Jim Leyland of the Detroit Tigers was discussing his baseball team’s prospects for the American League title series and was asked if he wished he had this absentee or that to shove into a key spot, just supposin’.
“You have to put whatever people you have out on the field and ask them to do their best. No daydreaming allowed,” Leyland replied.
That’s the pragmatic approach Kansas football coach Mark Mangino professes as he plays his traditional cloak-and-dagger game about personnel and juggles the injured and non-injured to get the best-working lineup. Never have bought coaches’ policies about concealing injuries, but it’s the trend.
What was gained by that charade about how many snaps Adam Barmann had in practice and how his ball management was so fearful? Looked to me like weak play-calling against Texas A&M. When the game hinges on a third-and-one call and you wind up fourth and one, somebody owes the quarterback, running backs and linemen better guidance. That’s where the game was lost. KU gains at least 37 inches, the Aggies get no winning drive.
Mangino talks monotonously about how the Jayhawks need to keep “sawing wood.” That process must accelerate. Same for the coaches. Mark says guys called on to fill in for the injured have to produce. They’d better. Regardless of who can or can’t play against Oklahoma State, Kansas needs all its combatants to perform at their peak, or the Jayhawks will suffer even greater deflation.
Last week, KU realistically could consider beating all seven teams left on the slate. The A&M squeaker was a severe blow. The “possibles” are down to six. Unless Kansas at 3-3 defeats at least four, it’s doomed to another rump bowl game at best.
So no more play hard, come close, lose – please! O-State can leak more air out of the bag. We’ll learn a lot today about these Jayhawks.
¢ Railbirds keep raving how heralded KU freshman basketballer Sherron Collins has bulked up and how he could nab a starting guard spot. Forget starting any of the three freshmen (Darrell Arthur and Brady Morningstar the others) until they prove to coach Bill Self that they’re not defensive liabilities. They are now.
Self has in Russell Robinson and Mario Chalmers a proven pair with skills galore. Brandon Rush will be the third “guard.” They know what Self expects on defense; until the yearlings measure up to the levels of such veterans, they’ll be part-timers.
Further, if the newcomers think it was tough going through Self’s grueling boot camp, wait until he ramps up his demanding intensity about defense in full-time workouts. They ain’t seen nothin’ yet. Their glory days of the past will seem a long way off before they’re up to the Big 12 level at coverage and harassment. Says Bill: “You should assume there are no freshmen starters. … Based on what I’ve seen, there would be no freshmen starters.”
It could stay that way quite a while considering which guys the newbies are trying to oust.
The veteran who must step up quickly and constantly for this team to reach its full potential is Rush. He took disappearing potion at too many key junctures late last season. He’s listed as a sophomore, but he’s 21 years old, and it’s showdown time. Time to lead.
Early indications are he’s ready. Has to be.
