I wouldn't be concerned with stats. I'd be more concerned with occupying extra attention, beating single blocks, causing disruption overall, etc., etc.

EagleGrowl3 wrote:

soonerfrog wrote:


2002 (Tommie Harris, Dusty Dvoracek and Kory Klein)

Tackles: 81 
Tackles for lost yardage: 17 
Sacks: 7
Hurries: 33
Pass deflections: 4 
Fumble recoveries: 2

2003 (Harris, Dvoracek and Lynn McGruder)

Tackles: 102
TFLs: 30
Sacks: 14
Hurries: 38
Pass deflections: 2
Forced fumbles: 2
Fumble recoveries: 1

2004 (McGruder, Carl Pendleton and Remi Ayodele)

Tackles: 52
TFLs: 12
Sacks: 5
Hurries: 5
Pass deflections: 3
Forced fumbles: 2

2005 (a reinstated Dvoracek, Ayodele and Cory Bennett)

Tackles: 71
TFLs: 27
Sacks: 7
Hurries: 10
Pass deflections: 1
Fumble recoveries: 2
Interceptions: 1

2006 (Bennett, DeMarcus Granger, Steven Coleman)

Tackles: 65
TFLs: 11.5
Sacks: 3.5 
Hurries: 2

2007 (Bennett, Granger, Gerald McCoy)

Tackles: 67
TFLs: 15.5
Sacks: 6
Hurries: 16
Pass deflections: 3
Fumble recoveries: 2
Forced fumbles: 1

2008 (McCoy, Granger, Adrian Taylor)

Tackles: 76
TFLs: 20
Sacks: 11
Hurries: 3
Pass deflections: 2
Fumble recoveries: 3
Forced fumbles: 1
Interceptions: 1

2009 (McCoy, Taylor, Jamarkus McFarland)

Tackles: 79
TFLs: 25
Sacks: 12
Hurries: 13
Pass deflections: 3
Fumble recoveries: 2
Forced fumbles: 1

2010 (Taylor, McFarland, Stacy McGee)

Tackles: 61
TFLs: 9
Sacks: 1.5
Hurries: 3
Pass deflections: 1

2011 (McFarland, McGee, Casey Walker)

Tackles: 60
TFLs: 10
Sacks: 3
Hurries: 3
Pass deflections: 3
Forced fumbles: 2

Now, we can add OU's 2012 production, featuring McFarland, Walker and McGee again: 

Tackles: 68
TFLs: 11
Sacks: 4
Hurries: 5
Pass deflections: 1
Fumble recoveries: 1
Interceptions: 1

I have a real problem with how Emig accumulated his totals. Why would he only use 3 DTs for his numbers? For example, Mo Dampeer had 5 TFLs in '04. That would increase the total by over 40%. He left out senior Kory Klein in '03. He didn't include Pendleton in any year but his freshman. Etc.

Use all the DTs for your sample.

If I had to venture a guess without looking up the stats myself, I believe Emig used the 3 tackles who played the most snaps during each of those years. IT stands to reason the top 3 in your DT rotation should have the highest production.

But that's all speculation on my part. 

I forgot who said it, but the bottom line is this DL did not pass the eye test, and the numbers seem to support it. Sure we don't need this article to tell us that, but it does show the kind of production drop off we've had since Mike Stoops left, and that we need to hire a high quality replacement for Shipp to get us back to playing championship defense.

There are good coaches in all conferences. The argument could be made that perhaps the SEC has more since the member schools are so demanding. The biggest advantage the SEC schools have is access to those "Jimmys and Joes". Tremendous number of Black athletes that are driven to be good football players. Sure the South has some, but not anywhere near the number of inner city Black youth that want to be gang bangers instead of football players.

Just look the Mad Hatter. Consistantly has top classes loaded with 4 stars that come from in state. Too bad he doesn't have a clue how to "coach them up". The other SEC schools also have rosters full of home state or adjoining state talent.

I think that OU recruit in the South on a case by case basis, but you have to have recruiters that do the pick and shovel work.