2:30 p.m. Memorial Stadium – Game-time forecast: 85 degrees, Partly Cloudy, 10 mph winds; 0 percent chance of rain – TV: FOX Sports Net Regional

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Keys for Kansas

Better showing by the offense

Nick Krug

Dynamic wideouts Tony Pierson and Nick Harwell touched the ball just four times combined for 26 yards during last week’s no-show at Duke. That can’t happen again this week or at any point during the rest of the season. To that end, look for the Jayhawks and sophomore quarterback Montell Cozart to get some quick throws out to these guys early to get them going and get the KU offense rolling. Cozart also has to show he’s willing to take what’s there in the run game so Kansas does not have to put as much stock in his still-developing accuracy as a passer.

Where’s the beef?

KU coach Charlie Weis called the Central Michigan attack “old school football,” so the Jayhawks are going to have to be ready for a physical, bruising style. Stopping the run will be critical, because if the Chippewas have it their way, they would line up their four or five running backs and pound away all afternoon. The Jayhawks figure to tinker with personnel a little to make sure they’re better equipped to handle CMU’s physical style, but even with that being the case, everyone on the Kansas defense will need to be ready to hit, or, as senior Keon Stowers put it, “We’re gonna have to put our big-boy pants on.”

Start fast and finish

In the season-opening, 34-28 victory against SEMO, KU got off to a blazing start and then limped to the finish. In last week’s 41-3 loss to Duke, a slow start doomed the Jayhawks. KU can afford neither if the Jayhawks hope to get back on the winning track. Weis said those two areas were points of emphasis heading into last week’s game, and Kansas failed miserably at both. Starting fast doesn’t necessarily mean a 24-0 first quarter, but it can’t be made up of the same things that led to 13 points in the next seven quarters, either.

Nick Krug

Mega Matchup

Keon Stowers and the KU D-Line vs. Central Michigan’s Offensive Line

There’s no doubt about it: Today’s game is going to be a physical affair. And that magnifies the importance of KU’s play in the trenches. Because CMU prefers to run and run often on offense, it will be critical for the Kansas defensive line, which admittedly is a bit undersized and thin, to stand tall and force the Chippewas to find other ways to move the ball. Stowers said the CMU O-line is made up of tall, big, talented linemen but added that they’re not the type of guys who plow ahead and blow defenders off the ball. Stowers likes that and believes some creativity from the KU coaches with how he’ll be used today could pave the way for a big game from big No. 98.

5 Questions with Senior WR Tony Pierson:

1. Did you say much on the field to QB Montell Cozart last week when he was having a hard time getting you the ball?

Nick Krug

“I don’t say nothing at all. I just play my game. If he sees me, he sees me, if he don’t, he don’t. But we’ve all told Montell to just keep on working and everything will be all right.”

2. What’s the most important thing for this team to lock in on this week against Central Michigan?

“Basically just coming out and playing KU football. Going out there playing hard, taking care of our business and trying to get the win.”

3. How has your former high school teammate and current KU linebacker Kyron Watson adjusted to his freshman season of college football, and is he prepared to carry the torch for East St. Louis, Ill.?

“Oh, yeah. Kyron came in this summer and worked hard and did what we do from East St. Louis and it’s turned out good for him. I mean we’re hard-nosed, we’re playmakers. That’s just what we do.”

4. You dealt with concussion issues last season. How have you held up in that department through two games this season?

“Body-wise, head-wise, I’m OK. Back to normal, for sure and that feels good.”

5. Do you have a favorite phrase that you say after a big play or when you’re celebrating something?

“‘I’ma just do me.’ ‘I’ma do me.’ I like that one. At the end of the day, that’s probably my favorite.”

Jayhawk Pulse

Last week’s loss at Duke was one of the lowest points in the Charlie Weis era. The players were embarrassed, the fan base was seething and Weis had very few answers for why what looked to be a good matchup went south. A beating like that would be tough for any team to bounce back from, but it could be particularly tough for this team given its lack of confidence and all of the negativity surrounding the program. Today’s outcome, as well as how the Jayhawks play, not only will be huge for the rest of the season, but it also could have huge implications for the big picture of the program. Weis is just 5-21 in his time at Kansas and, next to last year’s upset of West Virginia, his biggest win as a Jayhawk was a mini-miracle vs. Louisiana Tech. With Big 12 play right around the corner, falling to 1-2 with three less-than-impressive nonconference outings would be tough to recover from. At the same time, moving to 2-1 could help restore KU’s confidence and propel it into conference play on a high note.

Tale of the Tape

KU run game vs. CMU run D – advantage KU

KU pass game vs. CMU pass D – advantage CMU

CMU run game vs. KU run D – advantage CMU

CMU pass game vs. KU pass D – advantage KU

Special teams – advantage KU