It’s nitpicking at its finest, so here goes: Kansas University is struggling to create turnovers.
With KU’s 62-0 victory over Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday the second straight blowout the Jayhawks have accomplished, it’s interesting to note that the points haven’t added up by capitalizing on takeaways.
In fact, there only has been one so far. That was in the season opener against Central Michigan, when John Larson forced a fumble that Patrick Resby pounced on.
Kansas had no giveaways and no takeaways Saturday. The 62-point rout was instead domination without good fortune or misfortune.
“We’d like to get more takeaways, but our defense will do that. I’m not really concerned,” KU coach Mark Mangino said. “If we shut everybody out, I don’t care if we get takeaways or not. But I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
An interesting stat was tossed toward cornerback Aqib Talib after Saturday’s game. As a part-time receiver, Talib has three receptions this season, two for touchdowns. He has yet to get an interception.
“I’m trying to get one, but we haven’t really gotten a ball that I could really break on,” said Talib, who had six interceptions last season. “We’re sitting back, and they throw underneath stuff. I can’t really break on that, and that’s what we’re giving them.
“Hopefully, they’ll give us a couple more balls we can get our hands on in the secondary, and we’ll make it happen.”
And as Mangino alluded to, the lack of takeaways hasn’t hurt yet because KU hasn’t given the ball away, either. Todd Reesing once again threw no interceptions, and the Jayhawks didn’t lose a fumble in either of the first two games.
When turnovers do start sprouting up, though, the goal for Kansas is take more than it gives.
“Our defense has taken pride over the years in getting takeaways,” Mangino said. “But you know? We’re still making plays.”
63Total offensive plays run by each team
75Total offensive yards by SE Louisiana (1.2 yards per play)
501Total offensive yards by Kansas (8.0 yards per play)
2000Year Kansas last threw a football shutout
221Rushing yards by the Jayhawks
-31Rushing yards by the Lions (yes, that’s a minus)
2Punts by the Jayhawks (on their first two possessions)
11Seconds between the Jayhawks’ first two scores