Advertisement

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Jayhawks prepare to defend the run

Quarterback example of A&M's desire to rush football

By Ryan Wood

Texas A&M quarterback Stephen McGee (7) runs past a group of Nebraska defenders. McGee set career highs with 35 carries for 167 yards in the Aggies' 36-14 victory over the Huskers on Saturday in Lincoln, Neb.

Texas A&M quarterback Stephen McGee (7) runs past a group of Nebraska defenders. McGee set career highs with 35 carries for 167 yards in the Aggies' 36-14 victory over the Huskers on Saturday in Lincoln, Neb.

Advertisement

Reesing gives Jayhawks stability

Since 2004, finding a stable quarterback has been a challenge for the Jayhawks. But Todd Reesing is making a world of difference.

"Fighting Manginos" in whole new ball game

In 2006 the Kansas football team put itself in position to win week after week, but KU couldn't close. 2007 has been quite the opposite.

Thirty-five times last week against Nebraska, Stephen McGee made himself the potential target of a head-rattling hit.

That's an excessive amount even for a durable running back in the NFL. But for a 200-pound quarterback in college football? It's almost unheard of.

McGee, Texas A&M's junior quarterback, carried the ball 35 times against Nebraska, absorbing dozens of licks on his way to 167 rushing yards in a 36-14 Aggies victory.

McGee's willingness to keep an option and, eventually, get drilled is a central theme to the Aggies' offense, which next attacks Kansas University on Saturday in College Station, Texas.

But 35 carries for a quarterback? That's entering a domain where few go anymore in the era of the spread offense.

"He was certainly a real warrior on Saturday with all the carries and the hits he took," Texas A&M coach Dennis Franchione said of McGee, the reigning Big 12 offensive player of the week. "He did what was necessary to move the ball and win the football game."

With McGee and running backs Jorvorskie Lane and Michael Goodson, the Aggies (6-2 overall, 3-1 Big 12 Conference) don't try to hide what their crutch is. The three have combined for 1,751 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns. That's almost 100 yards and a score per game per player.

The Aggies' passing attack, meanwhile, has compiled just 1,238 yards and seven touchdowns.

Obviously, a grind-it-out ground game is in the works if Texas A&M has any say. With a speedy Goodson, the 270-pound Lane and the tough McGee always willing to tuck and run, the 12th-ranked Jayhawks (7-0, 3-0) have plenty of looks to prepare for.

"They certainly do a good job of executing," KU coach Mark Mangino said. "They try to outgap you with running the quarterback, creating an extra gap. Our defense has played well against the run all year. It's a different kind of challenge, but I think our kids will be good to go and well prepared for the challenge."

Colorado is another Big 12 team which likes to run, but the Buffs' ground game struggled in a 19-14 loss to the Jayhawks last week. CU managed just 66 yards on 33 carries, confirming that KU's strong run defense of recent years is still around.

Texas A&M, though, has many more ground weapons than Colorado and likely more of a desire to impose its will. McGee, Lane and Goodson combined for 157 yards rushing last year against Kansas, including a two-yard run by Lane with 34 seconds left that sealed the Aggies' 21-18 victory.

All three are back, and perhaps their legs are relied on even more in 2007. McGee getting nearly three dozen rushes in one game would be convincing evidence, anyway.

"That's obviously a big key for our success," Franchione said. "I think most teams would say that you have to stop the run to win first. When you're able to continue to run the ball, for us to keep out of bad down and distance situations, that's pretty pivotal."

More like this

Comments

leikness (anonymous) says...

Seriously....Dude's face looks smaller.

October 23, 2007 at 8:11 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

moehobart (anonymous) says...

I think we have one of the smartest defense's in the nation, as long as we prepare properly I dont see any reason why we couldn't really disrupt aTm's game plan. Go Hawks.

October 23, 2007 at 8:30 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jpstrayer (anonymous) says...

I have unpleasant memories of aTm's Thunder n' Lightning last year.....I hope the Coaches come up with a dandy plan for Saturday.

October 23, 2007 at 8:42 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

klong (anonymous) says...

I think they should do the old 9 man front. The one that Denver did against the Chiefs a few years ago. It would totally stop any chance of the option and make running up the middle more difficult. Talib i'm sure is good enough to go 1 on 1 with their best WR. It's a little risky but could work.

With my opinion out there, I think Bill Young is a great coach and will come up with something that will stop them. Even if it's not my idea. I just have faith in all our coaches.

October 23, 2007 at 9:43 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

dagger108 (anonymous) says...

Talib & the DB's were licking their chops 2 weeks ago in anticipation of Baylor throwing so many op's for INT's. Mortensen, Holt, ... must be hyped at so many op's for head hunting this week. This year's D is so much improved over last year's, and the O show be flying as well. Saturday should be fun. Those of us no longer in the homeland (KS) are psyched at another op to see the game as well.

Rcok Chalk!

October 23, 2007 at 9:52 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jimmy_Dean (Alan Halvorsen) says...

All A&M is running is that option. Or sometype of play that revolves around Mcgee running the ball. If you look at KU's history of dealing with offense's like that, look no further than Missouri's own Brad Smith. We owned him! Also if you look at last years game with A&M we dominated Mcgee and that offense too. The only problems we had with A&M was our own offense! Our defense was on the field so much cause we could never muster a first down.

Now if you look at our offense it is by no means a weak spot. Also the aggies haven't been very good at home lately. ALSO, when you look at the schedule A&M plays at Tech, then at Nebraska, then us. Then they play at OU, then at Missouri. Can you say trap game!!

October 23, 2007 at 11:42 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KU_Kiwi (anonymous) says...

If KU gets up by 2 TDs in the second half, A&M's running game becomes more and more a detriment. If they can't pass, they're dead. The key to this game might be going up early and maintaining a 2 score lead into the mid third quarter.

October 23, 2007 at 11:48 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

bmcmich1 (anonymous) says...

Hit the nail on the head kiwi, we have GOT to get off to a fast start on Saturday, and that's one of the few things that you can say we haven't really done all year. We've got to come out firing on all cylinders from the get-go to neutralize their run.

October 23, 2007 at 11:56 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

bdsnook (anonymous) says...

We honestly should wax the Aggies this weekend, but playing in Kyle Field can be a mind-numbing experience. It is by far the loudest stadium in the Big XII, and if their fans make out there, it could be a factor.

The line currently has KU as a 2.5 favorite...under normal circumstances you could infer we would be +5.5 at Memorial, but I wonder if bookies give A&M more home field points?

October 23, 2007 at 12:13 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

OklahomaJayhawk5 (anonymous) says...

They scare me honestly. And you guys are right, it is very important to get a lead and control their run game.

October 23, 2007 at 12:18 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

txrockchalk (anonymous) says...

bdsnook, I don't want their fans to make out there either, because that means the Aggies will have scored on us! :)

October 23, 2007 at 12:47 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

troutsee (anonymous) says...

We will beat the luckiest team in the B-12 by more than 7. We will definitely cover the spread.

October 23, 2007 at 12:55 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

OhioHawkfan (anonymous) says...

"ALSO, when you look at the schedule A&M plays at Tech, then at Nebraska, then us. Then they play at OU, then at Missouri. Can you say trap game!!"

DUDE! KU is as good aor better than any of those teams? Why would we be the "trap game?"

October 23, 2007 at 4:02 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

leikness (anonymous) says...

Still says Kansas on the jersey and the stigma that comes with that will take a long while to rid the Jayhawks of.

October 23, 2007 at 4:25 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

troutsee (anonymous) says...

Yep.

October 23, 2007 at 4:35 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

scootja32 (anonymous) says...

wouldn't it be +8.5 in memorial if home field is 3 points?

October 23, 2007 at 5:06 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

bdsnook (anonymous) says...

I don't know maybe, I was a music major. And nice catch txrockchalk!

October 23, 2007 at 7:57 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

summers (anonymous) says...

A neutral field would be 5.5 points, at KU, 8.5. But I think aTm commands a higher than average home field advatage (12th man, and all). That being said, perhaps on a neutral field it would actually be more in the 7 point range, and at KU maybe 10 points.

Now that we have settled the score, let's move on to Nebraska.

Oh yeah, we have to play the game!

Rock Chalk, Jayhawk. Go KU!

October 24, 2007 at 12:53 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

txrockchalk (anonymous) says...

Just figured I would rib you a bit, bdsnook :)

October 24, 2007 at 9:57 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jhawk_kid (anonymous) says...

KU is no longer a trap game we are now the kind of team that people prepare ahead of time for and get trapped preparing for

October 24, 2007 at 10:36 a.m. ( | suggest removal )