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December 29, 2008

Kevin Noon
Rivals.com College Football Managing Editor

PHOENIX - Ohio State wasn't the only team to invade the desert Southwest on Monday as Texas landed here to the cheers of fans clad in the Burnt Orange.

Texas coach Mack Brown told the assembled crowd that his Longhorns were healthier than they have been all season and that the team has had a great buildup of practices.

Texas was hoping to be at the BCS National Championship Game in Miami, but the Longhorns say there is no lingering hangover from being left out of the Big 12 Championship Game earlier this month.

"We are past that and we are so excited to be out here to get ready for a great game with Ohio State, and [the disappointment] is the last thing on mind," Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo said. "We are not even thinking about that, and it is 100 percent Ohio State and 100 percent trying to get the 'W.' "

Ohio State might look to employ a two-quarterback system with Terrelle Pryor and Todd Boeckman in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 5.

"You have to get prepared for that and that's what we did," Orakpo said. "We game planned as far as getting prepared for both because we don't know the situation. There have been plenty of teams that have played both quarterbacks, and we were very prepared for it. ... Pryor's a running threat so we need to make sure [we] contain him. Boeckman is more of a pocket passer so we have to get our pass rush on and get to him. It is two different aspects ... but we have prepared greatly for both."

But what happens is both quarterbacks are out at the same time and Pryor lines up as a wide out looking for a pass from Boeckman?

"If he wants to catch the ball on a slant then here we come (laugh)," Orakpo said.

Texas has played against a mobile quarterback in Baylor freshman All-American Robert Griffin.

"We watched a lot of film and [Pryor] is very similar to Robert Griffin," Orakpo said. "He's a running quarterback, and we are very familiar with those types of quarterbacks and you have to contain them. Your pass rush discipline you have to have. You need to make sure [you] don't lose containment or he is going to bust you for a huge gain. ... [Then] we have to stop the run. Beanie Wells is their No. 1 threat, we believe, and once we stop the run we can really get after it."

Texas, however, likely hasn't seen a running back like Chris Wells this year. Most of the Big 12 backs are of the small and fast variety.

"I like to compare him to the guy from the [New York] Giants, Brandon Jacobs," Orakpo said. "Beanie Wells is very similar because he is so big and so powerful, but he is very fast like a speedy running back as well. We have to be prepared for that. He is a great running back that can make huge gains on his feet so we have to stop the run."

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