Position by position edge: Tennessee vs. Oklahoma
Here’s a position-by-position breakdown of what to expect for Saturday’s big showdown in Knoxville, Tenn.:
QUARTERBACKS – Tennessee: Both Tennessee and Oklahoma expect their quarterbacks to lead high-powered offenses this season. Joshua Dobbs comes into this game with a 6-1 record as a starter and a tendency to make things happen. OU QB Baker Mayfield put up 388 yards against Akron, a Sooners season-opening record, but his 2013 resume at Texas Tech lacks a major road win in an environment comparable to Neyland Stadium. Dobbs has the more relevant recent experience and the edge over an unproven Mayfield.--
We have 3 QB's who have started and won major games.
RUNNING BACKS – Tennessee: After game one against Akron, there’s
uncertainty right nowabout the fit of Oklahoma’s Samaje Perine in new offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley’s system. OU’s Joe Mixon is a true threat rushing and receiving and the UT defense will be challenged to contain him. Meanwhile, on Rocky Top, there’s no question how well Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara fit in new offensive coordinator Mike DeBord’s ground game, having combined for 267 yards against Bowling Green. Two is better than one – UT’s confidence and options with Hurd and Kamara give it the edge this week.---
We're 5 deep at RB, what are they talking about 2 is better than 1? Four will likely play at RB, but all 5 will see the field in some capacity.
WIDE RECEIVERS, TIGHT ENDS – Push: Tennessee’s wide receivers have a high ceiling, and TE Ethan Wolf could be a game changer, but right now the receivers as a whole are not on Oklahoma’s level. If Sooners WR Sterling Shepard can stay healthy, he has the potential to be a Biletnikoff Award winner. Shepard is coming off a strong 2014 campaign in which he caught 51 passes for 970 yards. Even more impressive, 50 of his 51 receptions came before the final five games due to a nagging groin injury that severely limited him. Many teams would be thrilled to have UT’s Pig Howard, but his 2014 numbers (54 receptions, 618 yards) don’t quite measure up to Shepard. Both the Volunteers (Marquez North, Von Pearson, Josh Malone, Jauan Jennings, Ethan Wolf) and Sooners (Dede Westbrook, Durron Neal, Jarvis Baxter) have solid supporting casts and enough playmakers to swing this game either way.
Talent wise, Tenn might have the better athletes at WR...but I like our chances here
OFFENSIVE LINE – Tennessee: Neither team has a lot of confidence in its offensive line right now, but the Volunteers should have a little more after being able to move the ball at will for 600 yards against Bowling Green. OU’s offensive line failed to establish the running game for one of its top running backs, Samaje Perine (11 carries, 33 yards).---
after the first game, I concede our OLine looked suspect....very worried here
DEFENSIVE LINE – Tennessee: UT’s Derek Barnett and Curt Maggitt are ready to disrupt and manhandle a suspect Oklahoma offensive line. Mayfield will likely be pressured from the get-go. Jordan Wade is the only returning Sooners defensive lineman with starting experience, a huge break for a young Tennessee offensive line.
Jordan Wade hasn't started since we played Bama 
This is a big statement, but this might be our deepest D-line of the Stoops era. 7-8 guys will likely rotate in/out Sat.
LINEBACKERS – Oklahoma: Tennessee fans might be hoping to see OU LB Eric Striker miss an important tackle or get juked, but the senior linebacker will probably play extra hard to back up his
trash talk. Striker and the rest of the unit are expected to carry the Sooners defense in 2015. Oklahoma returns all three starters from last season and gets to add 2013’s leading tackler, Frank Shannon, back into the rotation now that his 2014 suspension has been completed. The Volunteers are trying to find the replacement for suspended MLB A.J. Johnson. Tennessee coach Butch Jones was said to be pleased by the play of Colton Jumper and Darrin Kirkland Jr. in the Bowling Green game.
Maybe we do have the better LB's, but they'll be working hard to contain Dobbs
SECONDARY – Push: In this breakdown, it’s the worst that got saved for last. Put simply, there could be a lot of touchdowns thrown on Saturday. The Volunteers could not contain Bowling Green, allowing 433 passing yards last week. What doesn’t show up in the box score is that BGSU got behind the UT secondary on many overthrown passes. Oklahoma’s pass defense was ranked No. 117 last season, which has to embarass a defensive guru like Bob Stoops. Despite the high yardage allowed by the Sooners, cornerback Zack Sanchez received All-Big 12 honors. OU can find some encouragement in holding Akron to only 88 passing yards, but the real sign of turning the corner would be containing Dobbs and the Volunteers.
I agree with a push, we looked great against Akron, but we were so bad last year against the pass...so who knows how we'll look this week
