THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2013
FOOTBALL
PAGE 38
Pierson is a weapon with no true identity on field
CHRIS HYBL
chybl@kansan.com
chybl@kansan.com
Tony Pierson is having trouble identifying himself.
"Half back, receiver, whatever you want to call it, I'm that," Pierson said. "Offensive player."
Perhaps Kansas' most valued asset, Pierson has taken on many identities this season in an attempt to properly utilize his broad skill set – a skill set quarterback lake Heaps
- a skill set quarterback Jake Heaps is particularly fond of.
"He's definitely the fastest guy I've been around and maybe the most all around dynamic guy I've been around." Heaps said. "I've played with top guys all around the country and the skill set that he has to be able to do what he does: catch the ball, run
"He's definitely the fastest guy I've been around and maybe the most all-around dynamic guy I've been around."
ning routes, being a running back, it's a pleasure to be playing with a guy like that."
Kansas is up to its neck in pressure to perform, but the team can relieve some of that pressure with its talent at the running back position.
Kansas Jayhawks running back Tony Pierson looks onto his team as the Jayhawks are defeated by the Rice Owls on Sept. 14. The Jayhawks lost 23-14.
Team captain and running back James Sims has been confirmed as the number one running back by head coach Charlie Weis on multiple occasions this year. Junior college transfer Darrian Miller has proven that he has starting capability if he weren't behind Sims, and in Weis' press conference Tuesday,
vens admitted he wanted to get Bourbon involved even more this Saturday when the 1-1 Jayhawks take on Louisiana Tech at home.
That's a packed depth chart; too packed for a running back overflowing with talent. If Pierson was restricted to the running back position, he could be a top contender. Pierson is a playmaker, and his attributes are too abundant for to be restricted to the most crowded position on the depth chart, especially for a Kansas offense that be-
JAKE HEAPS Junior quarterback
been lackluster for the entirety of Pierson's career.
MICHAEL STRICKLAND/KANSAN
But Pierson is the kind of guy that can change that. For starters, he has accepted additional roles as slot receiver and wide receiver
and, not surprisingly, it's worked. Pierson has touched the ball 12 times this year and averages 14.75 yards per touch. That's a large chunk of yards and something very noticeable to opposing defenses.
That's why Piterson's touches have been limited and that's also why the Kansas offense tends to become stagnant.
make plays and has a "touchdown every touch" mentality, that's not too exciting.
"It's a pain." Pierson said. "I don't really know how to explain it but I do know it's a pain on me. I know that much."
Pierson is Kansas' 'x-factor' and he is well aware of it. He needs to be. It's simple, the Kansas offense is better when Pierson touches the ball, and getting Pierson more involved is, and very well should be a main focus of Weis and Heaps this
week.
Heaps said that Kansas went into their second game at Rice with a game plan revolving around Pierson. Heaps expected Pierson to have a big game, but when Rice made adjustments to double team
Pierson, Kansas chose to spread the ball around to other receivers. The plan didn't work though: dropped passes plagued the Kansas offense for a second-straight week.
Edited by Evan Dunbar
VOLLEYBALL
Mayfield kills it for Kansas
I BRIAN HILLIX
bhillix@kansan.com
In 2011, senior outside hitter Allison Mayfield was the focal point of the offense. She topped the Big 12 with 4.16 kills per set, led the Jayhawks in kills in 26 of 29 matches and set the singleseason kill record at Kansas with 462.
Despite Mayfield's stellar season, the Jayhawks went 15-14 with a 3-13 record in conference play. Opposing defenses centered their defensive efforts on Mayfield knowing Kansas lacked firepower elsewhere in the lineup. Only two other players for Kansas led the teams in kills in a single match that season.
"A few years ago we were dependent on one or two people." Coach Ray Bechard said. "If they had an off night we were kind of in trouble."
Since the end of the 2011 season, Kansas has gone 33-10, a record that can be attributed to a balanced offensive attack. Already this season, five players have led the team in kills in a match.
At least three players have notched double-digit kills in seven of the ten matches.
While teams will be targeting All- American redshirt senior middle blocker Caroline Jarmoc, a
"It allows us to keep our opponent's defense guessing a little bit more."
RAY BECHARD coach
handful of players are prepared to shoulder the load when opponents try to stop her. This gives the Jayhawks an edge because teams won't be able to focus on just one or two players the entire match.
"It allows us to keep our opponent's defense guessing a little bit more." Bechard said.
Bechard recalled two matches when the defense zoned in on Jarmoc and another player stepped up
in a big way. Against Oklahoma last year, senior outside hitter Catherine Carmichael pounded a career-high 18 kills to help lead the Jayhawks to a five-set victory in Norman, Okla. Last week against Wisconsin, sophomore outside hitter Tiana Dockery led the way with a career-high 21 kills to help seal a five-set road victory.
Bechard said it takes the pressure off of everybody on the team. If one or two players are having an off night offensively, there are two or three players who can pick up the slack. It makes the job easier for senior setter Erin McNorton.
"If one player isn't doing her best, I have a lot of options," McNorton said.
The chances are also greater that at least one player is on top of her game. If there is a hot hitter,
McNorton will be sure to take advantage.
Edited by Jessica Mitchell
Senior setter Erin McNorton goes up to block her opponent's shot during the Sept. 7 game against Arkansas where the Jayhawks lost 3-2.
GEORGE MULLINIX/KANSAN
2013 KILL LEADERS
Central Arkansas - Jarmoc 19, Albers 10
Central Arkansas - Jarmoc 19, Albers 10
Morgan State - McClinton 16, Jarmoc 11
Arizona - McClinton 18, Albers 16, Jarmoc 15, Carmichael 14
UMKC - Jarmoc 19, Albers 15, Carmichael 12
Creighton - Jarmoc 12, Albers/McClinton 11
Arkansas (road) - Carmichael 19, McClinton 14, Jarmoc 12
Arkansas (home) - McClinton/Jarmoc 18, Soucie 12
Milwaukee - Albers/Dockery 10
Wisconsin - Dockery 21, Jarmoc 17, McClinton 14
Bowling Green - Jarmoc 20, Albers 14, McClinton 12
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