**Jesse Newell:** Welcome back to the GameDay Cram Session, as Kansas is taking on Northern Illinois and first-year coach Dave Doeren, who was a linebackers coach at KU from 2002-05.
Tom, from what you know of him, what qualities make Doeren a good head coach?
**Tom Keegan:** I overlapped one year with Doeren when he was defensive coordinator Bill Young’s right-hand man on Mark Mangino’s staff. That was 2005, when KU had a great defense and an on-again, off-again offense.
Doeren’s smart, ambitious, personable and tough. He was smart enough to soak up everything he could from Young, one of the best defensive minds in the college game.
**JN:** It’s interesting that Doeren — as defensive-minded as he is — has inherited this NIU team, which is loaded with talent on the offensive side of the ball.
That starts with quarterback Chandler Harnish, who is projected to be a mid-round pick in the NFL Draft next year. The dual-threat Harnish threw for five touchdowns last week — the most in a game at NIU since 2005 — and also added 80 rushing yards and a rushing TD against Army.
Get this: Not only is he third on the NIU all-time list for passing yards, he’s also tied for 19th all-time in *rushing yards*.
The Jayhawks defense will definitely have a challenge when facing Harnish on Saturday.
By the way, Tom, nice call in last week’s Cram Session, saying that receiver JaCorey Shepherd would have the biggest impact out of the KU true freshmen.
I know you had a long conversation with him this week. What impresses you most about him?
**TK:** He’s humble and confident, which means he doesn’t think he is a finished product and he won’t be afraid to try new things that will make him better. When you think about his debut as a true freshman it was really mind-blowing. Teams that stuff the box to stop the run will do so knowing they are taking a risk by single-covering Shepherd.
**JN:** Also impressive is that he showed in the first game that he could block as well. With Christian Matthews sitting out with a suspension and Daymond Patterson doubtful with an injury, the Jayhawks should feel fortunate that Shepherd appears to be a guy they can count on early this season.
All right, Tom, what’s your prediction for this game?
**TK:** Northern Illinois 28, Kansas 24.
The Huskies have such a good quarterback and such an experienced advantage that even a good performance by KU might not be good enough.
**JN:** I’ll go with NIU 38, KU 24.
Small sample size I know, but NIU converted 11 of 13 third downs last week (84.62 percent), which was the best mark in the entire nation.
If there’s one area where KU’s defense struggled last week, it was stopping McNeese State on third down, where the Cowboys were 9 of 17 (53 percent).
KU’s secondary also was fortunate last week in that McNeese State’s quarterbacks didn’t make them pay for a few blown coverages. The Jayhawks won’t be as lucky if Harnish gets an open man down the field.
OK, Tom, who’s your Hawk to Rock?
**TK:** Darrian Miller.
He’s enough of a change of pace from James Sims to throw off tacklers’ timing and coming off a strong debut he should run with a lot of confidence.
**JN:** I’ll go with Darius Willis.
After an inconsistent performance last week, I think we’ll see the red-shirt sophomore linebacker give a much better effort in his second game at Memorial Stadium and push Steven Johnson for the team lead in tackles against NIU.
**Predictions tally (through one game)**
Tom: 1-0 record.
Jesse: 1-0 record.
**Tom Keegan**
McNeese State: Toben Opurum (3rd in Keegan ratings)
**Jesse Newell**
McNeese State: Brandon Bourbon (Not ranked in Keegan ratings)
KU linebackers Huldon Tharp, left, Darius Willis and Steven Johnson.
