Something about using three quarterbacks in a relatively close game has Kansas University football fans bringing the issue back from hibernation.
So, what IS up at the QB position, coach?
In Saturday’s 30-17 loss to Texas Tech, KU coach Mark Mangino sent Brian Luke, Adam Barmann and Marcus Herford out for snaps. None showed a hot hand, and with Kansas State coming up, true freshman Kerry Meier again is being considered as a possibility.
Mangino didn’t completely dismiss the idea, either.
“He’s been working and getting repetitions,” he said Sunday. “As I sit here now, I couldn’t give you an answer because I don’t have one. As we said all along, we’re kind of day-to-day.”
Meier hasn’t played in KU’s first four games and still is a candidate to take a red shirt. He traveled and suited up for the Texas Tech game, but strolled the sideline wearing a baseball cap and never appeared to be a candidate to play.
Those who did play, though, had their struggles. Brian Luke threw two interceptions, had a fumble recovered by Tech for a touchdown and was unable to establish a legitimate passing game.
Barmann, who played one drive early and finished the game, wasn’t much more effective.
Herford came in for one drive and didn’t move the chains.
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“I don’t think we’re looking to get into a rhythm or comfort zone on offense,” Mangino said. “You have to be able to come out right off the bat, and if there’s something different … you have to adjust and not wait until halftime for the coaches to make the adjustment.”
Kansas was down 20-0 at halftime against Tech, the 15th-ranked team in the country. Jon Cornish scored KU’s first points on a drive that started 11 yards from the end zone. Luke later orchestrated his best drive in the air, finding Mark Simmons on a 17-yard pass to put KU within 13 late in the third quarter.
Six receivers caught passes for KU, something Mangino likes, but the fourth-year coach said there was work to do both passing and catching.
“We have to go out and be aggressive as players,” Mangino said. “When I look at the tape, I like what we’re doing. It’s just how we’re doing it sometimes in the pass game.”
