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QB
Todd Reesing (PHOTO CREDIT: Jeff Jacobsen,
KU Athletics) |
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2007
Statistics |
Coach:
Mark Mangino
37-36,
6 years |
2007
Record: 12-1 |
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CENTRAL
MICHIGAN |
WON
52-7 |
SE
LOUISIANA |
WON
62-0 |
TOLEDO |
WON
45-13 |
FIU |
WON
55-3 |
at
Kansas State |
WON
30-24 |
BAYLOR |
WON
58-10 |
at
Colorado |
WON
19-14 |
at
Texas A&M |
WON
19-11 |
NEBRASKA |
WON
76-39 |
at
Oklahoma State |
WON
43-28 |
IOWA
STATE |
WON
45-7 |
vs.
Missouri |
LOST
28-36 |
ORANGE
BOWL |
Virginia
Tech |
WON
24-21 |
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2007
Final Rankings
AP-7, Coaches-7, BCS-8
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2008
Outlook |
There
were a number of signs over
the recent years telling of
how head coach Mark Mangino
was building a team from the
ground up, building it his way…the
right way. Even though they
were barely over .500 during
the two years before the breakout
year we just saw (KU went 13-11
from 2005-06), they won three
Big 12 games each of those years
and stopped their usual lulls
of sub-par play. It was a turnaround
from being a conference doormat,
but few casual followers foresaw
what was coming last year. Heck,
we didn’t even have them
in our top 50 at this time last
year. Everyone knows that you
can be a great team compared
to most in the FBS, yet still
be mediocre in the Big 12 as
you barely finish around .500.
It’s a grind, one that
Mangino has learned about at
other Big 12 haunts (he was
the Oklahoma OC when they won
it all in 2000 and helped turn
the Kansas State program around
in the ‘90s as coordinator
there, too…Wildcats went
71-23-1 while he was there),
so this seemingly sudden success
came as little surprise to many.
It
all came together due to Mangino
bringing in Ed Warinner to help
run the offense. Warinner’s
spread techniques were embraced
by Todd Reesing, to the tune
of 33 TDs and only seven INTs.
Oh, and Reesing's feet produced
the longest run of the year
for Kansas, making defenders
stop and take notice when he
is on the move. It will all
happen again, for Reesing is
back with so many weapons and
he has so much knowledge after
his first year as a starter
that only injuries can take
this team back down the polls.
Marcus Herford is set to explode,
as is Jake Sharp and Dexton
Fields, but the new name in
Lawrence might become Jocques
Crawford, a JUCO back who has
the razz-matazz to shake things
up in a good way. All they need
are the tackles to solidify,
and then the offense skips no
beats as the No.8 total and
No.2 scoring offense in the
nation.
The
defense has to get a new tackle
and a new star corner. The tackle
will be easier to find…replacing
All-American Talib will be tougher.
Talib was a lock-down, leave-him-alone-in-coverage
type, and the defense was built
around the LBs being able to
focus on stopping the ground
attacks of those hulking Big
12 foes as a rule. Without either
Harris or Harper being as good
as Talib, it will be tough to
hold onto the same results...one
of them has to become a lockdown
corner. But one thing buoying
this eventuality is that all
the LBs are seniors who were
starters in ’07. The D
allowed more points in three
of last year’s final four
games (of the regular season)
than they did in any of the
other games all year. In other
word, they may have a ways to
go still in stopping consistency,
but the signs are there and
they have enough guys back to
be better, regardless. One thing
that this year’s version
of the Jayhawk defense needs
is to again have the top turnover
percentage in the nation…or
close to it. Against the top
foes, it will be a difference
maker, like it was in ’07.
Hey,
and speaking of top foes, the
draw from the South Division
doesn’t get much tougher.
Naysayers pointed to Texas and
Oklahoma not being on the 2007
slate as reasons they went 12-1…maybe
so, but this year sees both
on the schedule to let any debate
be decided the best way, on
the field. Texas Tech is a true
test for the corners, and we
will know by the USF game if
the CBs are up to par or not.
And with the North Division
improving so much overall in
the past few years, the ender
with Mizzu could again dictate
who goes back to Kansas City
a week later for a chance at
the conference crown and the
automatic BCS bid.
What
a crappy hand KU was dealt when
they had one loss after the
regular season but were not
a possible contender for the
other BCS title game spot since
their lone loss, to Missouri,
made them the third-best Big
12 team. OU and Mizzu both had
two losses, so the circular
logic most used was that none
of them deserved the bid since
it wasn’t clear which
was truly the best. We expect
a few more losses this time
around, but the quality of football
we will see come from this team
will make pollsters respect
them, and such respect will
pay off when Kansas stays in
the top 25 for years to come.
Projected
2008 record: 8-4
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LB
Mike Rivera (PHOTO CREDIT: Jeff Jacobsen,
KU Athletics) |
KANSAS
*POWER RATINGS |
Offense |
Defense |
QB
- 5 |
DL
- 4 |
RB
- 3.5 |
LB
- 5 |
WR
- 4 |
DB
- 4 |
OL
- 3.5 |
.. |
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KANSAS
2007 Statistical Rankings |
OFFENSE |
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National |
Conf. |
Rushing: |
31 |
5 |
Passing: |
17 |
4 |
Total
Off: |
8 |
4 |
Sacks
Allow: |
58 |
12 |
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DEFENSE |
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National |
Conf. |
Rushing: |
8 |
2 |
Passing: |
49 |
2 |
Total
Def: |
12 |
1 |
Sacks: |
64 |
5 |
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RETURNING
LEADERS |
Passing:
Todd Reesing, 276-446-7, 3486
yds., 33 TD
Rushing: Jake Sharp,
147 att., 821 yds., 7 TD
Receiving: Dexton Fields,
63 rec., 834 yds., 6 TD
Scoring: Jake Sharp,
9 TD, 54 pts.
Punting: Kerry Meier,
4 punts, 32.2 avg.
Kicking: None
Tackles: Joe Mortensen,
106 tot., 50 solo
Sacks: Maxwell Onyegbule,
3.5 sacks
Interceptions: Justin
Thornton, 5 for 74 yds.
Kickoff returns: Marcus
Herford, 31 ret., 28.6 avg.,
2 TD
Punt returns: Anthony
Webb, 19 ret., 0.8 avg., 0 TD
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KANSAS
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OFFENSE
- 6 |
----RETURNING
STARTERS---- |
DEFENSE
- 9 |
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KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Brandon McAnderson-RB, Marcus
Henry-WR, Derek Fine-TE, Cesar
Rodriguez-OT, Scott Webb-K, Anthony
Collins-OT (NFL) |
DEFENSE:
James
McClinton-DT, Kyle Tucker-P, Todd
Haselhorst-DT, Aqib Talib-CB (NFL) |
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2008
OFFENSE |
QUARTERBACK
This offense just needed the right
guy under center to become the unstoppable
force it was for nearly all of 2007.
With only two offensive linemen who
were returning starters last year,
the new-look backfield exploded, led
by Todd Reesing and his elusive style.
A very balanced Jayhawk attack was
the nation’s second-best scoring
offense, increasing their point per
game from the prior year by nearly
14 and overall yardage per game by
over 100. Just a junior this year,
Reesing has deceptive speed when he
decides to run it; he wisely makes
sure to send opposing LBs into coverage
before scooting by the engaged DLmen.
Did he get sacked 26 times? Probably
not even 20 since tackling the QB
behind the line of scrimmage pretty
much qualifies as a sack these days.
But his decision making when he throws
it with just as much caution is the
key for Kansas to stay atop the rankings.
C’mon, 33 TDs and seven INTs
says it all. Reesing has a huge arm
for his sub-6’ frame (outfielder
in prep BB) and a real pension for
learning from his own (modest) mistakes
so as not to repeat them. He gets
it, and the offense follows along
by his example of focus and determination.
Coordinator Ed Warinner accomplished
more offensive production in his first
year (’07) than what coach Mangino
could in any of his prior six, so
we are sure Mangino is happy to be
relieved of that pressure with so
many wins to convince him of the smart
move getting Warinner. But that doesn’t
dismiss the hard work Mangino did
building the offense the right way,
as we have noted for a few years.
The flashes seen as the team was brought
along over the 2004-06 times all just
came together under Warinner’s
influence. And why would this stop
now, with so many pieces of the puzzle
back?
Another
major piece is multi-tasker Kerry
Meier, the displaced QB who is just
way too talented to keep off the field.
The only way to describe his role
is Mr. Everything – he’s
throwing passes here, then running
it or catching it in the flat over
there…up to 220lbs, Meier isn’t
quite a fullback, but he can break
tackles with his speed and isn’t
afraid to hit between the tackles,
either. Meier lines up anywhere and
everywhere (listed as a WR). But Meier
doesn’t supplant the true receivers
who make foes respect the deep ball.
RUNNING
BACK
Jake Sharp is ready for the main role
as ball carrier. Sharp is a quick
back who can hammer it straight ahead,
too, but he will have to hold off
classmate Angus Quigley. Quigley is
that Jim Brown-type, big and strong
as he blows by with a burst of sudden
speed, but it has to translate more
from the practice field to game day.
It’s a great one-two punch for
the one-back sets, and Quigley as
a blocker in two-back sets works,
too. The next great back to come out
of Lawrence will be Jocques Crawford,
the NJCAA Player of the Year in ’07.
He will push Quigley to the levels
needed, or just fly by him on the
two-deep. The backs just have to have
soft hands to keep them from becoming
just role players, a hint to Crawford
for how to get more reps (also need
to block well for blitz pickups).
RECEIVER
Missed will be Marcus Henry’s
field-stretching abilities, but plenty
are there to take his role. Dezmon
Briscoe comes to mind, as does Micah
Brown. But the guy who should get
first dibs is top WR Dexton Fields.
He has the size, speed and savvy (would
take two guys with him most of the
time, for sure) to get in the clear
deep down field and open the rest
of thing up for Reesing. But the biggest
weapon to emerge has to be Marcus
Herford, the kick return phenom who
will have a place in this year’s
patterns. Will TE Bradley Dedeaux
be as good as Fine at sucking LBs
into coverage? That remains to be
seen, so the new faces from this class
(Hawkinson, Biere, Plato) need to
step up quickly.
OFFENSIVE
LINE
The line had two senior tackles and
many new starters inside in ’07;
it is just the opposite with the inside
guys now the veterans (all seniors)
and the tackles are the new faces.
The attitude on the line starts with
center Ryan Cantrell, a fifth-year
senior who tattoos DTs as well as
leaving his imprint on whoever is
in his way. Ex-wrestling champ Adrian
Mayes also moves well for his size,
like Cantrell, and his knowledge of
where to be and when to be there is
what makes the timing plays here work
so well. JC-transfer Chet Hartley
also gets the “team aspect”
to blocking, working well in the scheme.
These three have gelled like Mangino
only could have hoped and they form
the wall inside that he has longed
for. It really was the new spread
looks that allowed the linemen to
use their athleticism in space instead
of being bunched together on most
plays. The new tackles look ready,
even if they are not All-American
Collins and Rodriguez. Matt Darton
did time behind Collins, filling in
versus Iowa State admirably. Ian Wolfe
has amazing footwork, and his presence
on the first-team means he will start,
holding off Australian JUCO-product
Nathan D’Cunha and 6’6
Jeff Spikes, whom Mangino said could
be one of the best linemen to ever
go through here (granted he steps
up). The tackles’ fitting in
is the biggest roadblock that might
keep KU from repeating the same level
of offensive production as seen last
year.
Reesing,
Meier, Harp and Herford will overwhelm
many. But a true test to see the level
of things in ’08 will come early
when they journey to Tampa.
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WR
Dexton Fields (PHOTO CREDIT:
Jeff Jacobsen, KU Athletics)
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KANSAS
2008 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Todd
Reesing-Jr (5-11, 200) |
Kerry
Meier-Jr (6-3, 220) |
RB |
Jake
Sharp-Jr (5-10, 190) |
Jocques
Crawford-Jr (6-1, 230)
Angus Quigley-Jr (6-2, 222) |
WR |
Kerry
Meier-Jr (6-3, 220) |
Johnathan
Wilson-So (6-3, 187)
Rod Harris-Jr (6-2, 200) |
WR |
Dezmon
Briscoe-So (6-3, 200) |
Marcus
Herford-Sr (6-3, 208) |
WR |
Dexton
Fields-Sr (6-0, 204) |
Tertavian
Ingram-So (6-0, 195) |
TE |
Bradley
Dedeaux-So (6-3, 249) |
Nick
Plato-Fr (6-6, 228) |
OT |
Jeff
Spikes-Fr (6-6, 315) |
Ian
Wolfe-So (6-5, 295) |
OG |
Adrian
Mayes-Sr (6-3, 305) |
Jeremiah
Hatch-Fr (6-3, 310) |
C |
Ryan
Cantrell-Sr (6-3, 295) |
Sal
Capra-So (6-3, 295) |
OG |
Chet
Hartley-Sr (6-4, 310) |
Carl
Wilson-So (6-4, 290) |
OT |
Matt
Darton-Sr (6-6, 310) |
Nathan
D'Cunha-Jr (6-6, 305) |
K |
Stephen
Hoge-Fr (6-4, 216) |
Jacob
Branstetter-Fr (5-10, 175) |
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2008
DEFENSE |
It
is no small statement that Kansas
led the Big 12 in defensive pass efficiency
as well as total and scoring defense
in ‘07. Mangino’s teams
had always done well in stopping those
tough conference foes, that is, up
until 2006. That means the rebound
back to how tough they were last year
was really no surprise. But losing
DC Billy Young may hurt. Going to
Clint Bowen will keep the continuity
from ’07 as much as is possible,
and Bowen seems ready to lead. There
are only two holes on this side to
fill, which makes it scary for how
high that sets the bar.
DEFENSIVE
LINE
The line helped sustain the league’s
second-best run defense, which was
good enough for eighth in the country…not
bad for 2nd place in the Big 12. This
line first stops the run, knowing
that this conference demands you do
such as the top priority or pay the
price against those amazing running
games. That, of course, means you
have to have the DBs to handle themselves,
accordingly. Ok, back to the line…and
heads-up DE John Larson. He had two
INTs to go with 12 TFLs, making the
Kansas City product a focus for offensive
linemen. Like Larson, Russell Brorsen
is a senior all-Academic Big 12 end
who plays responsibly more than flashy.
The three backups all over-achieved
in their brief showings last year,
so KU looks good there into 2009 since
they are two sophs and a junior (Wheeler
is a monster who can slide inside,
if needed). The tackles seem to be
a work-in-progress. Caleb Blakesley
was adequate, but neither he nor Todd
Haslhort has offered enough to secure
the start, though they are the most
experienced tackles on the team. Jamal
Greene was a name floating around
the two-deep, and the arrival of Darius
Parrish should bolster things more.
We can’t say this is a worry,
but finding the right tackles will
be the biggest challenge, more than
filling the gap at corner. UPDATE:
DT Todd
Haselhorst has left the program “to
tend to personal matters".
LINEBACKER
The linebackers are a deep group that
has three returning senior starters,
just about the best guarantee one
can give that a defense will repeat
its strong performance. They started
every game together last year, and
Mortensen (held out during spring
ball) and Rivera have been starting
together since 2006. James Holt plays
like the ex-DB he apparently still
has in him, but he also can inhabit
the opposing backfield for 13 TFLs.
Springer and Wright have done well
in reserve, so depth is there, too.
Again, the LBs are another group that
can benefit from the DBs being left
alone in one-on-one coverage, allowing
the LBs then to focus on run stopping
duties more.
DEFENSIVE
BACK
Chris Harris knows his responsibility
stepping in for Aqib Talib as the
top corner. But moreover, he’s
embracing the leadership role he has
been given, even asking to get Talib’s
No.3 jersey as a symbol of the torch
having been passed to him, so to speak.
"I talked to CG and Talib, and
Talib thinks that I should have it,
[that] it should be kept with the
cornerbacks," Harris boasts.
Junior College-transfer Kendrick Harper
should be ready to be a starter again
since he was just that until injuries
allowed Harris to fly by him…but
neither Harper nor Harris is Talib,
and until they prove themselves at
Talib's high level of play, foes will
pick on them. Anthony Webb needs a
bit more work, so there has to be
concern here with so many great WRs
in this conference. The safeties know
how to bend, yet not break. Stuckey
and Resby are a great pair, but it
was Justin Thorton who shot up the
depth chart to start by the end of
the year due to his five INTs, the
same number as Talib. His ability
to bump up into one-on-one is a sure
answer for any cornerback woes, and
assures he will be a definite presence
as a nickel guy, early and often.
The corners, specifically, will be
a huge question mark. How they answer
the critics will go the longest in
assuring KU gets back to the BCS race.
Switching
coordinators will be the next biggest
challenge, but everyone knows Bowen,
and they like his style and respect
his approach. Even non-Jayhawks know
that Kansas won't go anywhere in this
conference if the D doesn't do its
job.
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LB
Joe Mortensen (PHOTO CREDIT:
Jeff Jacobsen, KU Athletics)
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KANSAS
2008 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
Russell
Brorsen-Sr (6-4, 240) |
Jake
Laptad-So (6-4, 237) |
DT |
Caleb
Blakesley-Jr (6-5, 290) |
Richard
Johnson-Fr (6-2, 279) |
DT |
Jamal
Greene-So (6-4, 300) |
Darius
Parish-Fr (6-4, 340) |
DE |
John
Larson-Sr (6-3, 250) |
Maxwell
Onyegbule-Jr (6-5, 251) |
OLB |
James
Holt-Sr (6-3, 222) |
Arist
Wright-Jr (6-0, 220) |
MLB |
Joe
Mortensen-Sr (6-1, 250) |
Justin
Springer-So (6-4, 240) |
OLB |
Mike
Rivera-Sr (6-3, 255) |
Drew
Dudley-So (6-2, 230) |
CB |
Kendrick
Harper-Sr (5-9, 190) |
Anthony
Davis-Fr (6-0, 192) |
CB |
Chris
Harris-So (6-0, 180) |
Isiah
Barfield-Fr (6-0, 175) |
SS |
Patrick
Resby-Sr (6-0, 200) |
Justin
Thornton-Jr (6-1, 202) |
FS |
Darrell
Stuckey-Jr (6-1, 205) |
Tang
Bacheyie-Sr (6-1, 211) |
P |
Alonso
Rojas-So (6-3, 220) |
Kyle
Davis-Jr (5-10, 200) |
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2008
SPECIAL TEAMS |
The
kicking jobs are pretty wide open. Alonso
Rojas is being brought in from community
college to push Jacob Branstetter and Stephen
Hoge. Departee Webb was 2-for-6 from 40+
last year, so we think a new foot may get
three points for Mangino more consistently
from farther away. Also, the net punt results
were putrid for a top team, keeping the
Jayhawks from extra yards they have the
talent to hold on to. Meier was seen here
in spring ball as a punter since Rojas hadn’t
arrived. A sure All-Big 12 choice on special
teams, Marcus Herford is the kick returner
who gives Kansas a field-position advantage
every time he touches the ball.
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