More Phil Steele

Phil Steele recently put together his list of college football's most experienced teams on the offensive line, as well as its percentage of returning tacklers. Here's how the Big 12 ranked returning career starts on the offensive line: (national rank)

1. Missouri - 105 (11th)
2. Kansas - 97 (15th)
3. Texas A&M - 86 (28th)
4. Texas Tech - 83 (33rd)
5. Oklahoma - 81 (36th)
6. Baylor - 77 (43rd)
7. Oklahoma State - 76 (48th)
8. Iowa State - 54 (84th)
9. Kansas State - 42 (97th)
10. Texas - 36 (105th)

Some will say when the team plays as badly as KU played last year, it isn't necessarily a positive to return the same players, and there is some relavance to that statement. Realizing that a chunk of those returning starts weren't there last year, or were playing hurt has me more optimistic that the OL will at least be solid in 2011-12. That is as long as we stay healthy enough not to expose our rather limited depth.

It could also depend on how well a couple of (supposedly) physically ready players turn out up front. It may be even more important than how well Miller/Pierson/Berglund play.