With a little more than a week remaining before Kansas University’s football season opener, coach Mark Mangino said special teams were among his biggest concerns heading into his third season.
“Every coach goes into a season with concerns, whether you’re ranked No. 1 in the nation or you’re trying to be ranked in the top 25,” Mangino said Thursday during a chat on KUsports.com. “And I’m no different. I’m looking for our team to improve greatly in the special-teams area. I think we’ve made progress every year, and I want to be very efficient in special teams because I think that gives us an edge in close games.”
Mangino tinkered with his special teams last season, benching Greg Heaggans — who owns KU’s single-season and career records for kick returns — for the final two regular-season games. Heaggans has been trying to win that job back in a battle with sophomore John Randle during preseason camp.
Mangino signed punter/kicker Kyle Tucker in February, and the freshman has been battling senior Chris Tyrrell for the punting job vacated by Curtis Ansel. The coach said that position was “too close to call.”
Senior kicker Johnny Beck made only nine of 16 field goals and 31 of 34 extra-point attempts last season, but Mangino reiterated Thursday that the place-kicking job was Beck’s to lose. He called red-shirt freshman Scott Webb “a very close second.”
Mangino praised Beck on Wednesday during a radio interview.
“He’s more focused then at any time I’ve been at KU,” Mangino said. “He’s worked hard in the offseason. Johnny’s a senior, and I’d like to see him finish strong here. He deserves it. I think he will.”
Another area of concern for KU has been the defensive line. The Jayhawks lost three senior starters, four reserves left the program during the offseason and Army Reservist John McCoy was called to active duty.
Mangino, however, has expressed optimism because of the play of junior-college end Jermial Ashley, freshmen tackles James McClinton and Todd Haselhorst, and the return of senior tackle Travis Watkins, who was hampered by injuries the last two years.
  6Sports video: Offensive line looking for depth 6Sports video: Mangino concerned about special teams Chat wrap with coach Mark Mangino |
“I have high expectations for our defensive line,” Mangino said during Thursday’s chat, which drew more than 300 questions from fans in 12 states. “I think with our returners and some newcomers, the defensive line will be better than any other time since I’ve arrived. I’m really excited about the players we have there now, and I think we’re much more athletic and much more physical than we have been.”
The losses aren’t likely to have much impact on Toledo’s Sept. 11 game at KU. Kay was a fourth-string lineman. Partee was a fourth-string tight end.
