What will the Alabama football offense look like under Ryan Grubb? No one knows more than Germie Bernard.
Ryan Grubb, Alabama’s newly appointed offensive coordinator, brings a dynamic and aggressive approach to the Crimson Tide’s offense. Known for his explosive schemes and unique play-calling, Grubb emphasizes an offense that keeps defenses on their heels. He describes his play-calling style in one word: “Aggressive.” Grubb elaborates, “We’re going to be aggressive. I think that with the players, when it works the best—the understanding that the players have that we’ve got to be responsible with the football. Not go backwards, make sure we’re always matriculating the ball down the field and being ready for the opportunity to take the shot.”
Grubb’s offensive philosophy is built on creating space to exploit one-on-one advantages. This involves creating horizontal stretches on underneath defenders and vertical stretches on deep defenders, while mastering individual route techniques. This approach is reminiscent of the core concepts of the Air Raid offense, focusing on efficiency and simplicity.
Wide receivers are expected to be significant beneficiaries of Grubb’s system. During his tenure at Washington, Grubb developed a trio of wide receivers—Rome Odunze, Jalen McMillan, and Ja’Lynn Polk—who became focal points of the offense and were subsequently selected in the 2024 NFL Draft. At Alabama, Grubb inherits a talented receiving corps, including leading receiver Ryan Williams and leading pass catcher Germie Bernard. The offense is anticipated to be well-rounded, centered around an explosive passing attack that leverages the depth and talent at the receiver position.
Grubb’s strategy also emphasizes making defenses feel “threatened” by the offense’s versatility. He aims to push the ball downfield and execute explosive plays, compelling defenses to respect both the passing and running games. Grubb asserts, “We want people to be threatened with the football down the field. We want teams to have to understand that if you don’t play two-high (defense), and you give us the opportunity, if you load the box up, we’re going to make you pay with the ball going down the field.”
Germie Bernard, known for his physicality and unselfish play, exemplifies the type of wide receiver who can thrive under Grubb’s system. In a game against Mercer, Bernard delivered a thunderous block that showcased his commitment to team success. Reflecting on the play, Bernard stated, “We block for our guys and after we do so we celebrate with them. The receiver position is very unselfish and I love to see my guys get in the end zone and score. If I can have a factor in that, I’m going to do my job.”
As the Crimson Tide prepare for the upcoming season, Grubb’s aggressive and multifaceted offensive approach is poised to maximize the talents of players like Bernard, making Alabama’s offense a formidable challenge for any defense.
