate it, we need to make sure we do it week by week because not every game plan is the same, it’s difference actually every week versus what that defense is doing,” Tebow said. “And yes, I do think (Tennessee defensive coordinator) Jim Knowles had a wonderful game plan, but I also believe that Tennessee’s defense is maybe the best in the country. … That’s a really good defense. Do I think, looking back, they should have gotten to some downhill running game early, take some pressure off Keelan Russell? Probably.“But also, you’ve got to give a lot of credit to Tennessee’s defense. (Alabama’s) offensive line got punched in the face over and over and over again. Tennessee’s defense is a really unique, special defense that especially up front, it might be the best with a lot of different coverages.”Alabama (5-2, 3-2 SEC) faces Texas A&M (4-3, 1-3) at 2:30 p.m. Central on Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa. The game airs live on ABC.Creg Stephenson became college sports managing producer for AL.com in 2026. A veteran of more than 30 years as a sports writer, he is a past president of the Alabama Sports Writers Association and has won...