7 p.m., Darrel K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, Texas — Game-time forecast: 62 degrees, cloudy, 20 percent chance for rain, winds 13 mph from the northeast — TV: Jayhawk TV and The Longhorn Network
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1 . Score some points
Kansas is averaging a Big 12-worst 16.5 point per game in conference play and has scored more than 20 points just twice all season. The Jayhawks have managed just one touchdown in four of the five Big 12 games they’ve played this season and continually struggled to string first downs together. Head coach David Beaty and offensive coordinator Rob Likens said they were disappointed by the production of the offense and added they were constantly looking at ways they could improve the output. Included among the areas of the struggling offense being examined were: coaching, the running game, changing personnel and better fundamentals. Texas ranks eighth in the conference in scoring defense (30.1 ppg), so today’s game could be an opportunity for the KU offense to turn things around a little bit.
2 . Get going on the ground
During the past two games, Kansas has rushed for 65 yards on 63 carries, averaging barely better than one yard per attempt. That cannot continue if KU hopes to be competitive in its last four games of 2015. and improvement on the ground is particularly important today given that Iowa State’s dominance in the run game helped the Cyclones upset Texas a week ago. ISU back Mike Warren carried 32 times for 157 yards, and the team averaged nearly five yards per carry. A big reason KU has struggled to the run the ball well of late is the superior strength and size of recent opponents. That will again be the case today against the Longhorns, but it’s up to Likens and Beaty to find a way to overcome that and create an environment in which the KU rushing attack at least appears to be a threat.
3 . Score first
Texas coach Charlie Strong, now in his second season leading the Longhorns, is 0-11 at UT in games in which the opponent scores first. Last week, in a 24-0 victory in Ames, Iowa, Iowa State struck first with a first-quarter touchdown that set the tone. KU has scored first just once all season, and that came in Week Two, when the Jayhawks built a 10-0 lead over Memphis before falling 55-23.
Several Kansas players and coaches referred to the Texas quarterbacks as run-first QBs. And the numbers certainly back that up. Heard, the red-shirt freshman who has started seven games, leads the Longhorns in rushing with 502 yards on 111 carries and has attempted just 111 passes. In seven games this season — one start — Swoopes has attempted just eight more passes than he has runs. The junior leads the team with five rushing touchdowns and averages more than five yards every time he takes off. Heard, 6-foot-2, 195 pounds, averages 4.5 yards per carry. And at 6-4, 244, Swoopes, who handles the UT offensive package known as the “18 Wheeler,” is the kind of guy who can make things miserable for opposing defenses in a hurry. There is no easy way to stop either QB, and KU linebacker Joe Dineen said containing them was the responsibility of all 11 defenders. “Really, we just have to fly to the football and try to gang tackle them and limit the amount of room they have to run,” Dineen said.
1 . A few weeks ago, you suffered a knee injury in practice that looked to be pretty severe. The setback kept you out a few weeks, but you’re back on top of the depth chart now and improving by the day. What were your first thoughts when you got injured, and how have you gotten all the way back?
It was the worst feeling I’ve ever had. And I knew it was pretty bad right away. I never really thought worst-case scenario, and our trainers took great care of me, and because of that I knew I would be able to get back at some point this season. I just tried my best to be consistent and work hard and do everything the team needs me to do.”
2 . You’re from Houston. What’s it like to prepare to head back to your home state to take on the Longhorns?
Most of my family’s gonna be there, and I just want to put on a good show for them and hopefully come out with a win. It really is cool to go back home to play because most of my friends from growing up play for Texas schools, and it’s fun to see them and go up against them any time we go down there.
3 . Who is your favorite wide receiver of all-time?
That’s tough. I’ve never really had a favorite wide receiver. I just picked up a few things from a few players or whatever. But I did have a favorite football player — LaDainian Tomlinson. Growing up watching him, I just thought he was the best player ever, the way he could make people miss and everything.
4. You’re from Houston and you’re an Astros fan. How much did seeing your squad lose to the Royals in the MLB playoffs hurt?
Yeah, that wasn’t too cool. I didn’t like that. But coach Beaty linking our team with what the Royals did really hit home because we do have to trust in one another and trust the process and their story really does tie into our team and what we’re trying to do.
5 . You guys have yet to win a game under first-year coach David Beaty. How hard is it, particularly for the younger guys, to go through a winless season after coming from high school programs that won at such high levels?
It’s hard, but we’re gonna have to continue to work to actually get a win, so being down and not trying as hard is just gonna make it worse. We’re trying to prepare for the future, too, and that’s only gonna help. We still want to live in the now, but it’s nice to know that everything we’re going through now is going to be worth it someday.
There will be no bowl for the Jayhawks, but back-to-back trips to Texas in the next two weeks is still a heck of a reward for the 44 Texans on the roster. With four games remaining in his first season in charge of the KU program, Beaty is tightening the screws in an attempt to find a way to win and gain as much development as possible. For most players, that means juggling the dual nature of preparing for the next opponent and emphasizing the technique, fundamentals and procedures that are paramount at Kansas. While that may sound like a load, these guys continue to work through it all with smiles and an optimistic outlook.
KU run game vs. Texas run D — edge: UT
KU pass game vs. Texas pass D — edge: UT
Texas run game vs. KU run D — edge: UT
Texas pass game vs. KU pass D — edge: UT
Special teams — edge: UT