Is OU football's remade defensive line ready to turn talk into results? 'We can all play'

NORMAN — Had Reggie Grimes been in the position he’s in now a few years ago, his reaction might’ve different.

Pushed down the depth chart in all likelihood from starter to a reserve role thanks to a wave of offseason transfer-portal additions on the defensive line, Grimes is instead embracing what that’s meant for OU’s defense.

“I’m a senior now, so all these lofty goals and expectations is one thing. Just go out there and play ball is one thing I learned,” Grimes said. “Don’t worry about the depth chart or the goals and expectations you put on yourself. When the ball is spotted, go play.”

One of the biggest question marks about the Sooners ahead of Saturday’s season opener against Arkansas State (11 a.m., ESPN) centers on the defensive line.

OU’s defensive front last year was a problem by any measure.

Once conference play began, the production took a nosedive and, with it. The overall defense and the team as a whole struggled.

With that, Sooners coach Brent Venables, defensive coordinator Ted Roof and the rest of the staff made a concerted effort to overhaul the position group in the offseason.

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Jonah Laulu was moved to the inside while Notre Dame’s Jacob Lacey, Texas State’s Davon Sears, Tennessee’s Da’Jon Terry and Utah State’s Phil Paea were brought in on the interior.

On the edge, the Sooners added Rondell Bothroyd from Wake Forest and Trace Ford from Oklahoma State as well as signing P.J. Adebawore, who has the ability to earn playing time immediately.

Roof felt comfortable with not only the players that were added but the way the returners would respond.

But that doesn’t mean there weren’t questions about how players would handle changing roles and more limited playing time.

“We’ve got great kids here,” Roof said Monday. “But certainly, team chemistry is a big deal. Now with the transfer portal being a part of college football, it’s not going away any time soon. But the cool thing about our locker room is that guys come in and can make our football team better. Our guys are very welcoming and I appreciate that.”

Laulu, another player whose playing time figured to be affected by the additions, said it’s been a positive as well.

“Now we have more experienced players and people that know what they’re doing and play to the best of their ability and elevate the whole defense,” Laulu said. “That was the whole purpose of coaches bringing in all these new people, so the whole team rises together. It adds that competition whether it’s in practice or on the field, having those guys to come in and win.”

The difference has been noticeable in practice, Grimes said.

“You don’t have to have the guy who has to go out there and play 80 plays because we don’t have depth,” Grimes said. “We have depth now. Everyone can get a little bit bigger piece of the pie. … We can all play. That’s the main thing.”

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It’s also been noticeable in the locker room and in other areas away from the field, Grimes said, noting that the defensive line recently went to watch the new Spiderman movie as a group.

“It’s probably the closest position I’ve been a part of and we’re always with each other,” Grimes said. “Whether it be out here or on a weekend, we’re always hanging out.

“It’s a true family.”

Roof said the concerns about how to fit the new players in with the existing group are in the past.

“It’s been a win-win,” Roof said. “The new players we added were certainly good players, fighting to get every rep. And the guys that were here, it’s made them better. And they approached it mentally in a very good way. They welcomed it. They were very welcoming. They welcomed the competition.

“And as a result of that, it’s raised the level of everybody.”

Of course, optimism around a position group is typical for this time of year.

A year ago, Roof and Grimes and others were talking with excitement about the group going into the season and after great early returns, the defensive line foundered and the Sooners struggled as a whole.

Now, it’s almost time for the Sooners’ defensive front to put up or shut up.

“This defense is going to be super fun to watch,” Ford said. “Every day we’re getting better and better. That’s the scary thing. We’ve gone up every single day. I’m enjoying it. I’m looking forward to it.”

OU vs. Arkansas State

KICKOFF: 11 a.m. Saturday at Owen Field in Norman (ESPN)

More: With OU football set for last dance in Big 12, how can Sooners head to SEC on high note?

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football, Brent Venables set to show what new defensive line can do