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Monday, September 1, 2008

Keegan

Keegan: Defense rock-solid in debut

By Tom Keegan

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Orange Bowl Champions - A top 10 ranking - and plenty of BCS praise. All of that was then...and this is now. On Saturday, the 2008 Kansas football team hit the field with Florida International trying to improve upon a historic 2007 season.

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Going Deep

Learning about La. Tech

In Week 2 of Going Deep, Matt Tait and Eric Sorrentino welcome Jimmy Watson, of the Shreveport Times, and the trio discusses the strengths and weaknesses of the Louisiana Tech squad the Jayhawks will face on Sept. 6. In addition to sizing up the Bulldogs, Watson talks about the southern ...

Consider all the issues raised in Kansas University's sometimes-sloppy 40-10 season-opening victory against Florida International, and then note what they have in common.

Based on the unproductive run game and the heat put on quarterback Todd Reesing by FIU's blitzing defense, the readiness of the inexperienced offensive line remains a concern. Red-shirt freshman Jeremiah Hatch, who had earned the starting right tackle spot, did not play.

And then there is the issue of Dexton Fields' health. Smoked when going up for Reesing's too-high delivery, Fields did not play the rest of the game and was held out of practice Sunday.

Third-string running back Angus Quigley was the leading rusher.

The performance of the punt- (allowed a touchdown) and kickoff-coverage teams so underwhelmed head coach Mark Mangino he said in the postgame media session that personnel changes would be coming.

The common denominator? None of the issues involved the defense, which made a rock-solid debut and allowed just a field goal at the end of the first half.

Coordinator Clint Bowen's defense stopped the run (66 yards) and the pass (73 yards in 29 attempts) and kept the heat on the quarterbacks (three sacks).

Two key performers called attention to the defense's depth of talent.

Nickel back Phillip Strozier, a third-year sophomore from Rockhurst High in Kansas City, Mo., came up with the first two interceptions of his career. Jake Laptad, a 6-foot-4 sophomore end from Tulsa powerhouse Jenks High, contributed two sacks, including an early one on fourth down.

"We're trying to get as much pressure on the quarterback as possible," Laptad said. "We haven't had that much in the past, and we just keep on working to get as much as possible. Every D-end has to be able to get pressure on the quarterback, so I'm just trying to get as much as I can."

Laptad competes for playing time with Russell Brorsen and John Larson, last year's starters, and Jeff Wheeler and Max Onyegbule, who made big strides in the offseason. Jamal Greene, Richard Johnson, Caleb Blakesley and Darius Parish share the time at defensive tackle.

"We have four guys in the middle and five guys on the outside who are all worthy of playing time, and they're all going to play," Bowen said. "That helps to keep them fresh and keep their energy up high."

Players like to play, but whining about not playing enough isn't the path to more time.

"We have a lot of good players, which makes for good competition, and that makes everybody better," Laptad said. "When you get in there, you take a lot more pride in it, and you try to go all-out, and you're not really tired."

The secondary and linebackers showed enough last year to make everyone confident they would excel. The first look at the defensive line was an encouraging one.

"We were able to get to the quarterback with four guys rushing, which is a point of emphasis for us," Bowen said.

The Jayhawks didn't take risks on defense in the opener. They didn't need to gamble. Playing straight-up, they dominated a weaker opponent.

Comments

njjayhawk (anonymous) says...

The defense was very solid, but it will take MUCH more than solid defense to win in the Big 12. The offensive weakness Saturday was glaring - and a big concern. This WAS FIU, afterall; not OU or even KSU. Improvement will be needed, with the So. Fla. game looming, which will say a great deal about KU's fortunes this season.

KU's Ed Warinner, Head Offenisve Coach, said after the FIU game, "we're a take-what-they-give-us" team. Time to come to reality, Ed. What if THEY are OU, Texas or TT, and THEY give you NOTHING? The Big 12 has defensive All-Americans in abundance. Perhaps the O-line play vs. FIU was a one-off "poor', but I don't think so. Mangino and his staff have much work to do. I think they will get it done - we shall see in several weeks when the Jayhawks take the field in So. Fla.

September 1, 2008 at 6:45 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

prairie_dog (anonymous) says...

What is the story on Hatch? Injury? Doghouse? What?

September 1, 2008 at 6:52 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

rockchalk_dpu (anonymous) says...

njjayhawk,

The point was made in several different games on Saturday: Pros have preseason, High School has scrimmages, College simply suits it up and starts the season. You can practice all you want, but when it comes to game time, players will make mistakes and miss assignments or blocks from time to time. What needs to happen now is to look at those mistakes and make the corrections, something I am more than confident that Mangino and the coaching staff will do.

Remember, we lost a lot off the O-Line and a stud running back/blocker, so I expect some growing pains in the first few games. Have faith in the team and we will be fine come Big 12 play.

RCJ

September 1, 2008 at 8:31 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

troutsee (anonymous) says...

Agree with njjayhawk. Offensive line did not look good. Needs lots of work.

Kick coverage....awful.....both kick off and punt return.

Best running back...Quigley. Quigley should start. He runs like Cornish and is capable of breaking a long one. He just needs a chance to start.

I know the coaching staff can fix these things, and I still expect this team to go 10-2.

September 1, 2008 at 9:19 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

troutsee (anonymous) says...

Watched Colorado game last night. They have a couple of speed burners. We need a couple of speed burners.

September 1, 2008 at 9:21 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

railer1122 (anonymous) says...

njjayhawk-

Why do multiple posts on 2 different articles. We get it, you didn't like the performance. It was the 1st game of the year!!! If we have the same problems in early November, then you have a right to say something.

Relax a bit, and enjoy a VICTORY!! Which may have not happened a few years ago in early season games.

September 1, 2008 at 11:29 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

JBurtin (anonymous) says...

"What if THEY are OU, Texas or TT, and THEY give you NOTHING?"

True testament to a lack of football IQ.

Every defense has to focus on an aspect or two that they really want to stop, and take a risk on some other aspect. They do have better players on the teams that you meantioned, but none of their guys can be in two places at once.

BTW, since when does TT give you nothing. We have a much better defense than they do.

September 1, 2008 at 3:04 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

OutlawJHawk (anonymous) says...

Keegan--Good article. I think our defense will be BETTER than last year. We have so many EXPERIENCED weapons on the line and in the back field...

Offense will get better as the O-line gels, but we have to find an answer for the blitz packages thrown at us. Because of the blitzes, Reesing was understandably hurried many times Saturday. There are great rush plays for the blitz that can get big yardage as the middle of the field is usually vacant. Screens and the use of the tight ends(Derek Fine is missed) are also effective. Mangino will tweek our plays to respond to this.

Mangino will also fix the special team coverage problems we had last week, period. He will sharpen the blade on his "special teams" saw and saw the bark right off of that piece of wood...

railer1122-njjayhawk just cares maybe a little more than some about the performance or lack thereof. I for one am OK with his feedback and multiple posts. Everyone has a different take on this early season game. What I tell my wife when I yell during games is a vented Jayhawk is a happy Jayhawk. Let njjayhawk vent early and often for God sake...

September 1, 2008 at 3:12 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

rolo2383 (anonymous) says...

I walk by the football complex everyday as I go to and from work. I've seen Hatch with a pretty noticeable limp. I suspect he's not ready to get out there and play just yet.

My guess is our vanilla offense will turn into chocolate when we play South Florida. I'm not worried.

September 1, 2008 at 5:37 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

JayViking (anonymous) says...

Quigley! Quigley! Quigley!

September 1, 2008 at 9 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

leikness (anonymous) says...

Fine is most missed on special teams. Someone needs to step up and become that head hunter that he was last year.

September 1, 2008 at 10:01 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

JBurtin (anonymous) says...

I think Dakota Lewis was always our best headhunter last year. That guy seems to love special teams, and I love him for it. Every team needs a crazy SOB like him.

Mangino already found the problem on tape. Two guys that were going for the ball carrier instead of staying in their lane and keeping their leverage. They'll either be replaced, or he'll get them doing their jobs right. I think we'll be just fine in that area next week.

September 1, 2008 at 11:14 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Hawkish4bigM (anonymous) says...

I had a dream...Quigley was the man.

September 2, 2008 at 12:55 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

sevenyearhawk (anonymous) says...

Everyone take a deep breath ...

jeez!

September 2, 2008 at 9:32 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

plasticJHawk (anonymous) says...

rolo,

"My guess is our vanilla offense will turn into chocolate when we play South Florida. I'm not worried."

What even does that mean? And will there be a caramel center?

September 2, 2008 at 9:39 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

littlerichard (anonymous) says...

Sparky was late on several throws, including the one where Briscoe got blasted and fumbled. He must have been hung over.

September 2, 2008 at 9:46 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

KU_Alumn_2000 (anonymous) says...

Thought the game went as expected. The offensive line will improve...although look for opposing teams to focus hard on getting to Reesing with various blitz packages. If there is a weakeness...its obviously our O-line.

The defense looked confident and got the job done. They're experience and talent will likely give us a chance to win against the Big 12 south teams.

Quigleys ability to hit the defense hard with his quickness and size is enticing. Hopefully the coaching staff will keep an open mind about giving him more carries...if perhaps he is the most effective back.

Final thought...Kerry Meier did a great job of kick starting the offense with a series of catches in the first quarter. He'll prove to be a valuable player down the stretch against better teams.

September 2, 2008 at 9:48 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

klong (anonymous) says...

Just relax! Like I said in a prev. article, yes there was problems in the offense, but they didn't show much at all to teams coming up on purpose.

September 2, 2008 at 9:56 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

grantmvb (anonymous) says...

Klong:

That's the biggest point that everyone is overlooking here. KU's not going to pull a rabbit out of their hat's the first game. We will show up with a diversified offense come South Florida. Also, don't sleep on next weeks game. Miss State was a good team last year.

September 2, 2008 at 11:23 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

sevenyearhawk (anonymous) says...

"Sparky was late on several throws, including the one where Briscoe got blasted and fumbled. He must have been hung over."

Everyone knows a machine works best when it is well lubricated! :D

September 2, 2008 at 12:22 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

quigley (anonymous) says...

I am proud to share a name with the guy. Well, an online username is close enough.

September 2, 2008 at 3:45 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

hemlee (anonymous) says...

Injuries pushed Quigley down to the 3rd spot, not failure to adhere to team rules. We don't want to go there. They are worried he cant stay healthy. It is obvious he has the strength to push up the middle and has talent and injury free this year. A shame it he will never get to show it. Everyone deserves a second chance, I'm sure he did not get hurt intentionally. What can it hurt. If it don't work try something else.

September 5, 2008 at 10:47 a.m. ( | suggest removal )