Which SEC teams will have the best OL/DL combination?

Which SEC teams will have the best OL/DL combination?

The line of scrimmage is a basic building block in college football and in the SEC. If you have strength on both the offensive and defensive lines of scrimmage then you have the ability to be in (and win) every game. Here’s a look at the top five teams when looking at the combination of their offensive and defensive lines.

#5 Georgia Bulldogs

While Georgia has a big question-mark on their offensive line, they also have one of the best units in the league and return a combined 80 starts. John Theus, Brandon Kublanow, Greg Pyke and Kolton Houston all return for the Dawgs up front and that should give a comfort to whoever wins the QB job. Georgia will have to replace David Andrews at center, at that’s no easy task, but the more this group has played together, the better they’ve gotten.

Georgia runs a 3-4 defense and in that alignment they have to replace a good deal of talent up front but they also have some big-time talents coming in. Chris Mayes will fill the middle for the Dawgs but he will be pushed by incoming freshman Trent Thompson. On the edge, Georgia has talent with Sterling Bailey and Natrez Patrick and it will be interesting to see how much playing time the OLB’s Jordan Jenkins, Lorenzo Carter and Leonard Floyd get on the defensive line.

#4 Auburn Tigers

The Tigers return four players who have started at least seven games with three of those players having started double-digit games. Like Georgia, the big loss is at center as the Tigers must replace Reese Dismukes. Unlike Georgia, the Tigers have been grooming someone to replace Dismukes as Xavier Dampeer should be ready to step in. The Tigers also have Austin Golson, a transfer from Ole Miss, that will make an impact. The offensive line won’t dominate from the start but it should be solid and improve throughout the season.

Auburn loses some contributors on the defensive line but returns their best player in stud Montravius Adams. Gimel President, DaVonte Lambert and Elijah Daniel also return. Carl Lawson returns from an ACL injury and he has the ability to be a difference maker as does incoming frosh Byron Cowart. There is a lot of talent here and with new DC Will Muschamp on board to mold them, the Tigers should be much improved on defense.

#3 Ole Miss Rebels

Despite struggles on the offensive line, the Rebels make this list because they could have both the best offensive lineman in the SEC (and the country) as well as the best defensive lineman in the SEC (and the country).

Ole Miss returns five starters on their offensive line but only Laremy Tunsil has shown that he’s the real deal. Fahn Cooper should be improved at right tackle this year and early enrollee Javon Patterson could be a difference maker at guard. Depth will be much improved for the Rebels this year on the o-line.

Ole Miss finished the 2014 season giving up just 3.47 yards per carry and only surrendered 9 TDs on the ground (second best in SEC). The Rebels return potential All-American Robert Nkemdiche, Isaac Gross, CJ Johnson and Marquis Haynes, in addition to Fadol Brown and incoming JUCO DJ Jones. Ole Miss’s defensive line will be nasty next season and that’s what lifts this tandem into the top five.

#2 Arkansas Razorbacks

Since coming to Arkansas, Bret Bielema has been building his team from the line of scrimmage and it really started to show last season. The Razorbacks had one of the best offensive lines in the SEC last year and lose only one player from that line. Despite the success, Bielema has changed up some of the positions on the line by moving Denver Kirkland to the left side of the line to team up with Sebstian Tretola. By mixing up the line, the Razorbacks should freshen things up as well as make for a better fit for new offensive coordinator Dan Enos.

In case you weren’t paying attention last year, the Razorbacks were second in the SEC against the run allowing just 114.62 ypg. The Razorbacks must replace Trey Flowers and Darius Philon but they do return 11 lettermen in addition to three early enrollees and a couple of red-shirt freshmen. Depth is a strength here for the Razorbacks and despite the losses, the Razorbacks should continue their positive momentum with Bielema and DC Robb Smith leading the way.

#1 Alabama Crimson Tide

Who else would be number one, right? While Alabama certainly gets their share of five-star athletes, they are also known for building around the line of scrimmage and having the ability to re-load versus re-build.

In 2014, the Tide had the best rushing defense in the conference and only gave up five rushing TD’s. Eight of nine defensive lineman return for Alabama this year with Jonathan Allen (5 sacks) and A’Shawn Robinson (49 tackles) leading the way. With that much talent returning it would be hard to believe the Tide would take a step back on the defensive line in 2015.

On offense the Tide return Cam Robinson, who started all 14 games as a freshman, and center Ryan Kelly as their two building blocks. Losing three starters will hurt but Alabama has always been about reloading and while the new starters don’t have a lot of starts on their resume they do have some experience. Depth is a big key here as the Tide has it and o-line coach Mario Cristobal looks like he’s doing a bang up job of re-shaping the line this spring.

Kevin is one of our SEC football specialists. He’s also a University of Georgia grad, and homer, so don’t take anything he says about the Dawgs too seriously. You can follow Kevin on Twitter @CFBZ.