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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2013
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FOOTBALL GAMEDAY PREVIEW
CONNOR OBERKROM
coberkrom@kansan.com
STARTING LINEUP
OFFENSE
So far, it has been unfair to fully judge Jake Heaps. With the amount of drops and some changes in the offensive depth chart, Heaps still has time to fill out as a quarterback. Heaps has two new wide receivers in the depth chart this weekend in Rodriguez Coleman and Tre Parmalee - two guys that can supposedly catch the ball. Change is good, but progress is better. James Sims is still doing James Sims, but it'll be interesting to see if Weis throws it more downfield or sticks to his power running game with Sims.
POSITION NAME NO. YEAR
X (WR) Rodriquez Coleman 1 Jr.
LT Aslam Sterling 77 Sr.
LG Ngalu Fusimalohi 63 Jr.
C Pat Lewandowski 61 Jr.
RG Mike Smithburg 65 Jr.
RT Riley Spencer 72 Sr.
TE Trent Smiley 85 Sr.
RB Darrian Miller 6 R-So.
QB Jake Heaps 9 Jr.
F (WR/RB) Tony Pierson 3 Jr.
Z (WR) Tre' Parmalee 11 So.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kansas punted six times against Rice, including a 59-yard punt by Trevor Pardula. Kansas shouldn't be looking to Pardula as much against La. Tech. Matthew Wyman has only attempted two field goal through two games, hitting from 45-yards and missing from 47. It would nice to see how much leg Wyman really has, but to do that Kansas needs to move into better positions offensively for him to show it off.
COACHING
DEFENSE
Weis has a chance to bounce back at home after a tough loss on the road. This is where coaching factors in. This is a must win for Weis, who is already on the hot seat in just the third game of his second season at Kansas. If Weis loses this one, he could be on his way out of Lawrence before the end of the season.
Losing top Junior College recruit Chris Martin is all in the past, as the defense has been clicking. Ben Heeney is still the driving force of this group, leading a pass rush that has shown great improvement, already compiling six sacks this year, compared to just nine last season. Ben Goodman and Michael Reynolds have been a devastating force at the Buck linebacker position as well. The secondary has also been more effective than last season as Isaiah Johnson and Dexter McDonald are coming off big games in Houston.
POSITION NAME NO. YEAR
CB 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 (LB) Ben Goodman 93 So.
CB Dexter McDonald 12 Jr.
SS Isaiah Johnson 5 So.
MLB Ben Heeney 31 Jr.
WLB Samson Faifili 51 Jr.
FS Cassius Sendish 33 Jr.
PLAYER TO WATCH
With Rodriguez Coleman getting the nod at wide receiver for the first time, he looks to spark a lifeless Kansas offense. Another prized recruit of Weis' class this year, Coleman enters a receiving corps that has tallied nine drops this season. He's seen a couple of snaps, but he looks to get the first catch of his college career on Saturday.
AT A GLANCE
La. Tech brings a new head coach in Skip Holtz who is trying to get out of his father, Lou Holtz's, shadow. Lou coached Notre Dame in the 80s and lead them to the Fiesta Bowl in 1988, just as Weis did in 2006 during his tenure there. Skip can take a big step if he beats Weis and Kansas Saturday in the first matchup between these two coaches.
BABY JAY WILL CHEER IF ...
They can win their second game of the season. This La. Tech team is coming off a 15-24 loss to Tulane, so I wouldn't say they're even close to being a parallel to Rice. With a new coach and losing six players on offense, Kansas should squeak by in this one.
QUESTION MARKS
Can the changes on the offensive roster make a difference? We don't know if it will make an immediate impact, but if the receivers can decrease their drops, that's progress. Also what will Weis' gameplan be? He ran the ball heavily during the first game, then strayed away from that against Rice. It will be interesting to see - if Kansas takes the lead - how Weis uses the running game.
KANSAS PREDICTION 24-17
ASHLEIGH LEE/KANSAN
Junior quarterback Jake Heaps throws a pass during the Sept. 14 game against Rice.The Jayhawks lost 23-14.
MOMENTUM
The Jayhawks were up by one with 8 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter against Rice. The memory of losing the game and their late lead could linger against La. Tech. This week will test the team's mental state.
BY THE NUMBERS
2011 2011 - The last time Kansas has won back-toback home games
26 - Total tackles for loss Louisiana Tech has so far this season
4 - Number of new offensive starters this week
Edited by Evan Dunbar
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