A tough day in Rocky Top hasn't hindered Alabama football offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic's faith in redshirt sophomore Elijah Pritchett .
Kapilovic told media during coach availability at Mal Moore Athletic Facility that the returning offensive lineman "did some good things" last Saturday against Tennessee . The offensive line staff just has to "keep stacking those good things" with the versatile 6-foot-6, 327 pound big-bodied tackle.
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"Let's say you throw the ball 45 times at a tackle, and let's say you win 42 of those, or 40 of those," Kapilovic said. "Everybody's gonna see those three or four you don't, right?"
Per Pro Football Focus , Pritchett received the lowest pass-block rating among all tackles who took the field in Neyland Stadium last Saturday, grading out at 45.9 compared to a game-high 86.6 for freshman Kadyn Proctor .
Kapilovic also expressed his frustration with the missed call that resulted in a sack for quarterback Jalen Milroe .
With 5:23 to go in the 24-17 loss, Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce Jr. was offsides, but the Volunteers brought up fourth-and-12 for Alabama with no contest from the referees.
"There's no question that guy was offsides," Kapilovic said, calling the situation "tough" for Pritchett.
"He's been doing a good job of getting where he needs to be and getting on now. He just has to finish better."
Kapilovic added that at this time of year, "every o-lineman is beat up and tired" at programs around the country.
None of that has stopped Pritchett from hiking up what his coach called the "big boy pants" in practice this week.
"It kills him to not have a good play and let the team down," Kapilovic said.
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama football OL Elijah Pritchett found missed calls at Tennessee 'tough'
