Quote:
Originally Posted by UABinBHM
UAB's OL is significantly larger than your DL... MSU's OL is significantly larger than our DL. It's the same in both cases. UAB has some experienced players... we just don't have alot of depth of experienced players. I think only a handful of freshmen are actually starting for us, so we are only inexperienced in so much as we actually use the freshmen. I think UAB and MSU will both be able to run pretty well.
For those of you thinking this will be easy, I refer you all to this thread from last year... a year in which UAB went 3-9 no less: GAME ONE - OU vs UAB the score will be -- - SoonerFans.com Message Boards |
Comparing a game from last year where the players were all familiar with the schemes, and having a good portion of your starters being upper classmen, to this year where everything is new (as it will be for
MSU) and compounded by the fact that much of the UAB starting line up is extremely green requires to many assumptions. One would have to assume that the young, inexperienced, replacement players are all better than the veterans they are replacing. As well as having a complete grasp of their assignments and playing in mid-season form.
As for the comment that your OL outweighs our DL, I have yet to see a DL in college or pro that fields a starting unit of comparable weight to that of an OL. There are several DT's that are in the 300+ category, but most fall under this weight. Defensive linemen are normally lighter and rely more on quickness. An example of this was last year's BCS NC game between OSU and UF. OSU's offensive line outweighed just about every single Florida defensive linemen, yet the Gator DL was continually in the Buckeye backfield disrupting plays because they were quicker off the ball.
Your smallish DL could really give
MSU's OL difficulties if they are quicker and can shoot gaps. If they can't, they will get run over.
MSU's DL may have the same problem if they aren't quick enough, however
MSU is not giving up nearly 60 pounds per man like UAB is. Brandon Long is the lightest of the starters at 245. As a DE he is going to rely on his quickness and speed to get around your tackle. The remaining starters go 270, 290, 260, and the backups weigh in at 295, 290, 322, and 276.