Texas' new OLB; Tennessee's QB change

Originally Published: October 24, 2008

Scouts Inc.'s Steve Muench examines Week 9 story lines, including how Texas will stop RB Kendall Hunter, Tennessee's new QB and Missouri's poor tackling.

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By Steve Muench
Scouts Inc.
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Here's a quick look at some of the biggest story lines Scouts Inc. will focus on in Week 9:

• No. 1 Texas hosts No. 6 Oklahoma State on Saturday afternoon in a game that pits one of the most productive running games in the country against one of the toughest run defenses. Only four FBS teams average more rushing yards per game than the Cowboys, but only one FBS team is giving up fewer rushing yards per game than the Longhorns. One of the ways Texas can try to slow down the Cowboys' ground game is to go to its 3-4 defensive front early and often. Defensive coordinator Will Muschamp can move Brian Orakpo from defensive end to outside linebacker, because the 260-pound Orakpo is athletic and quick enough to hold up in space. Opposite Orakpo in the four-linebacker sets will generally be 239-pound SLB Sergio Kindle, who is stout against the run. With Orakpo and Kindle setting the edges, it will be tough for Oklahoma State RB Kendall Hunter to get outside on a traditional handoff or off the option. This is important because Cowboys QB Zac Robinson lacks elite explosiveness, and isn't fast enough to outrun the rangy Texas defense when he tucks the ball and runs off the option.

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