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Thursday, December 7, 2006

Keegan

Keegan: Change coming to KU?

By Tom Keegan

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Financially, making one of the lesser bowl games is about a break-even proposition for most schools. It's the extra few weeks of practice time lost that infuriates football coaches forever looking for the edge. The less time between the end of the season and the beginning of spring practice the better, as far as coaches are concerned.

Bowl-bound coaches even have been known to use that extra practice time to experiment with position changes, a common spring practice.

On the topic of position switches, Kansas University has a few intriguing possibilities Mark Mangino ought to consider while flying or driving to various recruiting stops.

No, not shifting Kerry Meier from quarterback to running back, even though Meier fared far better running the ball than passing it during his first injury-interrupted season as a college quarterback. Meier said he wasn't hurt in the final weeks, but his throws certainly didn't have the same zip on them. If he wasn't hurt, then Todd Reesing projects as a better quarterback.

Taking the red shirt off Reesing was justified by his leading the team to victory over Colorado. He should have come into the Missouri game far earlier than he did, but the reason has nothing to do with justifying red-shirting him and everything to do with his giving the Jayhawks a better chance of winning that game. (The way the defense played, they probably would have lost it anyway.)

KU doesn't have enough depth at quarterback to consider trying Meier at running back. Besides, running from the quarterback position is a different challenge than running into the line.

Position switches worth trying:

Raymond Brown, who will be a fourth-year junior next fall, started his career at safety and was moved to cornerback. He was burned badly playing in place of suspended Aqib Talib and was relegated to special-teams duty thereafter. Brown can fly, and at 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, the St. Louis native would make a nice target for Meier or Reesing. Whispers he could be at wide receiver in the spring make sense.

Watching Brandon McAnderson bury so many return men on special teams made it easy to envision him at linebacker. A 6-foot, 235-pound graduate of Lawrence High, McAnderson moves well, has the right size and is tough as they come. He still could play some fullback and shore up the outside linebacker position, a weakness on KU's on-again, off-again defense. He received multiple honors as a high school linebacker.

Any discussion of KU position switches would be incomplete without mentioning Marcus Herford. He has such a loud combination of speed and strength that it seems a waste for him not be on the field more often. His release at quarterback was too slow, necessitating a switch to wide receiver. He averaged an outstanding 17.1 yards a catch, but had just eight receptions. Why not try him at running back and see if he takes to the position?

Winning a Baylor game in which KU blew an 18-point lead with less than 10 minutes left would have meant Mangino not only could be trying position switches already, he could be telling recruits he is preparing for a third bowl game in four seasons. Oh well, as the often quoted Joe Anonymous once said, "If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we'd all have a Merry Christmas."

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Comments

klineisanazi (anonymous) says...

2007 could be the make-or-break year for Mangino. This year was a huge disappointment. There is no excuse for KU squeezing only 6 wins out of the 2006 schedule. None.
Next year, KU must travel to OSU, A&M, and KSU. There is a real possibility KU will win 6 or maybe only 5 games next year. If KU wins only 5, that would be the dreaded "step back" that could cost Mangino his job. As for Keegan's take, it seems strange that KU is still playing the game of moving parts around to try and make a team. That is what I would expect in the first couple of years, but KU should be far enough along to be recruiting an entire team, and not trying to patch this together with a wad of chewing gum.

December 7, 2006 at 7:25 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

GIHAWK (anonymous) says...

I don't know what schedule you are looking at next year, but we could easily win at least 7 games. The north is still wide open after Nebraska...

December 7, 2006 at 8:21 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

klineisanazi (anonymous) says...

GIHAWK, the same could have been said about this year's schedule. It is possible they could win 7, but there is nothing that says it will be done "easily", based on performance to date. Right now, I would predict another 6 win season.

December 7, 2006 at 9:16 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

patton6 (anonymous) says...

Keegan, you have written some bad articles, but this one takes the cake. McAnderson needs to see a solid 8-10 carries a game and continue thriving on special teams. We can't waste the progress he has made by switching him to defense. And Herford at RB - are you kidding me?! Yes, he is fast and strong but he can't make a cut to save his life...I suggest watching the games at some point if you are going to continue writing about them.

December 7, 2006 at 10:12 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

GIHAWK (anonymous) says...

Regardless, I don't think they can afford to buy him out at this point.

December 7, 2006 at 10:21 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Migady (anonymous) says...

Dear General Patton,

Glad you became a coach and writing critic. McAnderson never really carried the ball, hence the GOOD reason to look at other possibilities for him to play. Especially, since he was a stand out linebacker in High School... Also, he weigh's 235 and has lateral movement. Defense keeps points off the board. Defense should be the most important focus of football. Not special teams. But, good to see where your little head is at.
Now granted, Herford might not be the best at RB, but seriously, Keegan is suggesting a look at alternate positions. He didn't say lets put him in the game. Experimentation can create stand out players. Not always, but sometimes. Besides, your expertise probably comes from watching games. How would you ever know if Herford could make tailback cuts? You're the idiot for this reason above all. Keegan gets paid to write on something he pays attention too. You just sit at your office desk, think like you could do a better job, wonder why you didn't go into this field, and then embarrass yourself behind your screen name online by writing stupid cut down articles on a coaching situation that you clearly don't understand.

Well played sir.

December 7, 2006 at 10:30 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

GIHAWK (anonymous) says...

Its really all pointless because Mangino has been strategically switching positions since he started here.

December 7, 2006 at 10:58 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

bg_duck1 (anonymous) says...

Well played sir, indeed. Migady you are correct about that joker Patton, Keegan is a good writer and this article, while not his best, is not that bad. As for Mangino, I think everyone can agree that if next year's team "steps backwards" he will be in trouble. Start Reesing at QB because Kerry Meier just can't make certain throws that he needs to make. Make Brandon McAnderson the everydown back and put Jake Sharp/Marcus Herford as a Reggie Bush type of player. They can line up in the slot or the backfield but get them the ball a lot those guys can fly. But what really needs done is fire Nick Quartaro or at least demote him. He is probably the worst OC in America, we have weapons on offense let's use them. Beak 'em Hawks

December 7, 2006 at 12:16 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kickazzkurtz (anonymous) says...

I don't think that KU is that depleted at the QB position. What about Lawrence the third sting from Shawnee Mission West? I'll bet money he can throw better than Meier. He doesn't look like much, but when you see him throw it is amazing. I saw him on the local news his senior year at SM West. Threw the ball all the time deep, accurate and with good tight spirals.

He might be a better passer than Reesing, but I don't know how mobile he is. One thing is for sure Meier has no business being QB ahead of Reesing. Reesing demonstrated he was a better thrower and I think he is just as mobile if not a little quicker.

The last drive of the MU game Reesing scrambled to the sideline and threw accross his body for a completion. I don't think Meier can do that at all; injuried or not.

December 7, 2006 at 12:30 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

fabolous_bg (anonymous) says...

Good call bgduck...Nick Quartaro is the worst. offensive coordinator. ever. he doesn't even deserve to watch the game, let alone call the same stupid wide receiver screen every other play that never works. they need to cut him loose and let B. Whittemore call the plays, or at least someone who knows what they are doing.

December 7, 2006 at 1:08 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

GIHAWK (anonymous) says...

Well our history of QB has been spotty to say the least...If there is a better QB out there than what we have and he is interested, I say take him. I mean it would be great if we can get someone like a Jason Swanson in the juco ranks.

December 7, 2006 at 3:49 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

BigDog (anonymous) says...

As a season ticket holder I sat through all of their games this year (doesn't make me an expert, just opinionated)...... I will agree the offensive coordinator isn't the best but is he being allowed to call plays he wants or is Mangino limiting it.... you had 2 freshman running the offense and freshman make mistakes ..... it wasn't the offensive coordinator's fault when Meier through like 4 interceptions and missed several open recievers in the K-State game ...... but most games they lost this year were late in the game ..... and they ran out of steam .... seems like a conditioning issue and also late in the game the defense struggled ..... its hard to forget the Toledo game, Oklahoma State game, Texas A&M game, Nebraska game, and close escapes in several other games.

December 7, 2006 at 4:03 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

fabolous_bg (anonymous) says...

Yeah we lost the Toledo game because we called stupid plays in stupid situations. Also, our defense lost steam because our inept offense couldn't keep them off the field, because of bad play calling. I'm not saying it was Quartaro's fault that Meier threw all those picks, but if he has a bad shoulder, why not run the ball more? Especially since we had the best back in the Big XII lined up behind him.

December 7, 2006 at 4:29 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

BigDog (anonymous) says...

If Meier had a bad shoulder and couldn't make the throws he shouldn't have even been in the game.

December 7, 2006 at 4:35 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

prairie_dog (anonymous) says...

I hate to agree with Keegan on anything, but after last season, I think we need to look at everything. It seems trite, but in this situation, it is true: our biggest problem is at QB. Either Meier improves, or give Reesing a real shot.

We BLEW this season. Very disappointing.

December 7, 2006 at 5:09 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

lalawguy (anonymous) says...

I predict that KU will go to bowl games during the next three seasons, and at least one of those years we will get the chance to play in the Big 12 Championship game. Next year will be 8-4. Mark my word.

December 7, 2006 at 6:52 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

fabolous_bg (anonymous) says...

Exactly...Reesing should have been the starter after the Colorado game.

December 7, 2006 at 8:43 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

RckChalkJeff (anonymous) says...

Reesing rockets passes....Meier floats......hmmmmm

December 8, 2006 at 1:37 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

norsk_reporter (anonymous) says...

Big Twelve championship game? Hoo hoo hoo! Next year, without the senior O-linemen or John Cornish: 4-7. Mark MY words.

December 8, 2006 at 7:33 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

FlaHawk (anonymous) says...

I like the idea of McAdnsrews at OLB. The pass defense was burned very badly by OSU and Baylor because our LBs were to slow!

Herford might not make it at RB. I suspect he is fumble prone. I might suggest CB were his size and speed work tohis advantage and KU is NOT nearly deep enough at this position!

December 10, 2006 at 6:28 p.m. ( | suggest removal )