Ryan Grubb knows the narrative about the Alabama football run game. It's one fixated on the outcome.
No Alabama running back with more than 10 carries is averaging more than 3.9 yards per rush. The room has combined for six touchdowns in nine games.
Overall, Alabama has the third-worst run game in the SEC, and the 17th-worst run game in college football, averaging 111.89 yards per game.
Crimson Tide backs are averaging 3.5 yards per touch, better than only South Carolina in the SEC and better than 16 teams nationally. Of those 16 teams, only four — Alabama, Missouri State , Troy and Cal — have a winning record heading into Week 12.
But to Grubb, if Alabama is solely focused on the outcome, it's focused on the wrong thing.
"I think that's part of the problem is there's too much noise right now, or they're listening to the narrative of 'We can't do this, we can't do that,'" Grubb said. "We need to focus on what we can do. And there's some things we're really good at. And it's not showing up right now, but it will."
And Alabama continues to try.
Unlike his five seasons at Fresno State, Washington and with the Seattle Seahawks where offenses were averaging at least 10 more pass attempts than run attempts each game, Alabama is averaging nearly four more pass attempts than run attempts per game, despite the struggles.
To Grubb, it's not a run blocking issue entirely. He sees a room with bent knees, low angles, tight hands and tight feet, a room that is able to handle movement.
And it's not a mental thing either, Grubb said. There are physical aspects, not missed assignments.
But as Alabama prepares for Oklahoma , the run game remains at the center of Grubb's attention, a unit he remains confident in.
"We got to improve that, and we will," Grubb said.
Alabama kicks off against Oklahoma at 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday, Nov. 15 on ABC.
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Ryan Grubb remains Alabama football run game 'will' show up
