THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEBNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2013
PAGE
OFFENSIVE TACTICS
Football Notebook
Jayhawks, players and fans alike, prepare for the game against Baylor
JOEY ANGUIANO janguiano@kansan.com
Highlighting Coach Charlie Weis' weekly press conference Tuesday was the "frightening" scoring and production ability of Baylor University's offense. Baylor, ranked as high as fifth overall in the Coaches polls, features the seventh best offense in the nation. They use a no-huddle system and capitalize on the speed of several key players. Weis also talked about his group of key players, which is riddled with injuries.
Player injuries and recoveries
While the coaching staff knows how the players are doing, they take a very stoic approach when it comes to injury status. That behavior may come from Weis' time as offensive coordinator of the New England Patriots, but in reality it's a practice that has become more common in sports as time goes on.
What little information Weis would offer on injured players was that most of them, including linebacker Ben Heeney, running back Tony Pierson and wide receiver Andrew Turzilli, were "day to day". He went on to say Heeney and Pierson were "much better" while Turzilli was simply "not much better." If any of them make an appearance Saturday against Baylor, it will most likely be a gametime decision.
Quarterback Cozart
Freshman quarterback Montell Cozart was also discussed during the conference. Weis said that in last week's matchup against Oklahoma, Cozart only knew part of the game plan. That explains why only running plays were called when Cozart was in. Weis plans on involving Cozart more in the game plans so he will be ready for the match with the Baylor Bears. Weis also said there is no scheduled timetable for when Cozart plays—his involvement depends entirely on how the game is going.
"If we get the ball and have three straight drives ending in touchdowns, do you want to take him [jake Heaps] out?" Weis said. "But if we come out and have three straight three and outs." Weis went on to imply that in that situation, Cozart could find himself in the game.
Using last week's game as an example, Weis said that if the pass game continues at its current level, it will be much harder for the running game to prosper.
Running the offense
As far as the rest of the offense goes, Coach Weis said that the team will run a lot. Kansas knows what its bread and butter is and expects to stick to it. In order to make this strategy work, a few big plays are necessary from the passing game. Otherwise, the Baylor defense can expect a run each play,
which will make the Kansas offense very inefficient.
While Coach Weis isn't calling the plays anymore, he still "advises" on the offensive side of the ball. This allows him to have a hand in every aspect and act as more of a head coach. Because he isn't busy calling plays, Weis said he notices new, helpful details from the sidelines.
Loud and proud
Another key component that Weis stressed was fan involvement. He hopes that Jayhawk fans will show up and shout encouragement to the team. With a 6 p.m. kick, on the energy on the field and in the stands needs to be boisterous.
"They can yell at me," Weis said. "I don't care, just make it very loud."
Noise is instrumentally helpful to the Kansas defense — it will slow down the tempo at which Baylor can call their plays at the line of scrimmage.
"They [the crowd] should start yelling when they get here and continue until our defense leaves the field." Weis said.
Overall, Baylor is a great squad. As Weis said, "If they aren't getting respect, then people are stupid." This is a Baylor team that has championship dreams — dreams Kansas hopes to derail. To make that happen, fans need to show support.
— Edited by Kayla Overbey
JAMES HOYT/KANSAN
During his weekly press conference Tuesday Coach Charlie Weis said freshman quarterback Motei Cozart will be included more in game plan development to avoid repetitive running plays against Baylor on Saturday.
VOLLEYBALL
GEORGE MULLINIX /KANSAN
Cassie Wait, freshman from Gardner, prepares for a dig in the Sept. 22 game against Notre Dame. Wait embraces her new role as volleyball defensive specialist.
Freshman takes on new role as defensive specialist for Kansas
BRIAN HILLIX
As a standout athlete at Gardner Edgerton High School, Kansas freshman Cassie Waist excelled at volleyball, basketball and track. She now contributes to a Kansas volleyball team that is second in the Big 12 conference and ranked No. 22 nationally.
bhillix@kansan.com
Wait, who is a Gardner native, led her high school volleyball team to the 6A Kansas state volleyball tournament the last two years, which included a third-place finish in 2011. As an outside hitter, she played every spot on the floor and racked up 1,750 kills and 1,635 digs in her high school career.
But Wait is taking on a new role for Kansas as a defensive specialist. With passing and digging as the main responsibilities of a defensive specialist, Wait said her new position allows her to improve these aspects of her game.
"It's giving me a chance to focus on just passing and digging, and that's made me so much better at being able to do that because it's my sole focus." Wait said. "And I've never had a sole focus on the court."
She said it also allows her to have a better understanding of the other positions and the game as a whole.
Because Wait is 5-foot-8, she knew she didn't have the ideal height to play outside hitter for a school like Kansas, where the average height for the position is around 6 feet. Before she came to Kansas, Coach Ray Bechard told Wait that he wanted her to be a defensive specialist or libero-type player.
"It's allowed me a better understanding being able to sit back and watch what's happening in front of me," Wait said.
"When I decided to come to Kansas, I knew there was going to be that change." Wait said. "I prepared myself for that ahead of time."
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Wait arrived to a squad filled with veterans at the defensive specialist/ libero position. Seniors Brianne Riley, Jaime Mathieu and Amy Wehrs have played all four years at Kansas and helped lead the team to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season.
She is cherishing the new role.
A mainstay in the Kansas rotation, Wait averages almost seven digs a match and has reached double-digit digs four times, including a career-high 13 against Notre Dame in the championship match
Bechard knew Wait would be up to the task.
"She's extremely competitive, and if you know anything about her background athletically, she's excelled at anything she's ever done." Bechard said. "We knew she would take on this challenge and have an opportunity to be one of the very best at that position before it's all said and done at Kansas."
"I'll miss hitting, I always will, but I really enjoy being able to sit back and watch the play develop in front me," Wait said. "It's helped my overall understanding and love of the game."
"What a great opportunity for a freshman to step in with all that experience to draw from," Bechard said.
"All the kids joked that he gave me the dirty looks, like we have a secret system," Wait said. "I can look at him and know what he's thinking."
Wait and the No. 22 Jayhawks face Iowa State tonight at Horeisi Family Athletics Center. The Cyclones finished second in the Big 12 last year just ahead of Kansas.
"In high school, he was a good athlete, but he's improved almost three feet in college and he's an All-American," Wait said. "His ability to improve went so much beyond what anybody expected."
Darrell Wait, her father and high school volleyball coach, helped to develop her game. Wait said her dad is the one that pushes her the most.
Wait credits her family for her success.
of the Kansas Invitational.
Kyle tied for seventh place at the outdoor NCAA Championship in 2013 and was named a first team All-American by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. Cassie said Kyle is her biggest inspiration.
Kyle Wait, Cassie's brother, is a senior pole-vaulter for the Kansas State track and field team.
— Edited by Heather Nelson
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