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Monday, December 22, 2008

Extra practices benefit KU

Coaches evaluate, experiment during four-week lead-up to bowl

By Dugan Arnett

KU quarterbacks Kale Pick (19), Tyler Lawrence (17), Todd Reesing (5) and Kerry Meier listen to instructions before starting drills in this Aug. 9, 2008 file photo.

Photo by Richard Gwin

KU quarterbacks Kale Pick (19), Tyler Lawrence (17), Todd Reesing (5) and Kerry Meier listen to instructions before starting drills in this Aug. 9, 2008 file photo.

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Feature

2008 Insight Bowl

KU will face the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the 2008 Insight Bowl at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.

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Extra practices benefit KU

With nine days left until the Insight Bowl, practices for the KU football team are clearly focused on Minnesota. But that hasn't been the case for the entire month.

Feature

2008 Insight Bowl

KU will face the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the 2008 Insight Bowl at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.

Of all the perks to be had from the Kansas University football team’s 2008 Insight Bowl invitation — the historical significance, the week’s stay in a superb climate, the sure-to-be-extravagant player goodie bags — perhaps none is more appreciated than the added month of practice time the bid provides.

For coaches, the extra four weeks represent a chance to evaluate the team’s younger players, many of whom toiled through the regular season as members of the scout team. And for the younger players, it’s an opportunity to make their case for an increased work load heading into next season — even if that opportunity can lead to a bit of overzealous behavior.

“Getting ready for the Fort Worth Bowl (in 2005), I got yelled at because I hit (former Kansas running back Jon) Cornish one time, and you’re not supposed to hit the starters,” said senior linebacker James Holt, who recently was named an All-Big 12 first-team selection. “But that’s a great opportunity for the kids that have to do scout team all year to show the coaches what they have and get ready for next year.”

Having spent parts of the past few weeks getting an extended look at some little-used players — and experimenting with others — Kansas coach Mark Mangino admits to having a better feel for the pieces he’ll take into the 2009 season.

One of the most noteworthy stories to come out of this year’s developmental period is the possible move of running back Angus Quigley to the linebacker position. As a junior this season, Quigley was KU’s second-leading rusher, compiling 309 yards and a team-best 5.2 yards-per-carry average, but he has spent considerable time recently working with the linebackers. Mangino said Sunday that he would know by spring practice where Quigley will be lined up next season, and the coach assured that when he makes the decision, he’ll stick to it.

“We’re not going to fool around,” said Mangino, who praised Quigley’s understanding of the position’s basic principles. “He’s either going to be at running back in the spring or linebacker, we’re not going to move him back and forth.

“But I’d say there’s a better-than-average chance that he’ll be at linebacker.”

The coach also singled out walk-on receiver Willie O’Quinn, safety Lubbock Smith and receiver-turned-cornerback Daymond Patterson as players who thrived during the team’s early bowl preparation workouts, adding that both O’Quinn and Smith should battle for playing time in ’09 (Patterson is already a starter).

While the evaluation opportunity has been much appreciated, however, it is secondary to the task at hand: winning bowl games in back-to-back seasons for the first time in school history.

And with only nine days remaining before the Jayhawks’ New Year’s Eve date with the Gophers in Tempe, Ariz., the team’s focus has turned one-dimensional.

“It’s been productive,” Mangino said. “But now it’s all Minnesota. Developmental (time) is long gone now; we’re working on Minnesota.”

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Comments

  1. Rivethead (anonymous) says…

    Minnesota is gonna smashmouth the football right at us. Hope we're ready.

  2. LAJayhawk5 (anonymous) says…

    We're going to whip some Gopher ass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  3. KU (anonymous) says…

    Rivethead......I thought Minnesoooota was more of a spread team? You think they have the ability to hammer us with the run? I would think that plays into our linebackers hands if it's the case.

  4. KGphoto (anonymous) says…

    LOVING the idea of Quigley at LB. He's been laying people out every chance he's had. Remember, he almost killed that kid in Lincoln. Certainly it's his natural position. Big, fast, with an appetite for destruction.Mangino must be the most innovative coach in the country. Sure, it's out of necessity, but what a perfect fit at KU. I'd like a list of players that he's made better by examining their natural skill set, and putting them in the appropriate position. I used to roll my eyes a little when I saw "athlete" in the position column of the scouting report. Now I look for it.

  5. iowajayhawkfan (anonymous) says…

    As transplanted Minnesota fan I can tell you the Gophers are a young team. Yes, they do run a form of the spread offense. Weber(QB) and Decker (WR) are two players the Hawks must watch for. The defense is young and I don't see them stopping Reesing & Co. I am torn between the two teams but in my heart and the fact my daughter went to KU, I have root for the Jayhawks. rock chalk jayhawks!!!

  6. rolo2383 (anonymous) says…

    If I were Minnesota I would try to take advantage of our pass defense. Our defense can and will stop the run it's the pass I'm worried about. But I agree with Iowajay, they probably won't be able to stop us.

  7. plasticJHawk (anonymous) says…

    I love the pictures where the players have their names taped to their foreheads. It kinda makes everyone equal. Even though everyone knows who Todd Reesing and Kerry Meier are they still have their names stuck to their hats.

  8. Jaminrawk (anonymous) says…

    I really think KU is gonna roll Minnesota. The Gophers were the recipients of a lot of gift wrapped turnovers this year. As long as we hold onto the ball, I think we control this game.

  9. jayhawkr34 (anonymous) says…

    plastic thats more for the coaches benefit than anyone else

  10. LAJayhawk (anonymous) says…

    Minnesota stinks. The Big 10 stinks. We'll win by 3 TDs.... as long as we play like we can.

  11. Eurekahwk (anonymous) says…

    If you ever read the Star Tribune, you'd know that they've been working on some new "hands in the dirt" formations. I get the sense that they want to try to smashmouth us and keep our offense off the field. They are going to play ball control, and it worked when Nebraska did it. Lets hope our D-line is a lot more forceful this game and keep them off the field.

  12. actorman (anonymous) says…

    I'd much rather face a team playing smashmouth than a high-powered spread offense. Those are the teams that killed us this year, especially TT.

  13. KU (anonymous) says…

    They might try to run it, but they have an anemic run offense.....something like 85 yards per game. I can't see them being able to completely revamp it in 30 days and turn it into a powerful run offense.They did get a lot of takeaways this year, so we need to be careful in that department.

  14. Jimmy_Dean (anonymous) says…

    KU plays very conservative when they have a lead, has anyone else noticed that. It's the one thing I don't like about Warriner and our offense. Because of that reason we only win 45-13.It's forty five to six towards the end but they get a pity TD at the end cause our second string defense lets up in the final seconds.