Crunch Time in the Trenches: Alabama Demands More From Tight Ends as Blocking Woes Surface After First Fall Scrimmage

TUSCALOOSA, AL — As the sun sets on the first scrimmage of Alabama’s 2025 fall camp, the Crimson Tide coaching staff is beginning to narrow its focus. Amid positive signs across several position groups—sharpened quarterback play, crisp execution from the receiving corps, a fast, reactive defense—there’s one area drawing concern and immediate attention: tight end blocking. It’s not an outright crisis, but for a program where every detail matters and every inch is earned, the tone is unmistakable. Improvement is not optional. It’s expected. And it’s urgent.

Alabama has long leaned on its tight ends to do more than just catch passes. In Nick Saban’s era, and now under head coach Kalen DeBoer, the tight end position has evolved into a key component of both the run game and pass protection. A successful offensive play often begins with a tight end executing a block that opens a lane, seals an edge, or buys a critical second for the quarterback. It’s the unglamorous work—gritty, bruising, essential. And right now, according to the coaching staff, it’s not up to standard.

After the scrimmage, sources close to the program confirmed that blocking execution from the tight ends was inconsistent. Several plays designed to set the tone physically were disrupted by missed assignments, improper technique, or lack of finishing. In a system that emphasizes balance between the run and pass, those moments stand out—and not in a good way. Coaches reviewed the film and made it clear: the tight end room must answer the call, and soon.

Alabama’s offense is built on versatility. That means tight ends must not only be credible threats as receivers but also legitimate assets in the trenches. The days of one-dimensional players have no place in DeBoer’s system. Whether it’s a zone run, a power pull, or a screen setup, tight ends are expected to read, react, and impose their will. Blocking is not just a side responsibility—it’s a requirement.

The current roster features a blend of experience and youth in the tight end room. Veterans have shown flashes of high-level play in past seasons, but consistency remains the sticking point. Young talent is pushing hard but still learning the nuances of technique and positioning against elite SEC defenses. It’s a room in transition, but Alabama doesn’t wait for readiness—it demands it.

In practice sessions leading up to the scrimmage, the physicality in drills had reportedly improved. Pads were popping. Technique was being drilled, corrected, reinforced. But when the lights came on in the scrimmage setting, the staff didn’t see enough carryover. That’s what has triggered the current push—a targeted effort to turn potential into production before the season opener arrives.

Head coach Kalen DeBoer has been measured in his commentary, choosing not to single out individual players but making it clear that the group as a whole has work to do. Blocking at the point of attack, sustaining blocks into the second level, and recognizing blitz packages are areas that have been circled in red ink during film sessions. These aren’t new issues for tight ends around the country—but at Alabama, where margins are razor-thin, they could be the difference between a 6-yard gain and a sack.

What makes the blocking issue more pressing is the context of the Tide’s offensive identity heading into 2025. The quarterback position, still under competition, will likely benefit from a run-heavy complement early in the season. Establishing the ground game will be vital—not just for rhythm, but for protecting a developing offensive unit from unnecessary risk. That places increased emphasis on tight ends being functional extensions of the offensive line.

And that’s where Alabama’s standard comes into play. This is not a program that accepts “good enough.” Every player, every position group, is evaluated with postseason goals in mind. Blocking breakdowns in August are studied because they can lead to breakdowns in November, when conference titles and playoff berths hang in the balance.

Inside the tight end room, the message has already landed. Reports from practice suggest a renewed urgency. Players have been seen staying after drills, working on hand placement, pad level, and leverage. Coaches are ramping up competition with blocking-specific periods, where only physical execution matters—no routes, no finesse, just raw, assignment-perfect effort. The room understands what’s being asked of them. Now it’s about delivering.

There’s historical precedent for this. Alabama has seen tight ends make dramatic mid-camp improvements before. In 2020, blocking concerns gave way to dominant play down the stretch, with tight ends anchoring key sequences in the Tide’s championship run. The hope inside the program is that 2025 can follow a similar arc. The tools are there. The experience is there. What’s needed now is toughness, execution, and buy-in.

For fans, the focus on tight end blocking may seem like a small storyline compared to quarterback battles or defensive dominance. But insiders know better. In Alabama’s system, a tight end who seals the edge or picks up a blitz can change the course of a game. They are chess pieces in an offense designed to manipulate matchups and control tempo. When they miss, the entire board shifts.

The next scrimmage looms large. It will be more than just a dress rehearsal for the quarterbacks or the line—it will be a litmus test for whether the tight ends have heard the message and responded. Coaches will be watching closely. So will the rest of the offense. In football, trust is everything. If the tight ends can re-establish themselves as reliable blockers, they’ll earn more snaps, more targets, and more responsibility. If not, the Tide may have to look at alternative formations or rely more heavily on offensive linemen in jumbo packages to compensate—moves that could limit flexibility and explosiveness.

This is the moment where camp stories start to harden into season realities. And for Alabama’s tight ends, the path forward is clear. Clean up the technique. Embrace the physicality. Set the tone, rather than react to it.

Alabama’s championship DNA has always been forged in the details. The best teams aren’t just defined by star quarterbacks or highlight-reel touchdowns—they’re built on fundamentals. A tight end throwing the key block on third-and-two, creating space on the edge for a back to hit daylight, or standing up a blitzing linebacker to protect a deep shot downfield—that’s the Alabama way.

The next few weeks will determine whether this tight end group lives up to that standard. The talent is there. The coaching is there. Now the accountability must follow. Because in Tuscaloosa, it’s not enough to be a pass-catcher. To wear that jersey, you’ve got to hit somebody—and make it count.