A perceived strength for Alabama heading into 2023 was what the Tide offered in the trenches. Star returners on both sides of the ball, a dedication to a physical style. It looked good on paper.

But like Alabama’s quarterback situation and national title hopes, there are a few concerning factors among Alabama’s offensive and defensive lines. And they didn’t all emerge on Saturday’s historic 34-24 loss to Texas.

For the second week in a row, the interior of the Tide’s offensive line faltered — pressure and low snaps — and against the Longhorns (2-0), the defensive front didn’t generate enough pressure on quarterback Ewers.

“A lot of those sacks were four-man rushes. One of them, I think, was a three-man rush. We didn’t get any pressure on their quarterback. We’re trying to play so we could cover their receivers and rush four guys, and we didn’t affect him at all,” head coach Nick Saban said.

Through eight quarters, Alabama (1-1) has three sacks, none of which have come from Dallas Turner, an All-SEC preseason honoree. Turner has also produced five of the nine quarterback hurries. Both Middle Tennessee State’s Nick Vattiato and Texas’ Quinn Ewers completed over 63% of its passes.

Saban said Texas and play-caller Steve Sarkisian were able to move the pocket for Ewers or use delayed releases and rub routes to move the chains. Alabama was caught substituting or losing its alignment on some big plays, but Ewers still had a comfortable amount of time on his six passes of at least 30 yards.

When senior defensive back Malachi Moore was asked about generating more pressure, he kept it short.

“Uh, I guess call more blitzes. I don’t know,” Moore said.

For the offense, Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe is at a 60% rate, but Alabama has conceded seven sacks for 47 yards lost.

Alabama knew it had a challenge with linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. leading an experienced defense. But Texas didn’t need extra rushers to pressure Milroe out of the pocket. Grad student Darrian Dalcourt at right guard and freshman Kadyn Proctor at left tackle was offering little resistance at times.

And penalties on the pair negated two Alabama touchdowns. Of Alabama’s nine infractions, five committed by the offensive line: three holdings and an ineligible man downfield.

“Those kinds of things put you behind the 8-ball on offense,” Saban said of the penalties and low snaps.

Junior right tackle JC Latham was seen multiple times throughout the game either instructing a fellow lineman after a play, or swinging his head around as if to look where the pressure came from. Milroe was sacked five times.

“Discipline. Not locked in, wasn’t focused,” Latham said of the breakdowns in protection. “That starts with me. I feel like if I’m a leader, my group got to be leading the right way. We just weren’t prepared.”

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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].