Football Notebook

By Staff     Apr 16, 2006

Defensive drop-off?

Much of the chatter following Friday’s spring game surrounded the offense and the effectiveness of quarterback Kerry Meier.

But how’s the defense look? After all, it carried KU to the Fort Worth Bowl last season, and has a lot of parts to replace.

“I think we’re going to be pretty decent on defense,” KU coach Mark Mangino said. “We run to the ball well, and we have more speed on defense now than we’ve had at any time since we’ve been here.”

KU returns just one starter in the front seven, defensive tackle James McClinton. Several other projected starters had plenty of work in 2005, though, including ends Paul Como and Rodney Allen.

“You can see the defensive line is a pretty hard-nosed bunch of guys,” Mangino said. “They really jump the ball, are good run-stoppers and we are developing an edge pass rush with that group that’s so important.”

Secondary concerns

There are some concerns with the secondary, though, particularly with the depth.

Aqib Talib has one cornerback spot locked up, while the safety jobs look to go to Jerome Kemp and Darrell Stuckey.

The other corner position is up for grabs, possibly between Blake Bueltel, Mike McCoy and Raymond Brown. Bueltel has been practicing with the first team, but both he and Mangino know that more developing is needed.

“I’m going to need to put on some weight,” said Bueltel, who wants to reach 185 pounds, “but I also need to fine-tune a lot of things, more so than needing to change a lot of stuff drastically.”

Bookman signs

Former KU wide receiver Leo Bookman – better known for his blazing times on the track – has signed a free-agent deal with the Green Bay Packers, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Bookman last played football in 2002, mostly returning kicks. He since has turned pro in track, turning in world-class times in the 100- and 200-meter dashes.

Football Notebook

By Ryan Wood     Apr 15, 2006

Kerry Meier might have stolen the show Friday, but another freshman quarterback, Todd Reesing, got his share of snaps, too.

Reesing graduated from high school early and enrolled at Kansas University in time for spring football. He’s now battling for backup quarterback duties, though coach Mark Mangino said Friday that Adam Barmann definitely was No. 2 at this point.

Reesing was 7-of-14 passing for 102 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown pass to Angus Quigley in the flat. Like Meier and Barmann, Reesing threw no interceptions.

Mangino seemed pleased with Reesing’s spring, though he said that both he and Meier could work on taking a bit of velocity off their short passes.

“Todd likes to wing it,” receiver Jonathan Lamb said. “He throws it with pretty good velocity. : I wouldn’t say too much, but he throws it pretty hard.”

Asked if any receiver would admit to a quarterback throwing too hard, Lamb quickly replied, “Nah.”

Derek Fine and Brian Murph backed up Lamb, neither admitting that Reesing or Meier put extra heat on the ball. But one play might dispute all of that.

“Reesing nearly killed one of our receivers on the slant,” Mangino said. “Hit him in the chest – he couldn’t get his hands up fast enough. It came at him like a bullet.”

With a lively arm a possible problem, what advice does Mangino give Reesing?

“Take a little off, get it over the top of the backer,” Mangino said, “but don’t injure someone’s sternum.”

Flip flop: Mangino and assistant John Reagan still are piecing together the offensive-line puzzle, which might be more complicated than ever this year.

David Ochoa and Ryan Cantrell have swapped between guard and center this spring, with Ochoa lined up at center Friday. Whatever comes of it, those two will be 1-2 on the depth chart at center, with the other starting at right guard.

Left guard might be by committee. Bob Whitaker is the returning starter, but the senior’s knees have deteriorated to the point of constant pain. Though effective at times, Whitaker can’t play a whole game, which could bring Jake Cox into the rotation more.

Cesar Rodriguez and Anthony Collins have the tackle spots secured, though Travis Dambach may break into the rotation somewhere along the line.

On the mend: Todd Haselhorst, Eric Washington and Gary Green all sat out most of spring practice because of a variety of injuries.

Haselhorst and Washington dressed out Friday, though neither played. Green was in street clothes with a protective boot on his right foot.

Where did it go?: Observant fans would have noticed that the northwest light standard at Memorial Stadium was missing in action Friday.

It wasn’t stolen by devilish college kids, but rather was taken down for repair after it was damaged during the microburst last month in Lawrence. The southwest light standard might soon need similar work.

The lack of lighting wasn’t obvious, even as darkness fell about halfway through the scrimmage.

In attendance: Along with the alumni from many years back, several of the more recent players attended Friday’s scrimmage, including Charlton Keith, Clark Green, Nick Reid and Charles Gordon.

Also in attendance was Meier’s brother, Kansas State quarterback Dylan Meier. K-State’s spring game is next weekend in Manhattan.

Replacing Max: KU still has found no replacement for Max Falkenstien, who’s leaving the broadcast booth after 60 years on the job.

No timetable has been established, though it’s certain to be two people replacing him – one for football and one for basketball.

Speculation for the football job seems to revolve around David Lawrence, who recently has worked the sideline for the radio broadcasts.

PREV POST

6Sports video: KU track head coach eager for relays

NEXT POST

20731Football Notebook