Alabama football OL coach preaches LAW: Loud and wrong
Chris Kapilovic, make no mistake, is looking for perfection up front as Alabama football's offensive line coach.
Never quite finding, perhaps, but always chasing.
And knowing how impossible it is to find perfection in the chaos that is the line of scrimmage in a college football game, he at least wants perfect pre-snap communication. Even if it means communicating the wrong thing. He's reasoned that five offensive linemen hearing the same call and executing their job in that call, even if it's not the correct call, yields better results that if three or four linemen execute one call, while one or two execute something different.
That's where LAW comes in: Loud And Wrong.
"We even say 'Loud and wrong.' LAW. Make a call, and if it's not right, somebody can correct it," Kapilovic said Wednesday. "And if all five guys are on the same page, we're probably going to be OK still. It's the guy who mumbles or doesn't say anything that hurts us."
GOODBREAD: Manziel warns UA students of addiction dangers
Calls on the offensive line are hard enough when the defensive alignment is unexpected or well-suited to stop the play that's been called. It's even harder when defenders slide and shift in the moments before the snap, sometimes requiring a quick change of plan for the offensive line. Those calls are generally made by the center, and Kapilovic has a confident one in Parker Brailsford, who transferred to Alabama from Washington and understands head coach Kalen DeBoer's offense well. Veteran left guard Tyler Booker, Kapilovic said, has been an outstanding communicator in fall camp as well.
That starts with being heard by everyone, whether the call made is the right one or not.
"When people are confident, they talk loud, you know they understand. If they're not sure, it becomes low and mumbly. That's a thing," Kapilovic said. "... You get on the road, that becomes magnified. If we're all on the same page, you've got a chance."
Alabama is preparing for a season opener against Western Kentucky on Saturday, followed by a Week 2 home game against South Florida, before going to Wisconsin for its first road game. Kapilovic said he's thankful for two home games first, making for an easier setting to iron out communication issues.
To Kapilovic, however, being loud shouldn't ever be a problem.
Tuscaloosa News columnist Chase Goodbread is also the weekly co-host of Crimson Cover TV on WVUA-23. Reach him at cgoodbread@gannett.com. Follow on X.com @chasegoodbread.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama football OL coach preaches LAW - here's what it stands for