Left tackle Samuels helps give Alexander a helping block

Or, it could be that Alexander is simply afraid to rile Chris Samuels, his mammoth left tackle.

"You run behind him, and he might block one, two or even three guys himself," said Alexander, who has 934 yards and 17 touchdowns. "By the time I get to the line, there's one dead body on the ground and maybe two or three badly bruised guys depending on what kind of mood he's in."

A 6-foot-6, 300-pound senior, Samuels has started 36 straight games for No. 10 Alabama and is a semifinalist for the Lombardi Award, given annually to the top college lineman.

AP PHOTO Alabama's Shaun Alexander has romped to rush for 934 yards and 17 touchdowns so far this season. Credit for his great success can also go to his right tackle Chris Samuels.

"Chris Samuels, in our opinion, is maybe the best offensive lineman in college football,"said coach Mike DuBose, who often compares his left tackle to former Crimson Tide great John Hannah. "We have yet to see anyone better than him."

For Samuels, the recognition is long overdue.

"Last year, I thought I should've been up in the top five, but it didn't work out," he said. "This year, a lot of people have me No. 1, others have me second or third. I'm just glad to be up there."

Samuels anchors the left side of Alabama's line. Through the Tide's six games this season (4-0 Southeastern Conference, 5-1), he has yet to give up a sack or quarterback pressure from the left side. He also has 33 knockdown blocks.

"I love him," quarterback Andrew Zow said. "To have him protecting my blind side, I know I don't even have to worry about defenders getting through to me."

Despite his size, Samuels has surprising speed, agility and endurance. He played 732 of a possible 744 snaps last season and refuses to come out of a game.

"He runs like a linebacker and he blocks like one, too," left guard Griff Redmill said. "He was a good player the last two years, but he's taken it to a whole new level now. He covers my mistakes and he makes the entire line raise our level of play."

And he's also helped Alexander raise his numbers. In last week's 214-yard performance against Mississippi, Alexander gained most of his yards running off left tackle.

DuBose said Alabama's play-calling grew predictable as the game went on, but play-caller Charlie Stubbs said he couldn't go away from something that was working so well.

"If we need a crucial few yards, Chris will come to me and say, 'I can dominate this defender, I will open this hole for you,'" Stubbs said. "And he's telling the truth."

Samuels, who said the Ole Miss game was his best this season because he had eight pancake blocks, wants the play-calling to be predictable.

"I'm kind of selfish because I want them all to be run behind me," he said. "But Shaun helps by putting up the numbers he does. I can't take all the credit."

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