TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) - It only took one series to get Alabama's

offensive linemen worked up.

The second-ranked Crimson Tide had just opened the season with a

10-play drive for a field goal against Clemson, and the front five

were feeling awfully good about themselves.

"They were getting excited on the sidelines, getting each other

going," Tide quarterback John Parker Wilson said. "They're like,

'We just whipped them bad.' And it carried throughout the season.

"I think they realized they were pretty good and since then

they haven't said a word, they've just been moving people."

The Tide's offensive line has helped pave the way for the

Southeastern Conference's top rushing offense, giving Wilson time

to pass and opening holes for tailback Glen Coffee.

'Bama's blockers have taken to heart the common coaching refrain

that it all starts with the linemen.

"We put the hat on our head and said that this year we're going

to lead this team and we're the center of the team," left tackle

Andre Smith said. "If we play well, the team plays well and vice

versa."

So far, there haven't been many complaints.

It's no surprise the line has been a strength of the team. Smith

won the SEC's Jacobs Blocking Trophy as a sophomore for the

league's top blocker. Center Antoine Caldwell was named a permanent

team captain after last season and is one of the Tide's most vocal

leaders.

Along with those two, left guard Mike Johnson, right guard

Marlon Davis and right tackle Drew Davis have combined for 109

career starts going into Saturday's game with Kentucky.

Besides the experience factor, Smith said the linemen came back

stronger and determined to be more physical after an offseason

working with new strength coach Scott Cochran.

"I don't know if we were physical enough last year," Caldwell

said. "I don't think we were as strong as we needed to be last

season. This offseason we had together with coach Cochran, it was

amazing. All of us made significant gains in the weight room and

now when we're on the field, you feel stronger, you feel faster,

and stuff starts to carry over."

The Tide is averaging 215 rushing yards and has run for a

league-high 13 touchdowns - six shy of last season's total in 13

games - and been especially hard to stop running behind Smith and

Johnson on the left side. The 5.2-yard per carry average is second

only to LSU's 5.8 in the SEC.

It helps that first-year offensive coordinator Jim McElwain has

brought in a pro-style offense that utilizes tight ends and

fullback Baron Huber, leaving plenty of blocking help for the line.

It's not as fashionable or fancy as some systems, but the big guys

like it.

"I think he doesn't get enough credit. Coach McElwain is

probably if not the one, the No. 2 reason why we have had so much

success on offense," Caldwell said. "The guy's brilliant. He has

us all confident of the game plan, whatever it is we're going to

do, and he's been doing a great job with us and especially with

(Wilson)."

Alabama defensive end Lorenzo Washington said the best offensive

line he has faced is the one he faces in practice.

"I have never gone up against anybody like them," Washington

said. "As a complete unit, they don't fall off. They say you're as

strong as your weakest link. Well, their weakest link is on the

same level, so there really is no weakest link.

"It's like a mini-game every time you go in there because

you're facing the best competition, to me, in the conference. We're

practicing against the best to be the best."

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)