Q&A: OU lineman Gabe Ikard's 50-plus pound weight gain an easy target for teammate Ben Habern

DUO THEY MOST RESEMBLE

Timon and Pumbaa (Lion King)

Timon, the meerkat, has a unique sense of humor like Ikard, who enjoys making others laugh and has been known to fire a snappy one-liner.

Pumbaa, the warthog, is steady like Habern, who makes sure the offensive line knows all of its checks and can have some fun, sometimes at Timon's expense.

Habern told Ikard: “You have a big butt like Pumbaa.”

Ikard responded: “And you have little hands like Timon.”

FROM THE COACH

Offensive line coach James Patton on OU's offensive line

“As a group we have some game experience so we should be better than last year. We have some young guys who will push (the starters) and make us better every week. We need to be more physical run blocking and do a good job pass protecting, pick up blitzes, give Landry (Jones) time to get passes off. We're making pretty good strides but we still have a lot of work to do.”

OU OFFENSIVE LINE DYNAMIC DUO

Mark Hutson & Anthony Phillips, 1985-87

Offensive line coach Merv Johnson moved both Phillips and Hutson from tackle to guard, and the result was perhaps the best O-line in OU history during the great 33-3 three-year run they were together.

Phillips is one of only three Sooners to make all-conference four times. He was an all-American in 1986, then returned to all-American status in 1988, the year after Hutson left.

Hutson started as a freshman in 1984, then moved to guard and with Phillips made Jamelle Holieway's wishbone sing. Hutson was all-Big Eight three times and made all-American in both 1986 and 1987.

POSITION ANALYSIS

A veteran unit with 81 career starts needs to be more physical but the O-line helped the offense average 481.4 yards. Center Ben Habern is a preseason All-Big 12 selection.

Unit grade: B

A solid but unspectacular group that has something to prove.