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Robinson paved the way as Alabama took over against Kentucky

Alabama offensive lineman Cam Robinson (74) defends against Western Kentucky tight end Kyle Fourtenbary (42) during the second quarter against Western Kentucky at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016. (Erin Nelson | The Tuscaloosa News)

You can find the exact place and time where the University of Alabama began to assert its will against Kentucky last Saturday night. It came in the second quarter. It came behind left tackle Cam Robinson and left guard Ross Pierschbacher. It came on seven straight runs to the left side.

The game was tied 3-3 when the drive started. By the time it was done, Alabama had a lead it never relinquished as it pulled away to a 34-6 win.

All seven plays on the drive were runs, and all went to the left side. Damien Harris took the first carry. Freshman running back Joshua Jacobs got the ball on the final six rushes to finish the 61-yard drive.

“It’s great,” center Bradley Bozeman said. “It’s definitely a mindset for an offensive line whenever they can go out and run the ball every play and get down the field and score.”

Robinson was among three players named by the coaching staff as offensive players of the week. Jacobs, who was also named SEC freshman of the week, was one of the other picks by the Alabama coaching staff.

“I thought Cam was a little more aggressive in the game and certainly played physical in the game,” head coach Nick Saban said.

Robinson has not been made available to speak to the media this season after a summer arrest in Louisiana, which was resolved when the charges were dropped.

Alabama leaned heavily on the left side of the offensive line against Kentucky. Of the 26 total carries by the running backs, 17 of them went to the left side. Including the drives before and after the seven straight rushes that went for Jacobs’ touchdown, Alabama had 12 carries from running backs that went to the left without a single one going to the right.

The running backs finished with 103 yards while going to the left side on the night. One rush up the middle went for 5 yards, and eight carries to the right went for 40 yards.

It was one of the stronger performances this season for the offensive line, which has shuffled players at both guard spots but been solid at both tackle positions. Robinson graded at 88 percent for the game with two knockdown blocks and no penalties on the night.

“We think Cam has played well all year long, but I think sometimes when you have an outstanding player like that you always have high expectations for what he does,” Saban said. “He certainly did a good job of sort of fulfilling those expectations in this last game. We were able to get some movement on the line of scrimmage and have the kind of balance that we want to have on offense as well.”

The drive in the second quarter may have been a bit lopsided to the left, but it helped establish the running game to help even out the pass-run balance. Alabama finished with 37 total runs against 38 passes against Kentucky.

That drive behind Robinson and Pierschbacher is what helped set the tone, though. Bozeman smiled when asked about it on Monday.

“As an offensive line, that’s your pride and joy to run the ball,” Bozeman said. “So whenever you can do it and do it successfully, it’s always a great feeling.”

Reach Ben Jones at ben@tidesports.com or 205-722-0196.

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