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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2013
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
CONNOR OBERKROM
coberkrom@kansan.com
STARTING LINEUP
The Jayhawk offense, which has failed to make big plays all season, goes against a Texas defense on Saturday that is currently 50th in points allowed. Kansas, who will roll out Jake Heaps and Montell Cozart, looks to spread the ball a little more as Cozart is still learning the ropes of running the offense. James Sims has had 180 rushing yards the last three games, but as teams adjust to the gameplan in the 2nd half, things have gone sour. Look for Kansas to establish the run early once again against a Texas defense, who notably struggled against the run earlier in the season. Last year against Texas, Sims had one of his best career days, rushing for 176 yards.
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
The defense, coming off a slaughtering at the hands of Baylor, faces an entirely different brand of football-a much more run-oriented team and not as spread out as it faced last week. Texas uses three running backs, but Malcom Brown and Jonathan Gray do most of the damage. Case McCoy, the Texas quarterback, since taking over for an injured David Ash, has flourished, but Kansas gets Ben Heeney back this week. Heeney will be imperative as he tries to anchor a run defense that has given up 249 yards per game over the last three games.
POSITION NAME NO. YEAR
X Tre' Parmalee 11 So.
LT Pat Lewandowski 61 Jr.
LG Ngalu Fusimalohi 63 Jr.
C Gavin Howard 70 Sr.
RG Mike Smithburg 65 Jr.
RT Aslam Sterling 77 Sr.
TE Jimmay Mundine 41 Jr.
RB James Sims 29 Sr.
QB Jake Heaps 9 Jr.
F Brandon Bourbon 25 Jr.
Z Rodriguez Coleman 1 Jr.
POSITION NAME NO. YEAR
LC JaCorey Shepherd 24 Jr.
Nickel Victor Simmons 27 Jr.
LE/T Kevin Young 90 Sr.
N Keon Stowers 98 Jr.
RE/T Keba Agostinho 96 Sr.
BUCK Ben Goodman 93 So.
CB Dexter McDonald 12 Jr.
SS Isaiah Johnson 5 So.
MLB Ben Heeney 31 Sr.
WLB Jake Love 57 So.
FS Cassius Sendish 33 Jr.
PREDICTION FOR KANSAS 45-13 TEXAS KANSAS
QUESTION MARKS
Can the Jayhawks string some passes together to make the future feel somewhat secure? Developing a quarterback for next year is the one thing that can be focused on until season's end. And if Weis has some gem in Cozart or can morph Heaps into something, then that's be worth a whole lot. There may have been some short flashes, but nothing to proclaim that you have the next Todd Reesing.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Matthew Wyman has missed one field goal and two extra points the last two games. Special teams could become crucial if Kansas can stay in it. Kansas has to find another way to score with their offense not being a reliable source, and their return game provides that chance as it does every week.
AT A GLANCE
Mack Brown is 8-0 versus Kansas and Charlie Weis is just 0-1 against Texas in last year's battle that came down to the last two minutes. A win versus Texas would be a pretty big accomplishment considering Kansas hasn't beaten Texas since the before the start of World War I.
MOMENTUM
Kansas is coming off a drubbing, but I don't think it matters much especially with this team's circumstances. It has shown that the past week doesn't affect them drastically, but a win would do absolute wonders.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Against one the best running tandems in the Big 12 Ben Heeney will have to be a driving force against Texas. Heeney was out for the Baylor game and should make a noticeable difference this week. Heeney has 51 tackles on the year.
COACHING
Weis said that he worked with the receivers about being more physical and that it has paid dividends so far. We saw a little last week with Rodriguez Coleman breaking through, but that progress needs to be carried through each game. It will be the focal point to see if Kansas can get any big plays from their wide receiving corps.
BABY JAY CHEERS
Jake Heaps and Montell Cozart make some form of progress. Cozart is still in the premature stages, while Heaps can't catch a break behind the shaky offensive line. But if Cozart can patrol a legitimate drive, that should make at least a few Jayhawk fans crack a little smile.
Edited by Ashleigh Tidwell
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