Alabama Football Had to Make a Change: Chris Kapilovic and the Offensive Line Split Was Necessary

Alabama and offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic have officially parted ways after two seasons, according to multiple reports… and honestly? It needed to happen.

This isn’t personal.

This is Alabama football.

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Kapilovic came to Tuscaloosa as part of Kalen DeBoer’s first staff, arriving after spending four seasons at Michigan State. On paper, it made sense.

Experience.

A fresh start.

A chance to keep the standard rolling in the trenches.

But the results never matched the expectations.

And the expectations were sky-high for a reason.

Heading into this season, Alabama was supposed to have one of the best offensive lines in the entire country. This wasn’t a “maybe they’ll be good” situation. This was a unit that looked loaded with proven talent and future pros. Left tackle Kadyn Proctor, center Parker Brailsford, and right guard Jaeden Roberts all earned preseason All-SEC recognition. The kind of praise you don’t get unless the league believes you’re about to dominate.

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Instead, what we got was an offensive line that felt inconsistent, soft at times, and completely out of rhythm when it mattered most.

Alabama struggled to run the football all season long, averaging just 104.1 rushing yards per game which was next-to-last in the SEC. That’s not just a “bad by Alabama standards” number.

That’s a “something is seriously wrong” number.

Alabama football is built on being able to line up, punch you in the mouth, and move the pile when everybody in the stadium knows what’s coming.

That identity wasn’t there.

And it didn’t stop with the run game.

The protection issues were just as frustrating. Alabama allowed more pressures than any team in the SEC (183), according to Pro Football Focus, and gave up 32 sacks which was the fourth most in the conference.

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That’s not championship football.

That’s not even Alabama football.

At some point, you have to stop hoping it’ll magically click and start demanding results.

You can’t waste elite talent.

You can’t waste drives.

You can’t waste seasons.

Not at this level.

Now Alabama has to find the right coach to bring life back to the offensive line room , and toughness too. A coach who teaches technique, yes, but also restores that edge. That nasty. That pride. The kind of unit that finishes blocks, protects the quarterback like family, and turns the run game into a weapon again.

Because Alabama doesn’t need a “decent” offensive line.

Alabama needs a dominant one.

Roll Tide.