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...particularly Haywood. I began noticing it last year, but man with each succeeding game, they get better in the rear view mirror. Multiple times a game Haywood would stuff the run with a flattening tackle on the other side of the center or guard. Last time we went to Tech, Tech's o-line had to hold on for dear life (literally) more than once.

QBs are nice. WRs are important. RBs are up there too. Lord knows DBs are essential. I really think we took the importance of a solid D-Line for granted when we had it for those two years Haywood & Bonds were here.

I'm not one to single players out, but one can't help but wonder how Serge would've fared against Ohio State or Michigan had he stayed at Minnesota. I'm glad we have him, and right now he's the best we got...just wish we'd have a little more surge on the DLine.

More like how good were Haywood and ROGERS. No disrespect to BB, but those guys were legitimately good

BB always had two lineman on him. nonetheless haywood, bonds, muse, and rogers always made the qb move and made everybody else on our d look adequate

And we even had a decent backup for Bonds and Haywood whose name escapes me. And those 3 were big.

jimhagle wrote:And we even had a decent backup for Bonds and Haywood whose name escapes me. And those 3 were big.

Parham?

Haywood and Bonds would draw double teams most of the game so that shows you how good both of them were. They would always get good pressure on the QB every game.

Bonds never got good pressure on the QB ever. Heywood was the best DT by far SMU has had since the DP.

The backup was Randy Denman. Haywood fell into PB's lap-he was the best lineman in the last 20 plus years no doubt.

Bonds and Haywood took 4 players to block them. That is the key and the reason we need BIG MEN to be on the D-line.
I would have Serge and Even playing first string and move some more size out to the end.

We still need BIG MEN.

Think Atchison as he also plays DL and was rated 3 stars by Lemming at that position in his summer mag. Hope he keeps his commitment to us since Notre Dame has now offered him!