Alabama Coach Kalen DeBoer blasts Greg McElroy’s claim about Ryan Williams

Much has been made of Ryan Williams’ role in Alabama’s failed fourth-and-22 against Tennessee last week.

In a 247 Sports post on Wednesday, Alabama wide receivers coach JaMarcus Shephard made it a point to correct the record and change the narrative.

The “narrative” Shephard referenced began when former Alabama quarterback and ABC analyst Greg McElroy pointed out William’s error on the play.

“This is just a critical error by the freshman Ryan Williams,” McElroy said during the broadcast of Tennessee’s 24-17 win over Alabama. “He’s got to go block. And if he blocks, and gets a piece of that guy, Justice Haynes can bust to the outside and potentially pick it up. It’s like Ryan Williams is going to sleep, thinking he might throw it to him, and he just completely whiffs on the block, which allows Tennessee to rally up and make the play. Just a critical mistake by the young freshman.”

That’s the furthest from the truth, according to Shephard.

“Ryan Williams didn’t whiff on a block,” Shephard told 247 Sports. “That is absolutely incorrect. He did not whiff on a block on a play. That should not be the narrative any longer. That did not happen on that play.”