Horns247 Board

OU will have the best OL and we'll have the best DL but the best combo is a really tough question. I'd hazard to say we will have the best combo because our DL is head and shoulders above anyone else because of the quality of starters and depth as well. If there aren't a whole lot of injuries on our OL and Dom has gotten either stronger or never faces a true NT, then our OL has the potential to be great especially if the young backups get some time to develop on the field. Those aren't huge if's but very important if's. OU has one of the best OL's in the country but their DL is pretty much all guys that haven't started and their depth is a huge concern for them. WVU, TCU, and OSU are all replacing two or more guys on their lines on offense and another two or more on defense. Tech was manhandled last year but they do return most if not all of their lines (19 returning starters I believe). Baylor actually had a decent DL and we know about their OL but both lost key guys to the NFL and they aren't going to be as good this year. Lastly is KSU. They have 4 seniors on their OL and their DL is all seniors as well, but depth is an issue as their pre-spring depth chart said they had 2 backup OL and 2 backup DL. So as a total unit, in terms of quality and quality of depth, IMO the title of best lines goes to Texas.

That sounds about right to me. Overall, I bet that it will be a wash by the RRR, but, for now, I think I would have to give the slight advantage on the lines to OU because of their offensive line. I think we have better backfields on both sides of the ball, but I have to see Ash's production this coming season before I can sign off on a statement like that.

Best OL is OU
Best DL is texas

The difference between the OU and texas OL is bigger than the difference between the texas and OU DL. The Kst OL has a say in this as well along with the OKst DL. I dont think they lost a lot of people off those units.

Overall I think its OU. Lots of people talk potential, but based on what we know right now, its OU and its not a slight advantage IMO due to the OL. The texas OL has a lot to prove because they just werent that good last year. Kst will be pretty good up front and OSU lost all but one starter I think on the OL.

Best backfield? Sorry fellas, its OKst. You guys have some impressive recruiting hauls for the backfield, but you dont have anything as proven as they do right now. OU doesnt have any real star power right now unless one of the new guys show up and turn some heads.

I think OU returns more sacks on defense next year. Not just the DL, but sacks from the entire unit. Not 100% sure because UT returns several just from JJ and AO, but OU can probably match those two with RJ Washington, Corey Nelson, and Tony Jefferson's sacks from last year.

Not so fast my friend, that may be true but Oak and Jeffcoat had had one sack combined the first six games and then ripped off 14 in the last six, that's even considering the Holiday Bowl where Texas decimated Cal on defense. The DL is deep at every position with Reggie Wilson (recently benched 425 and squatted 650) and Cedric Reed plus stud freshman coming in and the DL is already deep with Moore, Whaley, Dorsey, and Jackson with big Malcolm Brown coming in this fall, highly regarded as one of the most college ready DTs in a while. Texas has the best DL in the conference and I see it as a wide margin and definitely case for best in the nation

Well then we can agree to disagree because all of Texas's DTs got considerable playing time last year and Moore played at Bama and played a lot his freshman year and then got time at Juco to start too. DE is a bit more a question mark in depth as the afformentioned players got some reps but not a whole lot but Jeffcoat and Oak are quite possibly the best DE tandem in the country. Texas's secondary and LBs will help the DL to look even better with more coverage sacks and containment. That's what separates the two DL in my mind, Texas's secondary.

I have to say Deep Red has a point about OUs DL. The tackle position is stout. Lots of really good experience and quality. However, I have to also agree that we have good players but just not as experienced. I think our DEs make the comparison a lot closer when one considers that our DT are a strenght as well. Their OL is proven and is probably better than our OL--at least from what we know now--and that in my mind is what gives them the edge.

Agreed. Has to be one of the top DL units in the country. Solid up the middle, could be great depending on how fit Brandon Moore can get. Lots of quality/young/high expectation depth at DT. Im excited to see Desmond Jackson and Malcom Brown out there together. The ends are ridiculous, with good depth. Hopefully the light comes on for Reggie Wilson, as I think he and Torshiro Davis could make for awesome second string.

I think this is an interesting year for Oklahoma State.

If they get to 10 wins again, I think this is the year people stop questioning them every offseason and view them as a legitimate powerhouse program under Gundy. It's four straight years of nine or more wins.

If they regress to 7-6, then people will look at them as the same old Oklahoma State. A solid team that can catch fire every once in a while (perhaps even for a few years).

I have to disagree with WVU having a good OL. They were dominated last year for a lot of games. Everyone remembers the orange bowl but that was nothing but jet sweeps and screens. WVU lost to Syracuse and Pitt last year and looked unimpressive in a few others, Rutgers maybe? I'm waiting before I crown them.

They scored in the 20s I think 4 times last year. A lot of that was due to poor OL play.

How do you put UT out in front of OSU and KSU? How do you do that?