1993 FOOTBALL PREVIEW UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Friday, August 27,1993
Offensive line expected to be best in recent Jayhawk history
By Matt Doyle Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas offense averaged 395.1 yards per game last season and 31 points a game. Those were the fourth and second highest totals respectively in those categories in Kansas football history.
Quarterback Chip Hilley triggered Kansas' offense for the last three seasons and finished up second on the Kansas career total offense chart with 5,888 yards. Hilley is gone, and Coach Glen Mason must find a new starting quarterback for the first time in three years.
The entire starting backfield, which contributed to Kansas' success on offense in 1992, is gone. But the offensive backfield is not worrying Mason.
"I feel very good about the quarterback position because we have more talent, depth and competition at the position than any time that I have been here," Mason said. "I think we'll be more talented in the backfield because we have some young kids with more ability than we've had in the past."
Last year, Mason had to replace both starting running backs, Tony Sands and Roger Robben. Maurice Douglas and Monte Cozzes both had good seasons in their senior campaigns in replacing Sands and Robben.
Junior Fred Thomas will be the replacement for Hilleary at quarterback. Thomas saw limited action in seven games last season, but played the final three quarters in the 22-17 loss at Missouri after Hilleary left the game with a concussion.
Thomas completed only 4 of 18 passes for 49 yards in the Missouri game, but looked impressive in spring practice and in the spring game where he completed 9 of 17 passes for 186 yards and one touchdown.
"There are no questions about his abilities because he has the tools to play quarterback," said Golden Pat Ruel, defensive coordinator, about Thomas. "We're concerned, though, about how he'll react under pressure situations. As a coaching staff, we'll have to help him through that."
"I feel very good"
"Ifeel very good about the quarterback position because we have more talent, depth and competition at the position than any time that I have been here."
Glen Mason Kansas football coach
Sophomore Asheki Preston and juniors Van Davis and Rodney Hogan are listed as backups to Thomas.
Kansas hopes to repeat its success of running the football. Only one conference team, Nebraska, has run for more yards than Kansas over the last two seasons. Mason said he was excited about the potential of senior George White and sophomore L.T. Levine.
"We've got a lot of depth at the tailback position," he said. "George has big play ability and LT.really came on at the end of last season."
Mason and Ruel both said they plan to use Levine in a one-back set with White setting up as a receiver at times this season.
Junior Chris Powell started three games at fulback last season, but injuries at the middle linebacker position in the spring dictated his move to that position. At the start of fall practice, Powell broke a bone in his left foot and will be out for at least a month. It is uncertain which position Powell will play once he returns.
The passing game is something both coaches have emphasized more during the last two years, and they
believe they have some players who can catch the ball.
Senior Dwayne Chandler heads a group of outstanding tight ends that Mason believes is the best in the conference. Chandler was named an All-Big Eight performer last year after catching 17 passes for 398 yards and six touchdowns.
The tight end position is so deep that Mason moved junior Rodney Harris to wide receiver before the Aloha Bowl against Brigham Young. The move paid off as Harris caught four passes for 142 yards, including a 74-yard touchdown.
Harris and sophomore Ashaunald Smith are slated to start at the two wide receiver positions. Smith caught six passes for 137 yards and one touchdown in the spring game. Fort Scott Community College transfer Robert Reed, nephew of former Jayhawk receiver David Verser, is expected to contribute this season.
"We want to be versatile on offense, and these guys have to come through for us," Ruel said.
Mason considers this year's offensive line to be the best in his six years at Kansas. Senior center Dan Schmidt and junior guards Hessley Hempsted and John Jones have started the last 14 games together, and each is considered one of the best at their positions in the Big Eight.
Sophomore left tackle Rod Jones made his first career start in the Aloha Bowl victory, and sophomore right tackle Mark Allison switched over from defensive tackle before the bowl game.
"Our 'center box', the center and two guards, I believe, are the best interior three lineemen in the conference," he said. "Both Mark Allison and Rod Jones are good athletes and competitive players."
Ruel, who also coaches the offensive line, agrees with Mason that this is Kansas' best offensive line.
Senior Dan Eichloff returns for his fourth year of handling the kicking and punting chores. He ranks as the school's all-time leading scorer with 238 points and third in career punting average with an average of 41.8 yards per punt.
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