September 6,1984 Page 16
SPORTS
The University Daily KANSAN
'Rushbacker' Anderson a rarity among linemen
By PHIL ELLENBECKER Associate Sports Editor
Jeff Anderson is listed as the starting left defensive tackle on the KU football team, but in the KU defensive scheme Anderson is known as the "rushbacker."
"I've never come across a defense that had a rushbacker," Anderson said. "It's kind of like an outside linebacker and defensive end all rolled into one."
Folded into one:
Instead of lining up in a three-point stance and butting heads with opposing offensive tackles, Anderson lines up outside the tackle in a two-point stance.
"My responsibilities basically are to keep the tight end and tackles off the linebackers and to keep the outside contained and turn the flow to the inside." Anderson said. "We need to get tackles (just that, my ears back) and get the quarterback. It's basically a free-wheeling position."
wearing positional
Anderson, a junior from Evergreen, Colo., should have plenty of opportunities to get the quarterback Saturday, when KU opens its season against Wichita State Shocker quarterback Brian McDonald completed 18 of 37 passes for 131 yards in
WSU's season-opening loss to Southwest Texas State last Saturday.
"If we get a good pass rush and contain the quarterback, we can pretty much shut them down, if we do our job," Anderson said.
At 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds, Anderson will be at a size disadvantage against most of the offensive lineman he'll face this season. Saturday, he line up against Jerry Quick, a 6-5, 295-pound tackle.
"if I had any choice, I'd want to play against him all year long, because I know I can beat him because of quickness," Anderson said.
KU's defensive line as a whole is relatively small. The average size of the four starting interior linemen — Anderson, Robert Tucker, Steve Nave and Phil Forte — is 227 pounds. That isn't the kind of size that strikes fear into the hearts of opponents.
"It it does bother me in a way," Anderson said. "It would be nice to have linemen that are 67, 280 or 290, but with the people we have, since we don't have the size, we have the quickness to make up for it."
Because of the size deficiency, KU's wide-tackle six defense has been modified somewhat this year with the addition of the rushbacker position.
"In the wide-tackle six you have to have a certain kind of personnel." Anderson said. "We really didn't have that last year. With this defense we have the adequate personnel."
Anderson, whose father played football and basketball at KU in the mid 1950s, earned prep all-America honors as a defensive tackle at Evergreen High and was recruited by all the Big Eight conference schools. A pre-med major, Anderson said he chose KU because of its academic reputation.
acceded. he was KU's third-string tight end at this time last year. He was switched to defense in spring drills, and impressed the coaches enough to be named the team's most improved defensive lineman.
"Everyday I grow more comfortable with it," Anderson said.
Sylvester Byrd, KU's starter at tight end last year, decided to redshirt this year, leaving KU with no experienced tight ends. KU head coach Mike Gottfried said Anderson was too valuable on defense to move back to tight end. That suits Anderson fine.
sorry.
"I came to Kansas with the idea that I was going to play tight end, but right now I wouldn't want to think about playing any other position except rushbacker," he said.
White boosts KC into tie for lead
By United Press International
KANSAS CITY, Mo — Managers Dick Howser of Kansas City and Billy Gardner of Minnesota both wanted Frank White at the plate in the eighth inning of Wednesday night's game between the two American League West front-runners.
Gardner, in fact, had relief pitcher Ron Davis walk Jorge Orta intentionally with two outs and the score 1-1 to get to White. Pat Sheridan opened the inning for the Royals with a double.
Howser wanted White at the plate because he was one of the few Royals in the lineup who has ever been involved in a pennant race.
White came through for Howser, hitting a double to the left-field corner to score both runners and trigger a three-run inning. The hit gave the Royals a 4-1 victory and a share of first place with the Twins with identical 70-69 records — Kansas City's first appearance at the ton since opening day.
"Normally Frank's a No. 6 or No. 7 hitter." Howser said. "But with all of our injuries, we've had to use him at No. 5 — and No. 5 hitters are supposed to drive in runs. You want Frank White up there. He gets the big hit. He's done it throughout his career here."
Sheridan hit a one-out double down the left-field line off Minnesota starter Mike Smithson, 13-12, and
Davis came on in relief. After Darry Motley popped out to shallow center Davis walked the left-handed hitter Orta to get to the right-handed hitter White.
But White hit a 1-0 pitch for his second game-winning RBI in as many nights for the Royals, who also won Tuesday night, 4-1. Dane lorg followed with an RBI single for an insurance run.
Charlie Leibrandt allowed eight hits, did not吹 a batter and struck out one over eight innings, improving his record to 9-6. Dan Quisberry pitched the ninth inning for his league-leading 38th save.
league reading book
The Twins opened the third with back-to-back singles to center by Ron Washington and Kirby Puckett
JACKIE KELLY/KANSAN
Top KU cross country runners Greg Leibert (left) and Brent Steiner stretch out before practice at Memorial Stadium yesterday. As the two most experienced runners, they will try to lead the team to an improvement on its fourth place finish in the Big Eight Conference last year.
Timmons cutting down on miles
By CHRIS LAZZARINO Sports Writer
The competition for the top spot on this year's men's cross country team is tight, with two top returning starters for Coach Bob Timmons leading the pack.
Seniors Brent Steiner and Greg Leibert are in command of the top two positions. Beyond that, little is known about what will happen. Timmons said.
"the team is looking good. Brent and Greg look like the best now." Timmons said. "But beyond that, I don't know where anyone will be. No one has run full speed yet. Everything will be proven in the time trials."
The time trials will be Saturday KU opens its cross country season Sept. 15 in a dual against Southern Illinois.
Timmons is using a training program that is different from the one he has used in past years. The
program has the runners log fewer miles but run faster, and seems to be effective for the top two runners.
Steiner has been plagued by a painful right knee, but putting in fewer miles keeps his knee in better shape.
"My knee is still painful, but so far it really isn't I bothering me." Steiner said. "My knee bothered me a bit this summer, but I still came in in better shape than in the past."
"The workouts are definitely easier this year, but people don't seem to be working as hard because everyone is in pretty good shape. Coach Timmons is realizing individual differences in runners."
Steiner finished third individually at the 1983 Big Eight Conference Championships in Lawrence last fall with a time of 30 minutes, 33.62 seconds.
Leibert echoed Steiner's praise for the new training regimen.
"in high school, I put in over 100 miles per week. My coach thought that that type of program would
improve my running." Leibert said
improve my running " Leibert said.
However, Leibert said that after coming to KU and running for Timmons, he found that a training program involving fewer miles worked better.
"I have found that running 60 to 65 miles per week works much better for me," he said.
Injuries hit the Jayhawks hard last year and staying healthy is a must if the Jayhawks are to improve on last year's fourth place finish in the Big Eight Conference Championships, Leibert and Steiner said.
Iowa State finished first in the conference last year. Leibert said that the Cyclones, Colorado and Kansas State looked good this year.
"If we suffer some injuries, we could be in sad shape," Leibert said. "If we stay healthy, well, we will just have to wait and see what happens."
Both Letbert and Steiner said that they are coming into this season in good shape, but neither would say who will run in the top spot for KU.
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