As Tyler Booker describes it, Alabama’s offensive line should sound like a game of ‘telephone’ before the snap.

On Tuesday, Booker explained how the Tide’s blockers relay calls to each other when analyzing a defense. It’ll start with the center, Seth McLaughlin making a call. Booker and right guard Darrian Dalcourt repeat it and make sure both tackles are on the same page. It’s quick dialogue — “Hey, eyes up for this” — meant to be transferred quickly before Jalen Milroe calls for the ball.

Alabama’s offense looked better with Milroe once again orchestrating the unit last Saturday. Yet, a season-long problem remained: the offensive line’s pass protection.

The Rebels produced four sacks last weekend, bringing Alabama’s season total to 16. That’s the sixth-most in the country. By comparison, Troy has allowed 15. A unit with two returning starters has struggled, and after three subpar weeks, scheme and injuries forced a bit of a shakeup to start SEC play.

The Tide (3-1, 1-0) utilized seven linemen for at least one series in Week 4, per PFF’s snapcounts. For the first time since the opener against Middle Tennessee State, Nick Saban and position coach Eric Wolford dipped into the unit’s depth. Left tackle Elijah Pritchett replaced freshman Kadyn Proctor and Terrence Ferguson II checked in for a temporarily injured Darrian Dalcourt.

The Ferguson-Dalcourt swap isn’t too surprising. Ferguson got the start when back spasms sidelined Booker against South Florida. But Pritchett’s emergence over Proctor was by design. Saban said he wanted to see both get in the game following the 24-10 win

He provided an evaluation and overall goal for the unit on Monday.

“Both guys did OK,” Saban said of Pritchett and Ferguson. “I think there was some things we’d like to finish better. I think the big point of emphasis with our offensive line is gotta get your second step in the ground, gotta get your hands inside so that we can finish blocks. That would be the case with both of those guys. But it also is sort of an overall evaluation of what we need to do to get better on the offensive line.”

Of the Tide’s 70 offensive snaps, Proctor played 56 protecting Milroe’s blindside and Pritchett handled the rest. Proctor was graded at a 52.4% pass-blocking win rate, compared to 73.6% for Pritchett. After allowing two sacks in consecutive games, Proctor stabilized somewhat while conceding two pressures.

Earlier this season, Booker gave his advice to Proctor. He told the freshman a story about when Booker conceded a sack against Texas A&M a year ago. He rebounded two weeks later with a season-high in snaps and eventually started the Sugar Bowl. Saban wanted that guidance to rub off on the left tackle, making a fall camp adjustment to move Booker to left guard.

“I’m just reassuring them on their calls. I came in as a tackle, way back when, feels like years ago, so I know all the tackle calls. Just reassuring them on that. And just little tips before the play like, ‘Hey, stay inside out,’ or ‘Hey, this stunt is coming,’ just little things like that I help them with. But it’s all them, it’s just me relaying the call and I’m very proud of both of those guys,” said Booker.

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Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at [email protected].