Connect with us

Football

Bedlam In The Trenches: Oklahoma State’s Defensive Line Matches Up Well With OU

Published

on

In Part I, we looked at the Oklahoma State offensive line and its matchup with the defensive line of Oklahoma. Now let’s take a look at the Sooners’ O-line and how they match up against OSU’s defensive front.

Oklahoma’s O-Line
  • LT – Orlando Brown (RSo.) 6-8, 340 / Quinn Mittermeier (RSo.) 6-5, 280
  • LG – Ben Powers (So.) 6-4, 315 / Jonathan Alvarez (Jr.) 6-3, 308
  • C – Erick Wren (RJr.) 6-2, 308 / Jonathan Alvarez (Jr.) 6-3, 308
  • RG – Dru Samia (So.) 6-4, 305 / Jonathan Alvarez (Jr.) 6-3, 308
  • RT – Bobby Evans (RFr.) 6-4, 308 / Dru Samia (So.) 6-4, 305

OU’s starting O-line averages 6-4, 315.2 pounds.

OU’s offense line has struggled with pass protection the last couple of years but after a rough start, they’ve protected well the majority of this season. The Sooners allowed 13 sacks in their first four games (3.25 per game), but have only allowed seven in the last seven games.

The running game has always been there for the Sooners. They’ve ranked in the top four in the Conference in rushing the last four years. This year they’re No. 4 with 228 yards per game on the ground. They also rank third in passing offense at 322.7 yards per game.

The balance and overall effectiveness on offense has to be at least partially credited to their offensive line.

Oklahoma State’s D-Line
  • DE – Jarrell Owens (RSo.) 6-3, 270 / Trey Carter (RSo.) 6-3, 285
  • DT – Vincent Taylor (RJr.) 6-3, 310 / DeQuinton Osborne (RJr.) 6-0, 310 / Eric Davis (RSr.) 6-3, 305
  • DT – Motekiai Maile (Sr.) 6-3, 315 / Darrion Daniels (So.) 6-3, 305
  • DE – Cole Walterscheid (RSo.) 6-5, 255 / Tralund Webber (Jr.) 6-5, 250

OSU’s two-deep D-line averages 6-3, 287.5 pounds.

The Cowboys mainly use a 4-3 front, but have used the 3-3 “stack” that West Virginia is know for at times this season. At defensive tackle, the Cowboys are as deep as they’ve ever been in Mike Gundy’s tenure.

Vincent Taylor may be the best defender in the Big 12. His stat line shows that he’s at least one of the most impactful: 5.5 sacks, 11.5 tackles for loss, 41 total tackles, two QB hurries, two forced fumbles, a pass breakup, and four blocked kicks.

Maile has been solid in his own right with 2.5 sacks, 6 tackles for loss, two QB hurries, two pass breakups and his own blocked kick. Then you have playmakers in Darrion Daniels and DeQuinton Osborne.

Cole Walterscheid has been very good, post-game celebration practices aside. He and Jarrell Owens don’t exactly replace the production of Emmanuel Ogbah and Jimmy Bean but the overall depth of the line is improved this year, even without Jordan Brailford who missed the entire season with a stress fracture and Vili Leveni who suffered another Achilles injury earlier this year.

Advantage: OSU

The Cowboys are tied for third in the Big 12 in sacks with 28 and counting without their two stud defensive ends from last year.

OU has some “dudes” up front as well, but this is probably the most complete and deep D-line Gundy has ever had. Although they’ll have their work cut out for them, I give the edge to the Cowboys.

If they want to win Bedlam and their second Big 12 title, they’ll need to take advantage of their star power with Vincent Taylor and lean on their depth to try and contain OU’s potent offense.

Most Read

Copyright © 2011- 2023 White Maple Media