This year's Texas Tech defensive line is not the one that features the Big 12 Conference's sacks leader.
But there's something about this defensive line that has Tech defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill adding a few more blitz packages, allowing the linemen to play free.
"It's always been on my mind," he said. "It's always been my package. It's always been my thought process, but I feel this group is ready. Everything moves in sequence for me. I'm a sequence guy. Step A, Step B, Step C. Step 1, Step 2, Step 3."
So McNeill's step-by-step process has him with a defensive line that aims to be just as good if not better than last season's, which was ranked 18th in the nation in total sacks with 34.
Thirteen of those 34 sacks came from defensive end Brandon Williams, who declared for the 2009 NFL Draft in January. Tech also lost Jake Ratliff to graduation, who started at left end last season.
But the cut doesn't seem to be too deep for the defensive line.
What the line mainly has now are seniors waiting for the next breakout season.
On Tech's spring depth chart, the defensive line only has one starting underclassman - nose tackle Colby Whitlock.
Senior Brandon Sharpe has been taking reps with the first team at right end, where Williams played.
Sharpe transferred from Fresno City College in Fresno, Calif., for the 2007 season, where he only played in one game. Last season, he played in 11 games, but managed one sack on the year.
Senior Rajon Henley, who was an important piece to the defensive line last season, is slated to start at tackle, but that doesn't mean he is restricted to that position.
Henley has taken reps at left defensive end this season, which could give the defensive line another weapon.
But that's not the only change.
Victor Hunter, who was a linebacker last season, moved to nose tackle.
McNeill said Hunter's quickness and understanding of the defense prompted the move.
Chris Perry, who transferred from Miami (Fla.) last season, also is at nose tackle, but the senior has not taken a rep this spring.
Richard Jones, also a senior, is behind Henley at tackle, and has made plays batting down balls during the team session in practice.
Jones said blitzing can help new faces in the secondary deal with different coverages.
The senior also said letting the line play a little looser this year is the best way to play.
"Just all out man," said Jones, who played in all 13 games last season, earning 26 tackles. "We don't have to worry about playing this gap, that gap. We could just go ... we don't have to think. If we think, then we're hesitating, and that's something that we struggled with in the past couple years."
Left end probably has the most questions at this point in spring training.
With McKinner Dixon - slated to replace Ratliff - being suspended indefinitely for academic matters Tuesday, there are more reps for Sandy Riley.
Brandon Sesay, who was a highly-touted transfer last season, also is in the mix, but McNeill said he has missed practice because of academic matters as well. However, Sesay still is on the team.
So Riley has had the chance to play with the first team at end, but he said he realized his opportunity when Williams declared for the Draft.
"That's definitely gonna be a big time loss," Riley said of Williams. "That's big shoes for me to fill. I look up to that. That's a great opportunity for me. I know he was a great player here, but we gotta move on."
The defensive line's depth doesn't end there, with three-star recruits and tackles Myles Wade and Pearlie Graves arriving in the fall. Wade is a transfer from Arizona West.
"Everything is upon us," Jones said. "Everybody on the line has played in 10 or more games. We're all older. We have that experience. If the D-line is playing good, then the linebackers are freed and everybody else is rolling."
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