Since accepting the job as Kansas football head coach, David Beaty consistently has believed in competing for jobs continuing right into the brink of the season and beyond.
The thinking is that it keeps everyone battling every day as if their job depends on it because it does.
That’s one approach, but what if a coach had the confidence to know that he can motivate players to give their best in practice without it seeming as if they can work onto or fall off the depth chart with one or two good or bad practices? There would be an upside to that. Fewer players on the depth chart means more reps for those who are on it.
That’s one of several differences between KU and Nicholls, an FCS school, heading into Saturday’s 6 p.m. kickoff at Kansas David Booth Memorial Stadium.
Kansas has 31 names on its offensive depth chart, 31 on defense for a total of 62.
Nicholls has 22 listed on offense, 24 on defense for a total of 46.
It’s reasonable to draw the conclusion then that Nicholls players who will appear in games get more practice reps than KU’s.
Another difference: KU’s roster has a global feel to it, whereas Nicholls has a hyperlocal one.
KU has players on its depth chart from 15 states: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas and Virginia. The Bahamas (tight end Mavin Saunders) and Canada (center Alex Fontana) also are represented.
The Colonels on the depth chart for offense and defense come from two states: Louisiana and Mississippi.
