Volume 126 Issue 30
kansan.com
Wednesday, October 16 , 2013
COMMENTARY Weis can't fix offense alone
Charlie Weis needs backup. He's already calling for extra help. Soon, he'll need to call for an offensive coordinator.
During Weis' Tuesday press conference, he announced a "drastic" change in how the Jayhawks run their offense. Weis will take a step back, allowing quarterback coach Ron Powlus to take charge of the passing game and tight ends coach Jeff Blasko to run the running game and the offensive line.
Weis certainly has the credentials to help these positions. He coached all of them in the National Football League with impressive results. He had to do something.
Weis said the changes will allow him more personal involvement in the skill positions, including wide receiver and quarterback, which have desperately struggled five games into the season.
After the season, he'll have to do something more. He'll have to give his offensive coordinator title to somebody else.
Last season, Kansas had the sixth-worst scoring offense in college football. Only Idaho, Illinois, Connecticut, Colorado and Kentucky finished worse than the Jayhawks. All five made changes at offensive coordinator.
This season, Weis' second chance to fix the offense is failing. The Jayhawks averaged 18.2 points per game last season. Right now, just two games into conference play, the Jayhawks are averaging 18.25 points per game. While it looks like minimal improvement, that number is likely to drop as Kansas dips further into the conference schedule.
Now, it must be said that Weis at offensive coordinator made sense when he first came to Kansas.
It is, however, likely that Weis took on more than he could handle when he got to Lawrence. Perhaps he didn't realize the damage inflicted during the Turner Gill era. Perhaps he thought Dayne Crist and Jake Heaps could morph into the studs they were promised to be. Regardless, the Jayhawks' offense is lagging behind an improving defense.
To clarify, this is not a 'fire Charlie Weis' statement. The program needs consistency these days more than anything. Weis needs to continue overseeing the team, but he needs more help with his offense. Kansas needs someone who's an expert on the spread, or at least someone more comfortable with it.
Former layhawk A.J. Steward, who played for Kansas through Mark Mangino and Turner Gill, said the coaching carousel has been too much. The program needs a steady force. For now, that must be Weis. Another former Jayhawk, Adrian Mayes, said it's very important for players to have the same coach around them for their four or five years.
"When you bring in a new coach and bring in a new system, it's tough for these kids," Mayes said.
Sure it is. Weis was very straightforward with his team's offensive issues Tuesday. If nothing changes, it's time to bring in backup.
— Edited by Emma McElhaney
TEAMWORK
Senior running back James Sims (29) dives over TCU defender during Saturday's game in Fort Worth, Texas. The Jayhawks lost 27-17 to the Horned Frogs.
MICHAEL STRICKLAND/KANSAN
OFFENSIVE OVERHAUL
Weis encourages communication in hopes of victory
coberkrom@kansan.com
CONNOR OBERKROM
coherkrm@kansan.com
At six weeks into the season, Kansas coach Charlie Weis is giving the offensive preparation process an overhaul, from strategies to coach meetings, in the hopes of more Jayhawk victories on the football field.
"I'm going to oversee the offense, I'm going to get more involved in the coaching of the skill positions, which I think has been lacked." Weis said.
Weis has relegated his play calling duties to quarterback coach Ron Powlus and tight end coach Jeff Blasko and will be handling the basics of the offense.
"No one knows more about what
a quarterback can and can't do than Ron [Powlus]; Weis said.
Weis is striving to model the newly introduced offense system after the Kansas defense, where defensive coordinator Dave Campo and linebacker coach Clint Bowen collaborate on strategy. Weis is hoping that modeling after their success will lift the sputtering offense from its rank as No. 115 in the country in total offense.
Weis has stressed all year that the skill positions, most notably the wide receivers, need to be more physical and starting this
This was Weis' way of showing that things need to change. Weis mentions that his role in influencing the offensive players has also changed for the better.
and how they can drive to greater heights.
His increased participation is a sign that things haven't panned out and haven't performed up to their expectations on offense.
week, he will have a chance to do that.
"It's a good thing for me, but it's not a good thing for them. There's different levels of hard coaching and mine is cranked up to the full gear." Weis said.
The main focal point that will change is that Weis will join the position meetings starting this week. This will help him gain a better familiarity about what goes on at each position in the offense
The offensive schemes have stayed the same and most of the position players have stayed constant outside of the regularly jumbled wide receiver spot. This week the wide receiver position features Justin McCay back at the starting X spot.
The communication of ideas between offensive coaches is undergoing a rehaul — instead of Weis dictating the game plan on Sundays during the offensive coaches' meetings, he's encouraging the coaches to give their own ideas on fixing the offense.
Andrew Turzilli, who is at third string Z position after playing as a starter, is listed as injured day-to-day and will be replaced by Josh Ford this week.
"There was a much greater exchange of offensive ideas than any
time I've been here," Weis said.
"Sometimes you hold in ideas because the offensive coordinator/ head coach already has a bunch of them on his own. So what I now do is I let them put all their stuff up. This is killing me to do it this way."
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To start these changes and avoid confusion, Weis will be rehashing techniques with quarterbacks to make sure there are no "mis-nomers" on how to perform in the heat of the game.
"I'm doing it because I think Kansas football needs it," Weis said. "I really don't care about my ego, I just want to get better and win."
- Edited by Kayla Overbey
VOLLEYBALL
Kansas prepares for road trip after loss to Texas
BLAIR SHEADE
bsheade@kansan.com
The No. 11 Kansas Jayhawks (14-4) will start their two-game road trip tonight against Texas Tech (8-12), after a 3-1 loss to defending national champions and currently No. 1 ranked Texas on Saturday. Kansas will try to bounce back at the United Spirit Arena in Lubbock, Texas.
Erin McNorton, left, and Taylor Soucie, right, block against Arkansas on Sept. 7. The Jayhawks play Texas Tech tonight
Senior middle blocker Caroline Jarmoc couldn't help the 12 Jahawks extend their 10-game winning streak during the 17-25, 26-24, 20-25, 15-25 loss against Texas. Jarmoc had a history-making night, but the Jahawks recorded a season low in hitting percentage (.106).
GEORGE MULLINIX/KANSAN
Jarmoc passed former Kansas players Emily Brown (1,168; 2004-07) and Mary Beth Albrecht (1,171; 1996-99) to become sixth on the Kansas all-time kills list with 1,177 career kills. Also, Jarmoc recorded three blocks against Texas, which included her 500th block and moved her 15 blocks above Amanda Reves (514; 1996-99) to become the all-time leaders in lajhawk history.
In the shadows of Jarmoc's 500th block, she had only three
total blocks and the Jayhawks were outblocked 17-6 against Texas. In 2012, Jarmoc averaged 1.28 blocks per set, compared to 1.47 blocks per set during Big 12 play this season. The averages might fool some, but Jarmoc, who was part of the 2012 All-Big 12 first team, has struggled blocking in Big 12 conference games this season.
The Jayhawks are still averaging 2.78 blocks per set, which is first in the Big 12. Jarmoc is third in blocks during Big 12 conference games, but she isn't producing big time block performances similar to her dominating games in 2012.
This season, Jarmoc has only notched one double-digit block performance, and that game wasn't during any of the five Big 12 conference games that Kansas has played. Jarmoc's eight blocks against TCU on Sept. 28 was her high block total during Big 12 play this season.
"We'll bounce back — we need to have a good week next week,"
Jayhawks coach Ray Bechard thinks that Caroline Jarmoc and the Jayhawks will revive after a poor performance against the Longhorns.
Rechard said.
Who better to have as a rebound opponent than the Texas Tech Red Raiders?
Last season, Texas Tech was led by then-freshman outside hitter Lydia McKay, who had 11 kills against the Jayhawks. McKay will try to build on her success against Kansas to win their first match against a top-25 team this season. Texas Tech did win its first Big 12 conference game by knocking off
Last season, Jarmoc led the way with seven blocks and 11 kills against the Red Raiders, and the Jayhawks ended the game with 24 totals blocks as Kansas swept Texas Tech. Junior outside hitter Sara McClinton had nine kills against the Red Raiders last season too, and she will try to continue her
The Red Raiders are currently 0-2 against top-25 teams and 1-4 in the Big 12 conference.
TCU last Saturday.
success against Big 12 teams
Riley will attempt to make her consecutive double-digit dig streak to 45 tonight against the Red Raiders.
McCinnon led the team in kills with 16 against Texas, making it four straight games with double-digit kills. Also, Brianne Riley extended her double-digit digs to 44 consecutive games.
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Edited by Chas Strobel