Following a less than stellar performance against TCU, the OU offensive line and coach Kevin Wilson have had a gut check this week.

The line gave up three sacks Saturday, nine tackles for a loss, and OU running backs were unable to net 100 yards on the ground. And as an indirect effect, the quarterbacks lost three fumbles, two in the backfield.

Those stats don't resemble the 2004 line. Nine sacks were allowed all season, and the team rushed for more than 200 yards a game.

But that line had Vince Carter, Wes Sims and Jammal Brown.

The stats from the TCU game more closely resembled an inexperienced line. However, there are five seniors on the line.

Wilson said seniors Chris Chester, Kelvin Chaisson and Chris Bush were dominated by TCU. He called it "the worst performance I've ever seen from a group."

"I have a tough grading system, but I had a couple of the lowest grades ever," Wilson said.

Wilson said TCU did nothing unusual and that it doesn't make sense why the line wasn't able to allow a running back like sophomore Adrian Peterson to gain four to five yards per carry.

"We're taking a good look at ourselves internally; with our effort, our attitude, our demeanor," Wilson said. "And get things fixed real quick."

Wilson said the object of the position is to play with toughness, something he knows his players are capable of.

"We compete against a good defense every day," Wilson said. "We do well in our performances. We have a lot of guys who have played a lot of football that have played against big players and they have done well.

"That's the disappointment," Wilson said. "It's guys that have and guys that can."

Senior offensive lineman and team captain Davin Joseph said after the game that he and the other senior leaders on the team felt responsible for the meltdown of the team. As for the line, he said it wasn't supposed to be that way.

"We have the guys to make this thing work," Joseph said. "We have a lot of experience here."

Joseph said the line can improve on several things, such as being physical, more accountable and executing assignments.

To fix the problem, OU head coach Bob Stoops said it is possible some of the younger offensive linemen will get more playing time Saturday against Tulsa.

Stoops said freshmen Brandon Braxton, George "Duke" Robinson and Jon Cooper may see more time. However, Cooper was injured Monday. Stoops said he may be out for the week.

Offensive coordinator Chuck Long said the blame couldn't all be on the line. He said it is essential to change the offense in order to accommodate a different line.

"Things have changed; we have a different group there," Wilson said. "We have to put them (offensive linemen) in better positions, and we're going to do that as a team."
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