By GUERIN EMIG Sports Writer on Sep 18, 2012, at 9:45 AM Updated on 9/18 at 9:45 AM
OU SPORTS
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Keeping with the Big 12 vs. SEC theme of the week, I found something pretty cool from a year ago, when the two conferences ...
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I wrote about the importance of Oklahoma's defensive tackles today, how upcoming games against Kansas State and Texas give them a chance to silence their critics. Why are there critics in the first place?
Because Tommie Harris and Dusty Dvoracek once played defensive tackle for the Sooners. They set the gold standard. Gerald McCoy and Adrian Taylor came along a couple years later, and if they didn't strike gold, they were better than silver. Four monsters, basically.
See for yourself in this statistical breakdown of OU's D-tackles over the past decade…
In 2002, OU's three lead tackles were Harris, Dvoracek and Kory Klein. Their numbers follow.
Tackles: 81
Tackles for lost yardage: 17
Sacks: 7
Hurries: 33
Pass deflections: 4
Fumble recoveries: 2
In 2003, the lead tackles were 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 (Dvoracek was dismissed from the team)
Tackles: 52
TFLs: 12
Sacks: 5
Hurries: 5
Pass deflections: 3
Forced fumbles: 2
(Take a moment to digest that drop in production. It's stunning, really. Also, consider that the Sooners played for the same national championship in '04 with McGruder, Pendleton and Ayodele that they did in '03 when Harris and Dvoracek were on the team. You don't necessarily need big numbers from your defensive tackles, but it sure is a luxury when you get them.)
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
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