Not these BYU Cougars, though.

Despite the preseason loss of junior center Tom Sorensen - he had exploratory surgery on his aching right shoulder Tuesday - BYU coaches are saying this might be the best offensive line they have had in the past seven years, maybe longer.

"It is, I think, the best offensive line since I've been at BYU, when you look across the board, when you look at the experience and the ability," BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said. "I think they are a good unit."

BYU offensive line coach Mark Weber, a veteran of 27 college seasons, including stints at UCLA, North Carolina and Fresno State, took it a step further, saying it has the potential to be the best one he's ever coached.

"I think it could end up being the best one that I've been around, that I've been fortunate enough to work with," he said. "I mean, we are just big and athletic and the guys understand the offense, and they are smart."

Running back Harvey Unga could be salivating, because he may surpass the BYU freshman running record of 1,227 yards he posted last year behind this line, which lost just one starter, center Sete Aulai, the player Sorensen was to replace.

"It all starts with those guys," he said. "Everything we do [offensively] is because of those guys."

And quarterback Max Hall is just as confident, saying: "We could have the best O-line in the conference, maybe the country. They're great."

Yes, but what about freshman Matt Reynolds at left tackle? He might be 22 years old, but he hasn't played a down of real football since November of 2004, when he helped Timpview win the 4A state championship.

"He's inexperienced, I guess, but he's a very fast learner," Weber said. "There will be some learning curve and there will be some mistakes he will make, young mistakes. But he is very mature and he is older [than the average freshman] and he is very talented."

The other four linemen are all proven commodities, although Dallas Reynolds is learning a new position and all the nuances and responsibilities that come with being the so-called "quarterback of the offensive line."

The senior has started in 37 straight games at left tackle, where he earned all-MWC honors last season, but has never snapped the ball in a game.

"So far, so good," he said. "I am just trying to get it down. Obviously, there is a lot to learn. It is a challenge, but I like it. I have a lot of people around me helping me out, so I should be OK."

Senior Ray Feinga, an All-America candidate, has 34 games of experience, and at the other guard position the Cougars have Travis Bright, who suffered a broken leg in the Las Vegas Bowl but has returned and pronounced himself 100 percent healthy. Another senior, David Oswald, holds down the right tackle spot and has played in 34 games.

Mendenhall likes the depth, too, saying the versatile R.J. Willing and hard-working Garrett Reden are ready to step in if called upon.

"I think it is a six-man line [with Willing the first backup in], and then there's a seventh and eighth coming," he said. "I like our offensive line."

drew@sltrib.com

Position Player Comment

Left Tackle Matt Reynolds Redshirt freshman is most athletic Reynolds brother

Left Guard Ray Feinga 6-5 senior first-team All-MWC last year, NFL prospect

Center Dallas Reynolds All-conference tackle made move to center in camp

Right Guard Travis Bright Holds school bench-press record, 540 lbs.

Right Tackle David Oswald At 6-8, one of tallest players in Division I football

Season opener

NORTHERN IOWA at BYU

Saturday, 4 p.m., mtn. The Mountain West Sports Network - the mtn. - will televise Saturday's 4 p.m. BYU-Northern Iowa football game from LaVell Edwards Stadium.

The network makes its debut on the satellite television service provider DirecTV tonight and the mtn. will be on channel 616 on DirecTV's Choice package in Utah and most other Western states.

Customers throughout the remainder of the country will be able to access the mtn. with a subscription to DirecTV's Sportspack. Comcast cable system subscribers along the Wasatch Front can access the mtn. on Channel 37.

It is on Channel 49 on some Provo cable systems. To find the mtn. channel in your area, visit www.themtn.tv/mtn/.

- Jay Drew