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Longhorns used to Big 12's speedy passing offenses
By Jim Vertuno
Associated Press
Published on Monday, Jan 05, 2009
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ.: In the Big 12, where offenses are built on the spread, speed and rubber-armed quarterbacks, the Texas defense got the job done with a fierce pass rush, swift linebackers and big help from an offense that could outscore almost everyone.
Now it's time to play a little smash-mouth football, Ohio State style, when the No. 3 Longhorns (11-1) and No. 10 Buckeyes (10-2) play tonight in the Fiesta Bowl.
''I've been waiting for a smash-mouth running game all year. I think our whole defensive line has. That's our mentality,'' Texas defensive tackle Roy Miller said.
There will be plenty of big collisions in this one.
Buckeyes tailback Chris Wells, 6-foot-1, 237 pounds, ran for 1,091 yards and eight touchdowns despite a foot injury that caused him to miss three games, including a 35-3 loss at Southern California early in the season. Freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor, 6-6, 235 pounds, picked up another 553 yards and ran for six touchdowns.
Pound-for-pound, those two are as big and fast as Texas' linebackers.
Wells ''is by far the best back we'll see this year,'' Texas coach Mack Brown said. ''It's a shame we didn't get to see USC and Ohio State with Beanie Wells healthy. He is a game-changer.''
Texas ranked No. 1 against the rush in the Big 12, allowing only 2.8 yards per carry and 73 yards per game. But that came in a passing league that produced only three 1,000-yard rushers.
''We get credit for great run defense in a year the Big 12 didn't run the ball,'' Brown said.
Oklahoma State's Kendall Hunter, the Big 12's rushing leader with 1,518 yards, was the only back to hit Texas for big gains, rushing for 161 yards in a 24-20 Texas win. Several times, Hunter cut back against over-pursuing linebackers for big runs.
''We've got some great backs in the Big 12, but not a big back with quick feet and capable of doing what he (Wells) is doing,'' Texas linebacker Roddrick Muckelroy said. ''You live for these games like this.''
Wells was supposed to be a Heisman Trophy contender this season, then hurt his foot in the third quarter of the Buckeyes' season-opening win against Youngstown State.
When healthy, Wells gives Ohio State power and finesse. He's strong enough to rip through tacklers, yet athletic enough to leap over tacklers.
On one highlight-reel play against Illinois, Wells vaulted safety Donsay Hardeman, leaving the defender to grab at the air as if Wells disappeared on a 25-yard run. Wells said this week he feels as good as he has all season.
''Every time I watch him, he reminds me of Brandon Jacobs with the New York Giants. He's so big and so fast,'' said Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo, who won the Nagurski Trophy as the nation's best defender.
Orakpo led Texas with 101/2 sacks and expects to spend a lot of time chasing Pryor in the Buckeyes backfield. Some Texas players compare him to former Longhorn Vince Young, who got his first start as a freshman in 2003 and led Texas to the 2005 national championship.
''He has a little bit of Vince in him,'' Longhorns cornerback Ryan Palmer said. ''Once he gets all his tools down, he's going to be a scary player.''
Brown is wary of expecting Ohio State to do nothing but try to pound the ball against his defense.
Brown remembers Ohio State's 24-7 victory over the Longhorns in 2006. He expected the Buckeyes to try to run the ball all night, only to watch quarterback Troy Smith throw for 269 yards and two touchdowns to jump-start his Heisman-winning season.
''They threw it every time and caught us off guard,'' Brown said. ''And we didn't respond very well.''
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ.: In the Big 12, where offenses are built on the spread, speed and rubber-armed quarterbacks, the Texas defense got the job done with a fierce pass rush, swift linebackers and big help from an offense that could outscore almost everyone.
Get the full article here.
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