Tuesday, September 30, 2008

KU’s Fields, Harper expected to play

By Dugan Arnett

Kansas University's Dexton Fields, scoring against Iowa State in this Nov. 17, 2007, file photo, will return from his left foot injury Saturday against the Cyclones .

Photo by Richard Gwin

Kansas University's Dexton Fields, scoring against Iowa State in this Nov. 17, 2007, file photo, will return from his left foot injury Saturday against the Cyclones .

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KU's Fields, Harper expected to play

Big 12 play comes calling on the Kansas Jayhawks Saturday. Kansas opens conference action on the road at Iowa State.

Since going down because of a left foot injury one quarter into the 2008 season, here is what Kansas University receiver Dexton Fields has missed out on: a pass-happy offensive attack that has allowed a.) a true freshman to finish a game with 130 yards and two touchdowns receiving, b.) a former college quarterback to become the nation's leader in receptions per game, and c.) four different Jayhawks receivers to notch 120 or more receiving yards in a game.

So Saturday, when the Jayhawks head to Iowa State for their first Big 12 game of the season, a now-healthy Fields - who with one catch for negative-three yards has yet to wet his proverbial beak - will look to get in on the action.

"I took a pretty hard fall," said a smiling Fields on Tuesday, the first time the 6-foot Dallas native has been made available since his injury, "but I'm back now."

Fields - who led the Jayhawks in receptions in each of the past two seasons - sported a large protective boot on his left foot. But Kansas coach Mark Mangino said he expects Fields, along with injured cornerback Kendrick Harper, to contribute in the first stage of what proves to be a long and difficult conference schedule.

And it comes against a foe with whom Fields is quite familiar. Last season, he caught 11 passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns in helping Kansas top Iowa State, 45-7. As a freshman in 2005, meanwhile, he made his first career touchdown catch against the Cyclones with 1:05 left in regulation in the Jayhawks' final regular-season game.

The touchdown tied the game at 21 and forced overtime, which set up Scott Webb's 34-yard game-winning field goal. The victory moved the Jayhawks to 6-5 on the year, earning them a spot in the Fort Worth Bowl, which they won, 42-13, over Houston. It marked Kansas' first bowl victory under Mangino.

So, yeah, Fields has done pretty decent against Iowa State.

This time around, though, Fields will be happy just to be on the field. The foot marked the first significant injury in Fields' highly successful Kansas career - unless, of course, you count a dislocated finger against Oklahoma State in 2006, which he doesn't.

"It was just my pinkie finger," he says. (He returned later in the game to catch an 8-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kerry Meier).

The foot injury, however, proved a bit more difficult to overcome. Fields missed three games total, including a 37-34 heartbreaker against South Florida that dropped the Jayhawks to 2-1 overall. In the interim, Fields worked to get back into the lineup while Mangino grumbled about the lack of blocking from his young receivers - an area in which Fields excels.

"I had to stay patient with it because I didn't want to injure it more or put any extra stress on it," said Fields, who was originally hoping to return for the Jayhawks' Sept. 20 game against Sam Houston State. "But then again, I was trying to get into the training room every chance I could to get some treatment and get it better."

And while various playmaking threats have emerged in his absence - from Meier (389 yards, one touchdown) to Dezmon Briscoe (361, five) to Johnathan Wilson (307, two) - Fields returns as the most consistent threat in one of the conference's deepest receiving corps.

"He's the type of guy that flies a little bit under the radar," said offensive coordinator Ed Warinner. "But he's a consistent blocker, he's a consistent pass-catcher, he's played a lot of football games. ... Getting him back can only help us."

Comments

rel76 (anonymous) says...

More bullets for the K-Gun

September 30, 2008 at 1:57 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

swishymcjayhawk (anonymous) says...

good deal. maybe some better downfield blocking for our RBs as well as another target for Reesing.

September 30, 2008 at 2:07 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Mr_Sandman (anonymous) says...

If we would have had these two I think we would have won the USF game. Another experienced WR and DB should really help.

September 30, 2008 at 2:37 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

railer1122 (anonymous) says...

Fields is a great all around reciever that can block and has some good hands...

Harper is needed back bad, our secondary was struggling he is a good, physical player.

Let's start this conference season off right by winning in Ames.

September 30, 2008 at 2:51 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Rivethead (anonymous) says...

Mr Sandman:

No, one player would not have kept our D from falling asleep during the 3Q in Tampa.

September 30, 2008 at 3:01 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayhawkinatl (anonymous) says...

I agree totally, Mr_Sandman.

September 30, 2008 at 3:02 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

King_Kaun (anonymous) says...

Rivethead-

are you serious? Harper is EXACTLY what we were MISSING during that horrendous defensive bout against USF.

one player?? Would you have said that if Harper's name was Aqib Talib? Harper is the real deal and our defense has struggled without him.

September 30, 2008 at 3:24 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayhawkinatl (anonymous) says...

Harper wouldn't have taken the ridiculous angles that Barfield took!!!

September 30, 2008 at 3:39 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

grantmvb (anonymous) says...

No question about it, King_Kaun. Isiah Barfield was completely exposed in the South Florida game. He's a redshirt frosh so nothing against him at all, but he was burned several times. Kendrick Harper is a big time player with Senior experience.

September 30, 2008 at 3:41 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

txrockchalk (anonymous) says...

I agree it will be nice to have Fields back for his down-field blocking and his receiving abilities, however getting Harper back is huge. He seriously could have made a difference in the USF game. This is fantastic news.

September 30, 2008 at 3:45 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kubasketball0809 (anonymous) says...

I think this is a good thing that we got these two back on the field. Im glad to see that they are ok and that we will more than likely smoke the next opponent but yeah im just glad to here they are ok ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK!!!!!

September 30, 2008 at 3:56 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Rivethead (anonymous) says...

Harper doesn't rush the QB. Grothe had all darn day to throw the ball. I don't care if you're Aquib Talib (which Harper isn't even close to being), you can't cover a WR that long. The 3Q meltdown can be put on the entire D (Coach Bowen definitely included), not just the missing of Harper.

September 30, 2008 at 4:59 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

sdoyel (anonymous) says...

Great news!

September 30, 2008 at 5:09 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayhawkinatl (anonymous) says...

Better coverage = coverage sacks!!!

September 30, 2008 at 5:31 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Ross (anonymous) says...

No, Harper doesn't rush, but his ability to man-up his guy frees a linebacker to rush. That's where we got burned. Without him, Barfield had to be protected and that meant no blitz. Grothe then had all day to throw. No, Harper would have made a BIG difference.

September 30, 2008 at 5:35 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

thiknthinhawk (anonymous) says...

Ross and jayhawkinatl make excellent points. Coverage sacks will happen thanks to Kendrick, and the backers should be more active now. This is great news!!

September 30, 2008 at 5:45 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

BigD (anonymous) says...

Good news, however, it will take some time for both of these guys to get back into game speed. I wouldn't expect them to be near 100%.

September 30, 2008 at 6:26 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kylecisnum1 (anonymous) says...

rivethead... those tds were just a basic fly route... and if you notice, they were all on barfield, not once were they able to get it on harris. these two back will be HUGE!

September 30, 2008 at 6:35 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

ajs10 (anonymous) says...

With Harper in the USF game we could have played more man coverage and used our linebackers to blitz...Grothe wouldn't have had 5 seconds in the pocket for the entire second half.

September 30, 2008 at 6:35 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

sdoyel (anonymous) says...

I know that Harper is dominating this discussion, but lets not forget how important Mr. Fields is to our offense. Our leading receiver (receptions) the last two seasons.... And without question OUR BEST run blocker from the WR position. His return means a LOT to our offense.

September 30, 2008 at 6:53 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayhawkinatl (anonymous) says...

Second that, sdoyel.

September 30, 2008 at 6:57 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayhawkinatl (anonymous) says...

Now I'm not totally dismissing Rivethead's point since I'll admit that I was screaming (for much of the game) for a pass rush against USF. But with Harper in that game and providing more experienced coverage than Barfield (I'll forgive the freshman...he will become one of our better players in time), we get, I believe, a couple of extra sacks (or even incompletions) that make a difference in the final outcome.

September 30, 2008 at 7:08 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

KGphoto (anonymous) says...

Love to see these guys back.

However, this season's outcome will still rely more on the OL and DL controlling their side of the ball. If any of you saw the Chiefs game, and I know you did, you saw both trenches step up and dominate the line. It happened in one week. They went from terrible to scary. Guys were just mauling their matchup. Rookie cornerbacks were intercepting passes, making big hits and talking smack. And it all started with the line play. You just have to envision it. Then kick your guy's ass.

It's demoralizing after two or three quarters too. You saw Denver just pack it in for the fourth quarter when LJ got hung up in the middle of a pile and then just busted it open to the left because the Broncos quit. They quit because they were tired of getting their ass kicked, and they lost hope.

If our lineman start punching snot bubbles out of their guy, you'll see the playmakers begin making plays. The opposing QB gets stressed and starts making mistakes, his head is on a swivel and he'll never have the confidence to start throwing downfield. THEN guys like Barfield start looking like Harper, and guys like Harper start looking like Talib.

September 30, 2008 at 7:31 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

JFHawk (anonymous) says...

Can't wait for Saturday!

September 30, 2008 at 7:41 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

NH_JHawk (anonymous) says...

Agree with KGphoto re: the lines. How bad are we missing Collins and BMac right now? Like jayhawkinatl said, I'll forgive the freshmen, knowing when Spikes reaches his potential he could be a great LT.

Glad to have Fields and Harper back. That's huge for us!!

September 30, 2008 at 8:35 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

JBurtin (anonymous) says...

"I don't care if you're Aquib Talib (which Harper isn't even close to being)"

I'm glad that Harper is no Aquib Talib. He must not be very good since I've never heard of anyone by that name.

However Aqib Talib might have come in handy.

Seriously though, your lack of football I.Q. is hanging out, you might want to tuck it back in.

We stayed in soft zones and dropped our linebackers back to help with coverage to help out our young corners. Grothe just did a good job of picking the zone apart, and the linebackers had trouble tackling because they were having to take on the runningback in open space instead of hitting him before he got to the line.

With one weak link in the chain our choices were to let them score slowly by picking apart the zone, or to let them score quickly by leaving a freshman on an island against a good receiver. Harper is the remedy for that situation.

September 30, 2008 at 8:49 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

railer1122 (anonymous) says...

Rivethead isn't the smartest in the world. We had to help our freshmen corners, Barfield as a redshirt, and Powell as a true freshman. We couldn't blitz and leave them one on one against USF, which had some speed at the reciever position. Talib got burned as well, we had numerous TD's scored on him at KU.

Harper will help, as well as Fields. Fields is our best all-around guy and will help since Patterson has obviously struggled with the whole blocking concept as he barely played against Sam Houston St, he fumbled the only time he got the ball. Fields is better than Raymond Brown and Raimond Pendelton.

September 30, 2008 at 10:22 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

bmcmich1 (anonymous) says...

Now, let's not pile on ol' rivethead -- seems to be passionate about the 'hawks, and is adding to the discussion nonetheless. We can't all agree 100% of the time here, it would be pretty boring if we did.

The thing that I don't believe has been mentioned yet here about Fields and Harper's return is the impact it will have on the team as a whole. Dexton's leadership and experience will undoubtedly wear off on those around him, and Kendrick is a leader on the other side of the ball.

Much is often said about how a team rallies when key injuries occur, but what about when key players return? Seeing these proven studs back on the playing field will hopefully charge the rest of these guys and have them hitting on all cylinders -- that's the impact I think will be most apparent, moreso than the individual efforts of these two guys. In any event, VERY glad to see them both return. Can't wait till Saturday, ROCK CHALK!!

September 30, 2008 at 10:33 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

ohioburg (anonymous) says...

"Harper doesn't rush the QB"

Coming to a theater near you - "Extreme Football Ignorance" starring Rivethead. For all the reasons already stated, add "we have confidence in others to do their job so we can do ours."

September 30, 2008 at 10:39 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Rivethead (anonymous) says...

I don't mind anyone disagreeing with me or even "piling on". If it makes you feel better about yourself to insult my football knowlege or my incorrect spelling, then hey....go for it. You can be as big and brave as you want behind the anonimity of the internet.

And if you guys want to continue to whine about how an injured Harper cost us the USF game......well you'll continue to sound like whiney OSU fans saying that an injured Beanie cost them the USC game. But everyone knows it's an excuse.

Like I said before, one person (Barfield) did not cost us the USF game. The entire D did. The DL needs to get a pass rush on their own. They didn't. If you read Coach Mangino's comments regarding the play of the DL, he seems to agree with me (or I him actually).

October 1, 2008 at 7:40 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Brickwall1 (anonymous) says...

Did USC barely beat OSU on a last second field goal too?

October 1, 2008 at 10:04 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

feedback71 (anonymous) says...

Rivethead, while you make some good points, I think comparing KU/USF to OSU/USC is a bit of a reach. Last I recall, KU was tied and had a chance to win it with under a minute until Reesing made a mistake. That was without Harper. I think Harper would have helped our defense some. Barfield was getting beaten like a drum in that game. That would not have happened to Harper. Just a little bit of better play there could have made the difference between being tied and trying to drive down for a win or being ahead and trying to drain the clock.

OSU was never in the game vs USC. OSU is overrated and I don't believe having a healthy Beanie would have made much difference. OSU was simply exposed just as they were in the past 2 national title games.

October 1, 2008 at 10:12 a.m. ( | suggest removal )