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Published Nov 28, 2018
PFF Matchup: RRR Part II
Josh McCuistion  •  OUInsider
Editor
Twitter
@Josh_Scoop

Oklahoma's matchup this weekend has a lot of ways of looking at it but thanks to Rivals.com's new affiliation with ProFootballFocus.com we've got another new one. SoonerScoop.com is breaking down the Sooners and Longhorns by the points system that PFF has set up. Take a look at how each offensive and defensive grouping should fare against one another.

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Oklahoma's Passing Game vs. Texas Defensive Backs
OklahomaOff. GradeTexasDef. Grade

WIDE RECEIVER

Marquise Brown

Ceedee Lamb

Lee Morris

A.D. Miller

Myles Tease


90

78.3

73.4

67.2

55.8

SAFETY

Caden Sterns

Chris Brown

B.J. Foster

Brandon Jones



78
77.9

69.8

59.4


QB AND TIGHT END

QB - Kyler Murray

TE - Grant Calcaterra






96.3

72.9





CORNERBACK

Kris Boyd

Davante Davis

Kobe Boyce

Anthony Cook

Josh Thompson

P.J. Locke III


85.6
79.6

66.3

65.7

59.7

55.8

We start off with some mildly surprising numbers, none more so than safety Brandon Jones who some around the Texas program see as an emerging star. It's clear that PFF doesn't see it the same way and the talented safety is one of a big-time trio who does plenty for the Longhorns defense led by playmaking standout Caden Sterns.

Sterns' classmate, B.J. Foster, is a big-play waiting to happen, particularly in the run game thanks to his physicality and closing speed.

At cornerback, even with Oklahoma's considerable receiver talent, the Longhorns have one of the better duos in all of college football. Kris Boyd is a corner that blends physicality and speed and is a guy that Kyler Murray will have to be mindful of as he slings it around the yard.

Oklahoma's Running Game vs. Texas Front 7
OklahomaOff. GradeTexasDef. Grade

OFFENSIVE TACKLE

RT - Cody Ford

LT - Bobby Evans

OT - Adrian Ealy

OT - Erik Swenson



74.6

68.6

66.3

64.7


EDGE

Charles Omenihu

Jeff McCulloch

Breckyn Hager

Taquon Graham



82

75

67

58.4


INTERIOR LINE

G - Marquis Hayes

C - Creed Humphrey

RG - Dru Samia

G - Tyrese Robinson

LG - Ben Powers


78.9

73.2

68

65.9

62.5

INTERIOR LINE

Chris Nelson

Malcolm Roach

Gerald Wilbon




69.6

67.7

63.4



RUNNING BACK

RB - Kennedy Brooks

RB - Trey Sermon

HBack - Carson Meier

Hback - Jeremiah Hall


91.8

91.2

78.5

66.2

INSIDE LINEBACKERS

Gary Johnson

Anthony Wheeler




66.3

62



Along the defensive line the Longhorns boast several solid players namely Charles Omenihu and Jeff McCulloch. Oklahoma's running game has been it's dominant weapon so it's still hard to see this matchup quite as close as it appears in the rankings but Texas has plenty of quality to combat Oklahoma's blockers.

What is surprise to see is that while many have an extremely high opinion of Gary Johnson, with some even having him as a real contender for the Big 12's defensive player of the year.

Watching the unit, that is second in the conference in run defense, it's clear that it's a situation where the unit is as much about it's sum as it's parts as the Longhorns lack the physically dominating presence of some Texas groups of years prior.

Texas Passing Game vs. Oklahoma Defensive Backs
OklahomaGradeTexasGrade

SAFETY

Robert Barnes

Justin Broiles

Delarrin Turner-Yell

Brendan Radley-Hiles


67.7

59.6

59.2

52.4

WIDE RECEIVER

Lil'Jordan Humphrey

Collin Johnson

Devin Duvernay

Jerrod Heard


84.3
77.5

67.2

56.8

CORNERBACK

Tre Brown

Parnell Motley

Tre Norwood




74.7

73.9

62.7



QB AND TIGHT END

Sam Ehlinger

Andrew Beck





87.9

54.3




As Oklahoma fans will remember from the first meeting the Longhorns have plenty of weapons at both receiver and in the form of Sam Ehlinger at quarterback. Lil'Jordan Humphrey has emerged as one of the best receivers in the Big 12 and is such a dangerous weapon working out of the slot.

Meanwhile Devin Duvenay possesses game-changing speed and Collin Johnson is the big, vertical receiver that has given the Sooners fits in 2018.

Meanwhile few quarterbacks in the country have taken a bigger step forward this year than Ehlinger. He has gone from a running quarterback who occasionally threw the ball to a player who is among the Big 12's better, and most consistent, passers. The question for this one in AT&T stadium will be surrounding Ehlinger's health. If he is healthy and can replicate his performance from the Cotton Bowl, it gives Texas the kind of offense to keep the Sooners offense off the field.

Texas Running Game vs. Oklahoma Front 7
OklahomaGradeTexasGrade

EDGE

Ronnie Perkins

Mark Jackson

Caleb Kelly

Ryan Jones


76.6

70.5

58.7

52.3

OFFENSIVE TACKLE

Samuel Cosmi

Calvin Anderson




77.3
69.2



INTERIOR LINE

Neville Gallimore

Amani Bledsoe

Kenneth Mann

Marquise Overton

Tyreece Lott

Dillon Faamatau


78.3

72.2

70.4

66.8

65.4

62.2

INTERIOR LINE

Elijiah Rodriguez

Zach Shackelford

Patrick Vahe

Derek Kerstetter




68.1

64.2

59.9

58.5



INSIDE LINEBACKERS

Curtis Bolton

Kenneth Murray

DaShaun White


79.6

74.4

64

RUNNING BACKS

Keaontay Ingram

Tre Watson



76

70.5


The Texas ground game may have started the season as a huge question mark but it has emerged as as a functional weapon led by not only the talented backfield duo of Keaontay Ingram and Tre Watson but also Ehlinger himself.

The offensive line was the key part of the questions that surrounded the Longhorns ground game and as the season has gone on the starting five have gelled nicely. Prior to the first meeting Texas lacked Zach Shackelford and the offensive line looked the worse for it. He returned against the Sooners, allowing Elijiah Rodriguez to slide to guard and the group has improved considerably for the change.

Without question though the tackle duo of Calvin Anderson and Samuel Cosmi are the standouts of the offensive line led by Cosmi who has the makings of a future standout.

Head to Head Grades
OklahomaGrade (Natl Rank)TexasGrade (Natl Rank)

OVERALL

93.8 (5th)

OVERALL

87.1 (52nd)




TOTAL OFFENSE

96.7 (1st)

TOTAL DEFENSE

86.2 (88th)

PASS OFFENSE

95 (1st)

COVERAGE

79.2 (98th)

RUSH OFFENSE

95.9 (1st)

RUSH DEFENSE

92.2 (48th)

PASS BLOCKING

91.2 (5th)

PASS RUSH

66.2 (91st)

RUN BLOCKING

75.5 (10th)

TACKLING

79.4 (71st)




TOTAL DEFENSE

84.4 (98th)

TOTAL OFFENSE

87.1 (23rd)

COVERAGE

69.7 (135th)

PASS OFFENSE

81 (31st)

RUSH DEFENSE

91.2 (66th)

RUSH OFFENSE

76.2 (59th)

PASS RUSH

72.8 (30th)

PASS BLOCKING

84.6 (28th)

TACKLING

67.8 (127th)

RUN BLOCKING

66 (54th)

SPECIAL TEAMS

73.5 (56th)

SPECIAL TEAMS

59.9 (175th)