Oklahoma’s defensive line has been in a rebuilding mode the last two seasons. Each of those years, injuries or youth limited depth and experience.
In 2005, the defensive end spots were razor thin. Last season it was a group of defensive tackles adjusting to being under the gun for the first time.
As the eighth-ranked Sooners prepare for Saturday’s season opener against North Texas, none of those problems exist. The line features no weak links — just a strong chain.
“We feel they can all play winning football for us, and some of them have played winning football for us,” defensive coordinator Brent Venables said.
The defensive tackle positions were viewed as trouble spots last season. Cory Bennett and Steven Coleman were entering their first years as regular starters and their lack of experience showed. The same could be said for DeMarcus Granger, who rotated in with them.
The Sooners gave up a lot of rushing yards early in the season, and most of those runs were right up the middle. By the end of the year, those problems had been whipped. All three had solid seasons.
But there’s one addition at defensive tackle that should boost things considerably.
Gerald McCoy, the 2005 USA Today Defensive Player of the Year, spent last season in redshirt. But the year away from the spotlight has been beneficial.
He has the potential to be a dominant defensive tackle in the same class as former Sooners Tommie Harris and Dusty Dvoracek.
“I think you can sit and watch Gerald McCoy from the stands and he is going to stand out to you when you see him do certain things,” defensive tackles coach Jackie Shipp said.
McCoy had a great spring, but a nagging shoulder injury kept him out of both preseason scrimmages. McCoy doesn’t expect anything to hold him back this season.
He’s ready to play college football.
“I have advanced to a higher level where things move faster, but I have made it here and have developed my speed,” he said. “So everything is just like normal out on the field for me now.”
Adrian Taylor, another highly-touted redshirt freshman, will also be in the mix. Walk-on Tommy Taggart has also worked himself into the rotation.
The biggest issue for the defensive tackles could be playing time. The Sooners typically rotate four during the game.
“There is so much competition out there, somebody is going to get the short end of the stick,” Granger said. “That will force everybody to fight to the last play.”
OU enters the year with its defensive end rotation pretty much settled. The only question is who will start. The group is led by seniors Alonzo Dotson and John Williams. They’re both very talented. Dotson worked his way into the rotation last season and came up with two sacks and nine tackles.
Williams looked like a budding star early in the 2005 season, but was knocked out with a year-ending knee injury. He struggled to regain his form.
But this is the final season for both. Defensive ends coach Chris Wilson believes that will be a motivating factor.
“There’s a lot of fervor,” Wilson said. “Not only do they know there’s some light at the end of the tunnel but this is their last go around. They’re being pushed by guys that are as capable as they are. That’s really the thing that stands out.”
The ones doing the pushing are sophomore Auston English and redshirt freshman Jeremy Beal.
They’ll push for playing time and should give the Sooners a solid rotation.
But who will see the brunt of the action is a question the Sooners will answer on game day.
There’s a lot of competition on the defensive line and there’s several options at all four spots. Whoever plays the best will be out there.
John Shinn
366-3536
jshinn@normantranscript.com
OU Sports
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