By JEFF LATZKE
AP Sports Writer

NORMAN, Okla.(AP) -- Oklahoma offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson
proclaimed that his front line was as talented as any in the
country at the start of training camp.

For a group that had lost four starters from a season ago, it
was a bold statement of support for mostly unproven players
charged with protecting Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford and
opening holes in the running game.

It was also in stark contrast to coach Bob Stoops' comments in
the spring that the offensive line was the "weak link" of the
team.

Two-thirds of the way through the season, the line is still a
work in progress for the No. 20 Sooners (5-3, 3-1) as they
prepare to face Big 12 preseason defensive player of the year
Ndamukong Suh and Nebraska (5-3, 2-2) on Saturday night.

Wilson this week defended his earlier comments.

"Have you guys never played cards?" he asked. "Don't you watch
that Texas hold `em deal? Sometimes you're bluffing a little
bit. Sometimes you don't.

"The only problem I have is that those guys are more talented
than they have played, and they're gaining on it. The talent
level does not match their performance because I see their
talents and potential, but potential's a dirty word because that
means you haven't done it yet."

The group has been constantly shuffled this season, with six
different starting combinations through eight games. The
combination of Trent Williams, converted tight end Brody
Eldridge, Ben Habern, Stephen Good and Cory Brandon has started
the last two games while left guard Brian Simmons continues to
recover from a right knee injury.

That continuity is not necessarily a sign that the problems are
solved.

"If those guys for one second think they've got it figured out,
then they're a long way off and we are definitely doomed,"
Wilson said. "I hope they'll have enough confidence in
themselves and play like they've been playing and don't make the
opponents, as tremendous as their defensive players might be,
don't make it bigger than it is."

While Suh has gained a reputation as a top NFL prospect, his
teammates have been productive, too. Fellow defensive tackle
Jared Crick set a school record with five sacks in last week's
20-10 win at Baylor.

"They have two of the top guys in the nation - big, strong,
physical guys - and we're looking forward to the challenge,"
said Good, who has started the last two games at right guard.

The problems for the line have been brewing for some time.
Tackle Britt Mitchell left the program prior to last season and
Jason Hannan, the team's backup center last year, and guard Kody
Cooke followed suit this offseason. Stoops then kicked tackle
Alex Williams off the team.

That drained the depth for a line set to lose five players with
starting experience, including three who are currently on NFL
rosters.

"There's a little bit of everything," Stoops said. "We got
caught thin with a big graduating class. It's not often you have
five guys that leave all at once. I think it's fair to say,
sure, we've had guys leave. We've had to remove guys because
they don't go to class, they don't do what the team requires
them to do. And then development, a lot of it's on these guys.
Certain guys have a better work ethic than others."

The departures mirror a trend from before the 2005 season, when
Oklahoma also suffered three early losses. That year, linemen
Akim Millingon and Brandon Keith left the team just before the
season.

Wilson blamed the exodus on an offseason conditioning program
that can be difficult for players to endure if it doesn't result
in playing time. He says the Sooners are trying to combat that
by getting younger players into the game sooner, when possible.

"We're trying to show them if you play, it's fun and all this
lifting and all this stuff is great because the guys that play
don't mind the lifting and running," said Wilson, who also
opened the door for walk-ons committed to work hard. "It's the
guys that aren't getting rewarded because they're not getting on
the field."

He suggested that the failures of the Sooners' coaching staff
have come in evaluating players' work ethic, not their talent.

"I'm still intrigued by our group because their talent level is
still better than they've played, and they still have a great
opportunity this week against an extremely talented and a proven
defensive line, because this group is proven. They play like a
great team," Wilson said. "We have a chance to make a statement
and see if we're gaining on that and getting closer to being a
decent offensive line."