Volume 126 Issue 33
kansan.com
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
COMMENTARY Weis unable to make halftime adjustments
Many consider Charles Dickens' magnum opus to be "A Tale of Two Cities" Coach Charlie Weis is working on a book himself about the Big 12 conference season. It is titled "A Tale of Two Halves." So far, it hasn't been well-received.
The second half of games have not been good for Weis. The Oklahoma game epitomizes this.
Weis had the Sooners where he wanted them going into halftime. While Kansas was trailing 18-13, his team was still in contention. The running game exploited Oklahoma's defensive front, and junior Jake Heaps had a touchdown pass on a beautifully called play action, culminating a 70-yard drive which was the best of Kansas' season. The blueprint was set to beat Oklahoma in the second half.
Then halftime came. Weis appeared to give a speech written mainly by filling out a page of Mad Libs, and his team was dominated in the last thirty minutes of the game.
the last thirty minutes of the game.
In the third quarter, Kansas
amassed 18 yards of offense. In the
fourth, that number shrunk to 10.
This amounts to 28 yards in one
half. Oklahoma got more yards
on Trey Millard's third quarter
rush than Kansas had in the entire
second half.
Heaps completed one pass after the break. That pass was completed for negative two yards. Kansas State passed for more yards on Saturday than Kansas did in the second half, and Kansas State was on its bye week. Meanwhile, James Sims had six rushes in the second half. On Kansas' impressive 70-yard scoring drive, Sims had eight rushes.
This kind of performance is indicative of a coach who cannot make halftime adjustments.
The loss to Oklahoma is not the only example of poor second half play and preparation. The TCU game the week prior is demonstrative as well. Kansas was tied at ten with TCU going into the break. While TCU has been savaged by disappointing play and injuries, TCU is still good enough to feel good about a halftime tie.
The first offensive play run by TCU in the third quarter was a 75-yard touchdown strike. The next drive, Kansas fumbled. TCU scored in its subsequent drive. Before fans watching on TV could even heat up a bag of microwave popcorn, Kansas was facing a two-touchdown deficit.
The struggles don't stop at TCU. Going into halftime against Texas Tech, Kansas trailed 20-10. The team left Memorial Stadium that afternoon having lost 54-16. In that game, it was defense that couldn't adjust. Texas Tech scored a touchdown or a field goal on six of its first seven drives. Kansas was left searching for answers, and Wets could not provide them.
in three Big 12 games, the Jay-
hawks have been outscored in the second half 67-19. In contrast, they have only been outscored 48-33 in the first half.
Against Baylor's prolific offense, Kansas' chances to win are slim. That notwithstanding, Weis can still take positives out of the game. One of those positives could be better play in the second half than the first half.
Unless Weis can find a way to make adjustments in the second half, he may soon be adjusting to unemployment.
Edited by Heather Nelson
TWO'S COMPANY
Quarterback Jake Heaps (9) directs his team on the field at Saturday's game against Oklahoma. Kansas lost the Big 12 battle 19-34
GEORGE MULLINIX/KANSAN
INTO THE FIRE
MAX GOODWIN
mgoodwin@kansan.com
Freshman quarterback Montell Cozart stood on the sidelines before the Oklahoma game on Saturday knowing that the game plan his coaches had designed involved Cozart taking his first snaps as a Jayhawk.
Cozart had a look of composure on his face as senior running back James Sims stood next to him, 'Think of it the same as a high school game, you're the man,' Sims told Cozart.
His first drive began with a
"He wasn't nervous at all." Sims said. "Everyone's going to look up to him because he has the ball in his hands."
Freshman Montell Cozart joins the quarterback rotation
noting penalty, and it didn't go anywhere from there.
On his second drive Cozart ran
"Jake handled it very well, because we don't lie to our players or mislead them. We told him on Monday we were going to do this ..."
CHARLIE WEIS football coach
tor a nine-yard gain on first down,
but after five plays and a total gain
of 19 yards the Jayhawks punted.
That was it for Cozart on the day,
eight plays and an inconclusive beginning to his college career.
"There were a couple things he could have done differently, but I think the best thing that happened was he got the butterflies out," Coach Charlie Weis said. "I think that he'll just keep getting better and better from here."
The opportunity to redshift Cozart and save a year of eligibility is gone now, and Weis wouldn't risk that if he didn't have a role in mind for Cozart this season.
"That was part of the plan. You can't say, 'well let's go play him for nine snaps against Oklahoma' and then sit him," Weis said.
Don't be surprised if Cozart plays more snaps this Saturday against Baylor, a team that plays
cover-four defense and has athletic defensive ends that rush the quarterback off the edges.
Baylor's defensive scheme could provide the chance for a quarterback with Cozart's running ability to scramble out of the pocket for big gains, as Kansas State quarterback Daniel Sams did when he ran for 199 yards and three touchdowns against the Bears two weeks ago.
weeks ago. "As we go forward he'll definitely be in our thoughts." Weis said of putting Cozart on the field. "You'll definitely see him show up in the game."
Jake Heaps is still the starting quarterback and knew before the game that Cozart would get playing time.
"Jake handled it very well, because we don't lie to our players or mislead them. We told him on Monday we were going to do this. It wasn't something that just like materialized on game day," Weis said.
Weis mentioned during his Monday teleconference with the Big 12 media that he would come up with the game plan for Baylor on Monday night and go over the ideas with both quarterbacks.
NFL
"We'll visit with those guys after we know what we're doing, and we'll tell them exactly what the game plan is;" Weis said.
—Edited by Heather Nelson
Titans owner, Kansas alumnus dies at 90
MAX GOODWIN
mgoodwin@kansan.com
Tennessee Titans owner K.S. "Bud" Adams died at age 90 of natural causes Monday at his home in Houston.
Adams was a co-founder of the American Football League, along with former Kansas City Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt.
The Adams Alumni Center on campus is named for Bud Adams's father K.S. "Boots" Adams, also an alumnus of the University. The family was a major donor for the University.
Adams is a Kansas alumnus. He earned a letter in 1942 as quarterback for the Jayhawks, and was also a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity.
In 1960, Coan rushed for two touchdowns as Kansas defeated the No. 1 ranked Missouri Tigers 23-7. Coan's transfer prompted a protest from Missouri coach Don Faurrot. The Big Eight conference would soon rule Coan ineligible and force Kansas to forfeit the game.
Adams presided over 409 wins
In 1959, Bud Adams paid for a plane ticket for a TCU freshman running back, Bert Coan, to fly to Chicago for an all-star football game. Coan transferred to Kansas the next season.
In the end, both schools counted the game as a win, and the game remains a controversial point in the rivalry.
ROGER GOODELL NFL Commissioner
with his NFL organization, which is more than any current NFL owner. His Houston Ollers won the first two AFL titles in 1960 and 1961.
"He was a brilliant entrepreneur with a terrific sense of humor that helped lighten many a tense meeting."
"Bud Adams played a pivotal role in the growth of pro football as a pioneer and innovator," NFL
Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. "As a founding owner of the American Football League that began play in 1960, Bud saw the potential of pro football and brought the game to new cities and new heights of popularity, first in Houston and then in Nashville." Goodell spoke highly of the late Kansas alumnus.
"He was a brilliant entrepreneur with a terrific sense of humor that helped lighten many a tense meeting." Goodell said. "Bud was truly a gift to the NFL. We extend our deepest sympathy to his daughters Susan and Amy, and the entire family"
Edited by Heather Nelson
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ASSOCIATED PRESS
Houston Oilers owner K.S. "Bud" Adams Jr., right, shakes hands with Olders' Billy Cannon in the dressing room in Houston. Adams Jr. died in his Houston home. He was 90.