Before the 2023 season started, Alabama football’s offensive linemen had told media they wanted to dominate the line of scrimmage and make opponents quit. The group looked the part, weighing in as the league’s heaviest offensive line starters.

That didn’t happen. Quarterback Jalen Milroe spent far too much time running for his life as the offensive line looked abysmal, game after game.

But over the past few weeks, things have improved. The Tide put up its first allowed sack-free game against Kentucky on Nov. 11, and have given up just one each game against Chattanooga and Auburn.

“We’re playing better,” Nick Saban said ahead of the Auburn game. “I think we’ve made steady improvement. I think the improvement has come from better communication and better technical execution from a technique standpoint, hand placement, foot placement, that kind of stuff, second step on the ground. I think all those things have helped. I think pass protection has improved but that’s something we need to continue to improve on.”

One of the keys to the turnaround has been improved play from Kadyn Proctor. The true freshman, a former five-star recruit, won the lion’s share of the reps at left tackle out of camp.

It didn’t go well for a while. According to Pro Football Focus, Proctor allowed multiple sacks in four games, giving up 10 total.

“He’s young,” right tackle JC Latham said of Proctor in September. “You can look at all the greats, like Kobe (Bryant), he air-balled his first shot. (Michael) Jordan, not making varsity in high school. Not everybody has the perfect career or even the perfect start. Everybody goes through their own trials and tribulations. You can’t really compare what you’re going through to somebody else. At the end of the day, he’ll turn out to be one of the best tackles in the country, and we’ll all look back at this and see it as a learning curve.”

Over the past three games, Proctor has turned around his play. He hasn’t allowed a sack since the LSU win.

In Alabama’s Saturday win at Auburn, a 27-24 thriller that came down to a fourth-and-goal touchdown pass from 31 yards out, Proctor didn’t allow a quarterback hit. For his efforts, he was named the SEC’s co-freshman of the week.

“We’ve talked about on several occasions him developing confidence in what he’s supposed to do, how he’s supposed to do it, why he’s supposed to do it that way,” Saban said Monday of Proctor. “The improved communication of the offensive line I think has contributed to that development of confidence. I think that’s the one word that when you have success, which he has had more success in recent games, that really helps build confidence and an expectation that you can do things at a high level. And that’s how you prepare. That’s how you go play.”

The offensive line as a unit has allowed 39 sacks this season. However, with just two of them coming over the past three games, the improvement is easily visible.

On Monday, Saban praised offensive line coach Eric Wolford’s work with the unit.

“He’s done a fantastic job and I think the players have responded well to him,” Saban said “Our technique has gotten better. Our communication has gotten better. The continuity of playing together has gotten better. And I think the results that we’re getting is showing that.”

The turnaround couldn’t have come at a better time for the Crimson Tide. No. 8 Alabama is still alive in the race for the College Football Playoff, but will need to beat No. 1 Georgia in Saturday’s SEC championship game to have a chance at making the field of four.

“This is probably the best front they’re going to go against all year to this point,” Saban said. “So it’ll be interesting to see how that matchup sort of transpires.”

Alabama and Georgia are scheduled to kick off at 3 p.m. CT Saturday in Atlanta. The game will be aired on CBS.