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10B THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
GAMEDAY
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2005
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'Hawks need offense Sooner than later
KU Blitz
AT A GLANCI
5 QUICK FACTS
3 The current winning streak for Oklahoma over Kansas.
- Kansas football coach Mark Mangino named senior quarterback Brian Luke the starter this week. Luke will need to rebound from last week's 4-of-13 performance to move the Kansas offense. But if Luke can complete passes early, look for junior running back Jon Cornish to have a big day.
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LAST TIME OUT
Oklahoma has won the previous three games against Kansas, including a 41-10 victory last season. Kansas and Oklahoma have both struggled on offense this season and rely on their running attacks to move the football. Look for both defenses to play against the run.
The Kansas offense failed to get anything done last week in a 12-3 loss against Kansas State. The quarterback position was the main area of concern; Kansas only completed seven passes. The Jayhawks will need to convert in the red zone as well.
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PLAYER TO WATCH
Combined completions for quarterbacks Brian Luke and Adam Barmann against Kansas State last week.
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Total rushing yards allowed by the Kansas defense last week against Kansas State. The team will need more of the same this week when it faces Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson.
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1 and 3: The current conference and national ranking of the KU rush defense, respectively.
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3 Fumbles lost by the Jay-hawks against the Wildcats. They will need to minimize turnovers this week.
The Jayhawks will once
KEY INJURIES
♦ The Jayhawks will once again play without junior wide receiver Jonathan Lamb this week. Details on Lamb's injury are unknown because Mangino does not discuss injury specifics.
KEY TO VICTORY
If Luke is able to get the Jayhawks moving down the field, Kansas will have a chance at victory. The Kansas offense doesn't have to do much, but it will have to get in the end zone to give the defense a chance. If the defense can force turnovers and set up the offense with good field position, winning will become more feasible.
Kansas vs. Oklahoma 6 p.m., Saturday, Arrowhead Stadium
Kansas OFFENSE
The Kansas offense had its worst offensive performance of the Mark Mangino era against Kansas State last week. The team was unable to move the football, gaining just 236 yards of total offense. The offense also could not move the ball in the red zone, converting one of four tries. Kansas quarterbacks completed just seven passes. This week, Mangino will go with senior quarterback Brian Luke, who has started three games this season. Luke will need to prove that the Kansas offense can throw the football to open up the running game. Until he can do this, the Kansas offensive unit gets a zero ranking.
DEFENSE
While the Kansas offense could not get anything going against Kansas State, the Kansas defense put together its most impressive performance of the season. The Jayhawk defense was led by senior linebacker Kevin Kane with 14 tackles and held the Wildcat rushing attack to just 35 yards on 45 carries. The Jayhawks will have to be even more successful this week against one of the nation's best running backs in Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson. Look for the Jayhawk linebackers to stack up against the run and make quarterback Rhett Bomar throw the football.
SPECIALTEAMS
The Kansas special teams unit made its first big mistake of the season against Kansas State when junior cornerback Charles Gordon fumbled a punt return in Kansas territory. Other than that, the unit has been strong. Sophomore punter Kyle Tucker consistently places the ball deep into opposing territories, and the punt and kickoff coverage has not allowed a big return yet. With the Kansas offense sputtering, sophomore kicker Scott Webb may be the difference maker in this game. If the offense can get Webb close enough for field goals, he could be the hero.
COACHES
Mangino's quarterback shuffle has been confusing this season. He has shown that the quarterbacks could be pulled at any time. Mangino said
his hope was that Luke would play the entire game against Oklahoma. The offensive play calling has been a concern this season as well. Mangino elected to remove freshman wide receiver Marcus Herford from the quarterback position last week after the Jayhawks moved into the red zone. Three plays later, junior Adam Barmann, who replaced Herford, turned the ball over. Mangino will need strong play from Luke this week if Kansas has a realistic chance against Oklahoma.
— Ryan Colaianni
Oklahoma OFFENSE
It's no secret that running back Adrian Peterson is the heart and soul of the Oklahoma offense. The sophomore
running back was a Heisman Trophy finalist last season and was named FirstTeam All-American after the season. This year he has been hobbled by an ankle injury. Peterson carried the ball only three times for 10 yards last week againstTexas, but is expected to start and play this weekend. Another weapon on offense for the Sooners is senior wide receiver Travis Wilson. He caught 11 touchdowns last season, but hasn't found the end zone yet. The Sooners are anchored on the offensive line by senior offensive tackle Davin Joseph. Joseph has been starting since his freshman year and is an All-American candidate this season.
DEFENSE
The Sooners are usually known for their dominating defense, and although this year's
defense lacks a true superstar, it still ranks in the top 20 in rush defense in the country. Juniors Zach Latimer and Rufus Alexander lead the Sooner defense in tackling, and Alexander is a candidate for the Butkus Award, which is given to the nation's top linebacker. Senior Dusty Dvoracek leads the defensive line with 23 tackles, seven tackles for loss and two sacks. Dvoracek missed the 2004 season because of disciplinary problems, but has had no problems this season. In the defensive backfield, the Sooners boast two true freshman at safety, Reggie Smith and Nic Harris. Both players started the past two games and are expected to start this weekend against Kansas.
SPECIALTEAMS
Sophomore Garrett Hartley will handle the kicking duties for the Sooners this weekend. Hartley hit a career-long
52-yard field goal last weekend against Texas and is 7-10 on the season. Sophomore Cody Freeby is in his first season as Oklahoma's punter. He is averaging just more than 41 yards per punt. Smith and Wilson will handle the kick return duties, and senior wide receiver Jejuan Rankins is the team's punt returner. Rankins is averaging just more than 11 yards per return.
COACHES
It doesn't get much better than Oklahoma football coach Bob Stoops. Stoops won a national championship in just his second year in 2000, and since then, the Sooners have won at least 11 games in each season. Stoops' record at Oklahoma is 69-15. He has led Oklahoma to four BCS bowl games. Stoops was named consensus Big 12 coach of the year in 2000 and 2003. Kansas football coach Mark Mangino coached under Stoops
OU Blitz
AT A GLANCE
+ Oklahoma's season got off to a bad start when it lost to Texas Christian at home and UCLA on the road. Oklahoma (2-3, 1-1 Big 12) won its opening conference game of the season, defeating Kansas State 43-21 at home, but was crushed by Texas to fall to 1-1 in conference.
LAST TIME OUT
- Oklahoma finally lost a game to rival Texas last week, 45-12. The Sooners had beaten the Longhorns five times in a row before the loss. Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson tried to play last weekend but left the game after just three carries
PLAYER TO WATCH
- If Adrian Peterson is healthy and, it will be a good test for the Kansas defense. Kansas football coach Mark Mangino said Peterson is one of the best, if not the best, running backs in the country. Peterson ran for 1,925 yards and 15 touchdowns last season. He rushed for 122 yards and a touchdown last year against Kansas
5 QUICK FACTS
7 Oklahoma national championships, the most recent in 2000.
711
711 Oklahoma's winning percentage, which ranks fourth among Division 1 football teams. Oklahoma's all-time record is 751-288-53.
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42 The number of points the Sooners put up the last time they played at Arrowhead Stadium.
158 Oklahoma is averaging 158 yards per game on the ground, while the Kansas defense is allowing just 60 rushing yards per game.
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40 Oklahoma has won 40 games by 20 or more points in the Bob Stoops era. If the Oklahoma defense dominates the Kansas offense, like Kansas State did, Stoops could get number 41.
KEY INJURIES
The main injury for the Sooners this weekend is Peterson. The coaching staff expects him to be ready for the game and to play the majority of it. Peterson has had trouble exploding off his ankle this season. He will look to turn his season around this weekend against the Jayhawks.
KEY TO VICTORY
Kansas didn't draw the best weekend to play Oklahoma, as the Sooners lost 45-12 to the Longhorns last weekend. Expect the Sooners to come out firing early on Saturday. If they build a lead, the Jayhawks have no chance.
Around the Big 12
Colorado at Texas
Why: Colorado has started its conference play on fire, winning its first two games by 34 points and 21 points respectively. Texas is coming off an emotional victory, where it defeated Oklahoma 45-12 for the first time in five years. ESPN tapped Texas quarterback Vince Young, a top Helsman trophy candida Texas enters the game ranked No. 2 nationally.
When: Saturday, 2:30 p.m.
Where: Austin, Texas
Nebraska at Baylor
When: Saturday, 3 p.m.
Where: Waco, Texas
Why: Baylor will look to win its second conference game in a row for the first time in school history. With four victories already this season, Baylor only needs two victories the rest of the season to make a bowl game. Nebraska comes into the game 1-1 in conference play. The Cornhuskers dropped a heartbreaker last week to Texas Tech 34-31. Nebraska is paced by its senior running back, Cory Ross. He has run for 456 yards and two touchdowns this season.
When: Saturday, 1 p.m.
Where: Columbia, Mo.
iowa State at Missouri
Why? This is a key match-up in the Big 12 North division. Missouri enters the game 1-1 in conference play, while Iowa State is 0-2. Now, in the third game of the conference season with only three victories, the Missouri game becomes a must-win for the Cyclones. Missouri notched its first conference victory of the season last weekend, when it traveled to Stillwater, Okla., and defeated Oklahoma State, 38-31.
Kansas State at Texas Tech
When: Saturday, 11 a.m.
Where: Lubbock, Texas
Why: Both teams enter the game coming off close victories. Kansas State defeated Kansas at home 12-3 in a battle of defenses. Texas Tech defeated Nebraska on the road last weekend with a last-minute touchdown pass. The Red Raiders have the number one scoring offense in the conference, averaging more than 50 points per game. Last year in Manhattan, Tech came away with a 35-25 road victory.
Oklahoma State at Texas A&M
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When: Saturday, 2:30 p.m.
Where: College Station, Texas
Why? After dropping its first two conference games to Big 12 north teams, Oklahoma State looks to get on track this weekend on the road at Texas A&M. The Aggies lost to the Buffaloos 41-20 last week, and will be angry for revenge. Senior quarterback Reggie McNeal leads the team. McNeal has rushed for more than 300 yards this season and thrown for more than 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns.
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