the size differential in the trenches.

I am starting to see more posts regurgitating the same ole meme about SEC size, especially in the trenches. I am going to compare players in the two deep on each team. I will take the weight from both team's AD site. Let's look at actual facts.

Oline from left to right (oregon player, lsu, player):

Tackle: Weem (302), Faulk (325)
Guard: Clanton (300), Dworaczyk (301)
Center: Grasu (293*), Lonergan (305)
Guard: York (292), Blackwell (290)
Tackle: Asper (325), Hurst (340)

Key backups: Golpashin (275)/Cody (301)/Benyard (325), Williford (327)/Herbert (304)/Collins (320).

*Grasu's weight was updatd by Adam Jude in yesterday's interview (goducks showing 291)

Analysis Oregon's top 8 goes an average of 301.625 while LSU's goes an average of 314. There is definitely a size advantage for LSU when comparing the two units. However, it's by 12.375 pounds per man, not by 30 pounds as reported on this site. Remember, Oregon utilizes a zone blocking scheme that favors lateral movement. Our interior against Auburn was having problems staying above 285 (all three of them). Our interior this year is bigger and that should help.

Dline

WDE: Jordan (240)/Hanna (240), Montomery (245)/ Mingo (240)
NT: Heimuli (321)/Remington (286), Brockers (310)/Logan (287)
DT: Keliikipi (300)/Ebert (285), Johnson (306)/Downs (287)
SDE: Turner (265)/Hart (283), Adams (255)/Edwards (265)

Analysis Oregon's two deep averages 277.5 pounds and LSU's 274.375. So, when comparing the counterpart oline the difference between what our dline face and your dline faces is 10.25 pounds (this was derived from taking the size differential of 12.375 of the olines and the differential of the dlines -2.125 = 10.25). What does this mean? Both dlines will be smaller than the opposing oline (which is the nature of the beast) but Oregon's by 10.25 pounds per man.

Part of the difference here is due to scheme. Oregon uses a spread offense and 3-4 base defense. The 240 pound WDE are going to be standing up 75% of the time as an OLB. Likewise, you will probably never see Oregon's oline average 314 pounds.

As far as the SEC meme goes, we face plenty of offensive lines that average 314. This is nothing unusual for Oregon. We are typically "undersized" due to scheme. This is much like Florida has been in recent years.