Well, it’s official…. The 2011 KU football season is under way. Here are a couple of quick thoughts from Day 1 of spring drills.
Remember, we only get to watch the first 20 minutes of practice — and only once a week at that — so it’s kind of hard to get too much out of what we see, especially because the first 20 minutes is almost always the same set of warm-up drills and stretching.
But, hey, something’s better than nothing, so we’ll do the best with what we’re given.
Anyway, here’s what stood out to me on Day 1:
• Defensive lineman D.J. Marshall was in uniform and went through drills. Marshall, as you know, was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in the fall of 2009 and, in November of that year, began the fight of his life. Marshall, 6-3, 235 pounds, of Mesquite, Texas, was declared cancer-free late last year and he first returned to football the week of the Missouri game. But that was only in a limited role. Friday, I was told he went full-speed through the entire practice and looked good doing so.
• Last year’s leading rusher, James Sims, a sophomore-to-be from Irving, Texas, spent time with the punt-return unit on Friday. Sims, who will face a serious battle for carries this fall, talked about the new role after practice: “I’m looking forward to doing some punt returning this year,” he said. “It’s up to Coach Gill and what he wants to do, because he has Daymond Patterson and D.J. Beshears already out there. Hopefully I can get into the rotation.”
• Call me crazy, and maybe it’s just because I spent the last couple of months writing about how the Jayhawks were adding speed to this year’s team, but the squad, as a whole, looked a lot faster on Friday. Now, I didn’t watch every offensive lineman and every tight end, but I did notice that guys were flying around at a lot faster pace than I ever remembered seeing a year ago. That can only be a good sign.
• Although they finished just 3-9 last season, it’s clear that the Jayhawks made major progress in terms of learning head coach Turner Gill’s system. Early on, during Friday’s first-team offensive drills, KU offensive coordinator Chuck Long barked out directions without hesitation and the players picked them up quickly and without thinking. That wasn’t always the case last year, as so much time was spent on going over new terminology and getting to know each other. It’s early, but I’d say this team already is ahead of it’s pace from last season.
• Freshman running back Darrian Miller looks the part. Wearing the famed No. 3 that belonged in previous years to all-world playmakers Aqib Talib and Charles Gordon, Miller looks like he’ll honor the number well. Again, I didn’t see a ton of reps from Miller but what little I did see displayed a kid who looks like a natural ballplayer. Miller’s going to be on the field this year. He may not start, but he will get a handful of touches per game and I’m guessing he’ll do something special with a few of those.
Our next chance to watch these guys comes Monday, April 11. I’ll plan to do the same thing after that one. Until then, be sure to check out KUSports.com throughout the next week for more stories from spring drills.
