Their front 7 is good, but we're going to see better this year...

[Black Diamond Vol]

I really, really hope that Peterman and Dobbs are ready to go, because Worley isn't going to finish this season.  We're just paralyzed by our OL right now, and sooner or later, it's going to get our QB(s) hurt.

[RIPLEYVOL]

I think that the Vols faced the most talented front 7 on D that they will face all year that they will tonight! From what I have watched on the rest of the SEC, none of the teams have come close to the OK Defensive front! My personal opinion! The Vols will be in a bowl game this year! If they held on this close! They will kick the brown out of most of the SEC teams!

[BanditVol]

Some fans thought this line might do better than our "underachieving" line from last year.  I want whatever they were smoking.

[Black Diamond Vol]

Some fans thought this line might do better than our "underachieving" line from last year.  I want whatever they were smoking.

Given their accolades coming into UT, I think it's more than fair to say those guys underachieved.  Whether you place the blame on the players or the coaching staff(s), they certainly didn't live up to their billing.  That said, anyone who didn't think there would be a dropoff this year was deluding themselves.  You don't replace five senior starters with a bunch of inexperienced guys and not have some growing pains. 

But I don't know if I expected it to be this bad.  Did we have a single offensive series last night that didn't include at least one sack or negative yardage play?  I don't remember one.

[PirateVOL]

Their NT AND striker are very good.  The others are good but as you say there are better groups in the SEC

[Memphisvolunteer]

From watching early SEC games, I honestly don't know besides Bama and Ole Miss another team that will have as active of a front 7 as last night.  You look around in the East and there are problems everywhere:

- UT - Yes, the o-line is the problem this year.  The D is playing well for the most part.
- South Carolina - which Carolina shows up...the one against A&M and East Carolina where anyone could move the ball at well against them?
- UGA - defensive problems all over
- UF - I watched the UK RB reverse field on UF D and that was not as good of a D as UF has had recently.
- Missouri - who knows....they haven't played anyone with a pulse yet.
- UK - still have to prove it to me to believe they are that much better in one year.
- Vandy - enough said

Worley threw some incredible passes last night.  I honestly think we have a fighting chance in the UF game, UGA, Missouri, and Carolina.

[VinnieVOL]

I think that the Vols faced the most talented front 7 on D that they will face all year that they will tonight! From what I have watched on the rest of the SEC, none of the teams have come close to the OK Defensive front! My personal opinion! The Vols will be in a bowl game this year! If they held on this close! They will kick the brown out of most of the SEC teams!

This.  I think OK's front 7 is about as good as it gets in CFB.  Heard on the radio one of their DL can do a standing back flip at 310+ lbs. 

[Creek Walker]

This.  I think OK's front 7 is about as good as it gets in CFB.  Heard on the radio one of their DL can do a standing back flip at 310+ lbs. 

Agree. It's hard for me to believe that any SEC defensive fronts are better than Oklahoma's. Then again, we're going to face some very good SEC defenses, and the prospect of doing so with this offensive line makes me shudder.

[Black Diamond Vol]

Agree. It's hard for me to believe that any SEC defensive fronts are better than Oklahoma's. Then again, we're going to face some very good SEC defenses, and the prospect of doing so with this offensive line makes me shudder.

I think bammer is better, probably UF, too.  Maybe even UGA.  But we'll see. 

At any rate, it's hard to get a read on our prospects in any of our future games at this point (other than UTC), because I just don't know if Worley will still be playing.

[SmokeyJoe]

I think bammer is better, probably UF, too.  Maybe even UGA.  But we'll see. 

At any rate, it's hard to get a read on our prospects in any of our future games at this point (other than UTC), because I just don't know if Worley will still be playing.

No Worley won't last at this rate. Everything seems to be in place except the OL.

[73Volgrad]

I disagree that the the SEC has any team with a better front 7. Have watched Alabama, Florida, and Georgia and IMO Oklahoma has better 7 this year at this point.
Kentucky was barely slowed down by UF.
Bama has not played anyone, but they are not as fast or as strong on the DL as usual. LB are good, but OK has better.
GA front 7 not impressive against USCe.
Ole Miss DL is hot and cold.

So no, This year Oklahoma has a better defense than any team in SEC as of right now. By the end of the year who knows. But there is no team in SEC that cannot be exploited at this point. Defensive performances have been bipolar in SEC to date.

[SmokeyJoe]

I disagree that the the SEC has any team with a better front 7. Have watched Alabama, Florida, and Georgia and IMO Oklahoma has better 7 this year at this point.
Kentucky was barely slowed down by UF.
Bama has not played anyone, but they are not as fast or as strong on the DL as usual. LB are good, but OK has better.
GA front 7 not impressive against USCe.
Ole Miss DL is hot and cold.

So no, This year Oklahoma has a better defense than any team in SEC as of right now. By the end of the year who knows. But there is no team in SEC that cannot be exploited at this point. Defensive performances have been bipolar in SEC to date.

///

[Black Diamond Vol]

I disagree that the the SEC has any team with a better front 7. Have watched Alabama, Florida, and Georgia and IMO Oklahoma has better 7 this year at this point.
Kentucky was barely slowed down by UF.
Bama has not played anyone, but they are not as fast or as strong on the DL as usual. LB are good, but OK has better.
GA front 7 not impressive against USCe.
Ole Miss DL is hot and cold.

So no, This year Oklahoma has a better defense than any team in SEC as of right now. By the end of the year who knows. But there is no team in SEC that cannot be exploited at this point. Defensive performances have been bipolar in SEC to date.

Like I said, we'll see.  Bammer is unquestionably more talented (8 #1 classes in 9 years will do that) and by the time we play them, they will have perfected their PED regimen on-field assignments.

[ChattanoogaVol]

Agree. It's hard for me to believe that any SEC defensive fronts are better than Oklahoma's. Then again, we're going to face some very good SEC defenses, and the prospect of doing so with this offensive line makes me shudder.

After watching many games and teams so far...I agree, our OL could have done better, but HOLY SHIZNIT...no better front seven in college football so far.
Plus these are the same boys that beat the hell out of BAMA in the bowl game.

 

[73Volgrad]

My question on Bama's string of #1 recruiting classes is this. Why have they not won more NCs than they have? With that much talent, they should never lose. And if Saban is such a defensive back wizard, why have they been so pedestrian lately?  

JMO, Bama will not win the West this year.  They lose 2 games at least.

And the Bama DL is saw on TV was not as strong and fast as Oklahoma's. You are living in the past and projecting their teams from 3-4 years ago. By year's end, they may be as good.  But not now. JMO

[BanditVol]

My question on Bama's string of #1 recruiting classes is this. Why have they not won more NCs than they have? With that much talent, they should never lose. And if Saban is such a defensive back wizard, why have they been so pedestrian lately?  

JMO, Bama will not win the West this year.  They lose 2 games at least.

And the Bama DL is saw on TV was not as strong and fast as Oklahoma's. You are living in the past and projecting their teams from 3-4 years ago. By year's end, they may be as good.  But not now. JMO

Agree

[BanditVol]

Given their accolades coming into UT, I think it's more than fair to say those guys underachieved.  Whether you place the blame on the players or the coaching staff(s), they certainly didn't live up to their billing.  That said, anyone who didn't think there would be a dropoff this year was deluding themselves.  You don't replace five senior starters with a bunch of inexperienced guys and not have some growing pains. 

But I don't know if I expected it to be this bad.  Did we have a single offensive series last night that didn't include at least one sack or negative yardage play?  I don't remember one.

We had our best rush attack last year since 1998, and Rajon Neal and Marlin Lane, while good backs, have hardly been mistaken for Jamal Lewis or Travis Henry.

The OL last year made a convenient scapegoat, is all.  Tiny running his mouth so much did not help, but I would absolutely love to have them back.

The reason you didn't expect such a large drop-off is that no one gave last year's line quite the credit it deserved.

That they sucked is a myth created by frustrated fans needing to vent.

Did they underachieve?  That's a very subjective thing.  They no doubt could have done better, but overall they were the strongest component of our offense last year.