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August 26, 2009
Open practice No. 2 was Wednesday, and it's probably the last time we'll be able to see the Jayhawks on the field before their Sept. 5 season-opener against Northern Colorado.
Let's get right to the depth charts from what I saw. Here was the depth chart from Aug. 11 if you want to compare.
First-team offense
Left tackle — Tanner Hawkinson
Left guard — Brad Thorson
Center — Jeremiah Hatch
Right guard — Sal Capra
Right tackle — Jeff Spikes
Tight end — Tim Biere
Wide Receiver — Dezmon Briscoe
Wide Receiver — Kerry Meier
Wide Receiver — Johnathan Wilson
Running back — Jake Sharp
Quarterback — Todd Reesing
Others who were with the first team, based on formation — WR Bradley McDougald, RB Toben Opurum.
Obviously, the big news here is that Brad Thorson has moved from backup center to starting left guard. On the last depth chart, Carl Wilson was the starter. I'd heard teammates talk about Thorson performing well in offseason drills, and this looks to be the coaching staff's way of getting him into the lineup. He was with the first string every snap I saw, so if I had to guess, I would say he will be the starter at left guard come Sept. 5.
Also, McDougald and Opurum subbing into the first units tells me that they will most likely be playing as true freshmen.
The running-back depth chart at this point, if you're interested, looks to be Sharp, Opurum, Rell Lewis then Daniel Porter.
First-team defense
Left end — Maxwell Onyegbule
Defensive tackle — Patrick Dorsey
Defensive tackle — Richard Johnson, Jr.
Right end — Jake Laptad
Linebacker — Drew Dudley
Linebacker — Arist Wright
Linebacker — Justin Springer
Defensive back — Daymond Patterson
Defensive back — Anthony Davis
Safety — Justin Thornton
Safety — Darrell Stuckey
Others who were with the first team, based on formation — Safety Chris Harris, LB Steven Johnson, LB Huldon Tharp, DE Jeff Wheeler.
KU coach Mark Mangino mentioned last week that Onyegbule had made progress, and it looks like that improvement has moved him up the depth chart.
Dorsey is definitely a surprise with the first team, though the D-linemen were rotating quite a bit.
The linebacking spots still look to be open as there was quite a bit of substituting there as well. Springer, who has been limited because of injury, had some snaps with the first team, so that should be a positive sign for Kansas fans. Don't know if Angus Quigley is hurt or not, but I didn't see him on any snaps with the first or second units.
Here are the unofficial second teams I had down. Take them with a grain of salt.
Second-team offense
Left tackle — Ian Wolfe
Left guard — John Williams
Center — Alex Smith
Right guard — Trevor Marrongelli
Right tackle — Michael Martinovich
Tight end — Ted McNulty
Wide Receiver — Isiah Barfield
Wide Receiver — Reece Petty
Wide Receiver — Chris Omigie
Running back — Rell Lewis
Quarterback — Kerry Meier
Others who were with the second team, based on formation — QB Kale Pick, RB Daniel Porter, WR Willie O'Quinn, TE A.J. Steward.
Second-team defense
Left end — Jeff Wheeler
Defensive tackle — Duane Zlatnik
Defensive tackle — Travis Stephens
Right end — Quintin Woods
Linebacker — Vernon Brooks
Linebacker — Steven Johnson
Defensive back — Ryan Murphy
Defensive back — Calvin Rubles
Defensive back — Greg Brown
Safety — Lubbock Smith
Safety — Phillip Strozier
I wasn't able to get down most of the defensive second-team subs, so it's likely I'm leaving out a few folks that were with the second team. I know I saw Steven Foster, a former fullback, play some defensive end, though I can't remember whether it was with the 2s or 3s.
Some notes from the scrimmage at the end of practice:
• Dezmon Briscoe made two spectacular catches, taking in one ball after it was batted up in the air and another with one hand on a bullet pass.
• Freshman Chris Omigie had a highlight-reel catch of his own, snagging a sideline pass with one hand before pinning it to his arm. He also had the presence of mind to make sure he had a foot inbounds.
• Kerry Meier dropped a wide-open pass. Again, something you just don't expect.
• Quintin Woods made an athletic play, knocking a Kale Pick pass up in the air before diving to intercept it himself.
• Pick did have one nice long throw, hitting Raimond Pendleton in stride on a pass about 40 yards downfield.
Comments
whitechocolate (anonymous) says...
Thanks for the update Jesse. Kudos to you guys for stepping up the football coverage the last few years. I guess this is what Oklahoma and Nebraska fans have been getting from their press for some time.
What about Caleb Blakesley? The kid's been a defensive starter for the past two years?
August 26, 2009 at 8:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Rivethead (anonymous) says...
Thanks Jesse! I guess my biggest surprise is Zlatnik running with the second team.
I also thought we'd see AJ Steward with the first team.
Man there is a LOT of competition going on at seemingly every position (except QB). That can only be a good thing.
August 26, 2009 at 8:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
stupidmichael (anonymous) says...
Is Caleb Blakesly injured?
August 26, 2009 at 8:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rockchalk1990 (anonymous) says...
Same question as whitechocolate regarding Caleb. And where was Parish? Other than that, not sure too much here that surprised me.
August 26, 2009 at 8:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jnewell (Jesse Newell) says...
whitechocolate — I wondered about Blakesley, too. Could he be battling injury? I saw him on the sidelines, and he had big braces on both knees.
Again, just a guess on my part.
August 26, 2009 at 8:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
trojanhawk (anonymous) says...
Blakesley has been held together with chewing gum and rubber cement for several years. The braces aren't new. Mangino realizes it does him no good to be pushing it in practice. He'll be out there starting by conference play.
August 26, 2009 at 9:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
trojanhawk (anonymous) says...
1990 - Parish must be 3rd team RT. He has a lot to learn coming from that bad Wichita North offense.
August 26, 2009 at 9:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dagger108 (anonymous) says...
Thanks for the update Jesse - you rock. Your commentary adds tons vs. having a list posted.
Interesting that the 1st string is in 4-3 form, while the 2nd is 4-2-5. It almost sounds like the D as a whole will be much more fluid on player rotations this year. Should help develop depth and keep them fresh for the end of games.
August 26, 2009 at 11:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dagger108 (anonymous) says...
Did they do any kicking?
It was nice to go back and read the previous update. It was good to see Branstetter hit a FG with some distance. That would make a nice addition to the arsenal. Does anyone have an over/under for the number of tackles he makes this year? He was actually one of my favorite parts of special teams last year with many big (for a kicker) hits.
I also take it as a positive that Briscoe and Stuckey were returning kicks. It's great to have players with their ability back there, and indirectly encouraging that they are there. I think it means that Mangino is all the more encouraged with the depth that he has behind them on O & D.
Same goes for Kerry's time at QB. I think it shows Mangino's confidence in McDougald and other receivers stepping in for Kerry. That being said, let's get up big early so Kale can get in early and get lots of reps.
August 27, 2009 at 12:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dagger108 (anonymous) says...
Who is Alex Smith & Michael Martinovich?
Where did they come from? I can't even find any info on them from searches.
August 27, 2009 at 12:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
waywardJay (anonymous) says...
i fyou do a search on Alex SMith you might end up with Te former quarterback for the Utes who is back up in San Fran now.... probably not OUR Alex SMith....
August 27, 2009 at 1:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
plasticJHawk (anonymous) says...
Isn't Alex Smith the Wisconsin transfer?
August 27, 2009 at 6:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KU (anonymous) says...
Jesse, I forgot to look for Prinz Kande. He didn't stand out or I would have noticed. How's he doing? He was one of the most highly touted freshmen recruits.
August 27, 2009 at 7:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Jayhawk86 (anonymous) says...
Jesse,
You should ask that these articles are put under the football tab. I think you would get lots more readers.
August 27, 2009 at 7:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
feedback71 (anonymous) says...
plastic,
No, Brad Thorson is the Wisconsin transfer who is now starting at left guard.
August 27, 2009 at 8:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jnewell (Jesse Newell) says...
dagger — Alex Smith is a junior from Basehor-Linwood. In all honesty, I would guess that Thorson is still the backup center, but because he's taken first-team reps at guard, he can't be in there at both times.
Martinovich is a sophomore transfer from the Air Force Academy.
KU — I know what you mean about Prinz Kande. I thought I would have noticed him out there, but I didn't. Could this be a good sign for KU? From what I've heard, on teams of the past, he would have come in and played right away. Maybe they can give him a year to develop first. He could be hurt a little too — we just don't know.
dagger — The team went through different formations with different No. 1 units. I went ahead and put the 4-3 version up as the base defense based on Mangino's latest comments where he said that the base still was a 4-3. Trust me, there was still plenty of 4-2-5 out there.
And no, there wasn't any kicking. They did that on the practice field to the side.
86 — The blog does show up on the football tab, but not with the articles on the left, but instead in the column on the right. At least it's that way when I click there.
August 27, 2009 at 9:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KU_Alumn_2000 (anonymous) says...
Jesse - Great job on these practice reports. It really keeps the Jayhawk nation in tune with how the players are developing and what to look forward to when the season starts.
Did Mangino provide a media interview this time ? I'd like to hear his comments if he did.
Thanks again to Jesse and the rest of the LJW staff for stepping up the football coverage !!!
August 27, 2009 at 1:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jnewell (Jesse Newell) says...
KU_Alumn — There weren't any media interviews after Wednesday's practice. Early next week will be the next time coach/players will be available.
August 27, 2009 at 2:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
panhandle2 (anonymous) says...
I saw Kande play a couple of times in high school. He had a justified reputation as a hitter. Didn't seem that big, but he had a pick in the State Championship game. I am surprised he doesn't show up on these lists.
August 27, 2009 at 4:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Kman_blue (anonymous) says...
Jesse, good stuff! I wasn't able to get up there for the practice and your coverage has been thorough and great to read. Also thanks to all the others posting additional info on here and the message board!
August 27, 2009 at 10:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )