The offensive line remains a work in progress, and Nick Saban said Wednesday personnel changes could come in advance of Alabama's Southeastern Conference showdown with Ole Miss.

Three players -- Lester Cotton, Ross Pierschbacher and Alphonse Taylor -- are being considered for the two guard spots.

"But we have not decided who we are starting at those positions yet," Saban said.

The experimentation with the lineup comes after Alabama has struggled to impose its will with its running game. Excluding Damien Harris' two runs totaling 119 yards in the demolition of USC during the season opener, the Crimson Tide is producing only 3.01 yards per rushing attempt this season.

"Everyone's trying to get a starting spot, "center Bradley Bozeman said, "and if you don't perform week-to-week, someone might come in behind you."

Cotton and Pierschbacher started the first two games at left guard and right guard, respectively. But Taylor, whose nickname is Shank, played 39 more snaps than Perschbacher at right guard in the victory over Western Kentucky on Saturday after missing the opener against the Trojans because of a suspension.

Taylor played that position last season, starting all 15 games before being named to the All-SEC team at Media Days in July.

Pierschbacher, meanwhile, was stationed at left guard until this season, when he moved to center for in the spring. A last-minute switch pushed Pierschbacher to right guard as Bozeman was called on to deliver the snaps in late August.

The shuffling continued in the win against the Hilltoppers.

"Last week we played Shank half the game at right guard," Saban said. "And [this week] we practiced Ross back at left guard, Shank at right guard, Lester Cotton at left guard, and we feel confident in all three of those players. Obviously, Shank and Ross have more experience because they have started for a whole season, and I think that experience may be beneficial to them in this game."

But Saban said no lineup determinations have been made. He plans to keep everyone -- most especially Ole Miss -- in the dark.