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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2014
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
JAMES HOYT/KANSAN
Redshirt junior quarterback Michael Cummings throws a pass as senior running back Tony Pierson watches for incoming defenders. Cummings passed for 288 yards and completed 20 of 37 attempts in the game against Oklahoma State in Lawrence on Oct.11.
Jayhawks attempt to break road-losing streak
STELLA LIANG
@stelly_liang
There is something surrounding Kansas football (2-4, 0-3 Big 12) that has been missing so far this season. After a coaching change, a quarterback change and an inspired performance on Saturday, optimism has found a way to make it back into the conversation.
The Jayhawks hope they can build upon their recent performance when they travel to Lubbock, Texas, this Saturday against Texas Tech (2-4, 0-3 Big 12).
"I think on the field we've been able to go out and put back-to-back games where we played hard and got more physical this last game," interim coach Clint Bowen said. "I think there is progress going on."
Kansas' road-losing streak has been well documented, with the last victory coming in September 2009. For Bowen, though, the team should only be thinking about what it can do right now.
“It's taking care of whatever is six inches in front of your face and getting that part of it done.” Bowen said. “If you keep doing things right and keep doing them right over and over and over, then usually success follows.”
The Jayhawks might have a golden opportunity as the Red Raiders have been struggling as of late. Texas Tech is one of three teams in the Big 12 without a conference victory; Kansas and Iowa State are the other two.
The signature Red Raider passing offense has not missed a beat. Quarterback Davis Webb is averaging 325.2 passing yards per game and has thrown 19 touchdowns this season, which leads the Big 12.
"Throwing is probably what they do best," Bowen said. "But I think it's the space that they create, the way that they force you to defend the entire field."
If you keep doing things right and keep doing them right over and over and over, then usually success follows."
CLINT BOWEN Interim coach
The Red Raiders' problems start with the defense and the late-game mistakes. Texas Tech ranks last in the league in scoring defense, rushing defense and total defense.
After three games, Texas Tech replaced defensive coordinator Matt Wallerstedt with Mike Smith. Since then, the Red Raiders have tried to change their defense, some players have switched positions, Kansas offensive coordinator John Reagan said
"There's a lot of different things going on there, so they're obviously trying to get speed on the field," Reagan
said. "They've done a decent job. You know they're going to be fundamentally sound." Last week, West Virginia trailed Texas Tech by 14 points in the fourth quarter before coming back to win on a last-second 55-yard field goal.
So in a matchup of last-place teams, Kansas has a shot at winning on the road and earning Bowen's first victory.
Junior quarterback Michael Cummings is officially the starter on the depth chart released on Tuesday. In his first start since the 2012 season, Cummings completed 20 of 37 passes for 288 yards against Oklahoma State. The numbers weren't especially eye-catching for Big 12 quarterback standards, but he moved the offense and completed a few deep balls. With his performance, Bowen said the team named him the offensive player of the game.
"I think the way he played and what he displayed here, he earned the right to be a starter." Bowen said. "Hopefully he truly can take control of that offense."
Cummings was especially praised for his in-game decision-making.
"You have to be decisive," Reagan said. "You have to have knowledge and confidence that allows you to do that. I thought Mike did a great job at quarterback."
Edited by Drew Parks
OPPOSING SIDELINE
Kansas football beat writer Dan Harmsen sits down with Seth Jungman, blog manager for Viva La Matadors
Texas Tech's Davis Webb tries to get past West Virginia's Shaquille Ridick and Shaq Petteway during the game in Lubbock, Texas, on Oct. 11.
DAN HARMSEN
@UDK_Dan
ASSOCIATED PRESS
DAN: Kliff Kingsbury started out 7-0 last season, but lost his last five regular season games. Texas Tech beat Arizona State in the Holiday Bowl to salvage the season, but all in all, after being ranked as high as No. 10, it had to be a disappointing finish. This year, the Red Raiders started 2-0, but have lost the last four. Does Tech still think they've got a future Mike Gundy in Kingsbury or are things getting a little testy for a pretty tradition-rich program like Tech? Is this a must-win game?
SETH: I don't think we are getting testy. The majority of fans are still really comfortable with Kingsbury being the head coach, and people aren't too frustrated. Sometimes with progress you take a dip, and while that's not always fun, sometimes it happens. You look at TCU last year, 4-8, West Virginia was 4-8, Cal was 1-11, so sometimes good coaches, even good ones, can be not so good at winning football games for a particular season. It's just the second year for Kingsbury, so he's got time.
Is it a must-win game? I only consider must-win games when you are going to be eliminated from a series. For example, with your Royals, they need to win to advance.
SETH: The coaches and everyone said it is a non-issue. I heard that he was injured, but I don't know the extent of it. Not to the point where he can't play. I think he really wanted to play in that game as opposed to the coaches wanting to be safe.
I tend to think that Tech should have a good chance at beating Kansas, but it is still kind of in the air at this point.
Some of the fans haven't been as happy with Webb because he has sort of regressed, not progressing forward as much as Tech fans expected him to this season.
DAN: Statistically, Davis Webb is having a solid year as quarterback. For Kansas fans that aren't privy to the ins and outs of Red Raider football, in the OSU game, Webb looked visibly frustrated on the sideline after an apparent injury. What's the status on the sophomore quarterback?
UAN: The running game has been shelved this season, but when Tech does run the ball, they seem to do it well. What should Kansas expect from the Red Raiders on the ground this week?
SETH: More of the same from last week. DeAndre Washington is their best runner and one of the best football players on this team. Last week, he had a 5-yard per carry average. He's really good at finding holes. Tech had an injury at left guard, but that should be beneficial to help bolster the running game having him back.
DAN: Wes Welker, Michael Crabtree, Eric Ward, Jace Amaro. It seems like with every new year, there are at least two Tech receivers that kill the Jayhawks. Who are guys to look out for this year?
SEETH: Inside receivers Bradley Marquez and Jakeem Grant. Marquez can play both inside and outside, and he is very versatile in terms of how he is able to catch the ball. Grant is incredibly quick, only 5-foot-6 and maybe only 160 pounds — really tiny. On the downside, the wide receivers as a whole haven't played up to their abilities. They're really trying to push the gas to get the outside guys to play more consistently.
DAN: I can't imagine Kingsbury is too happy with his defense after allowing 17 points in the final six or so minutes last week. How are things going on that side of the football?
SETH: After firing the defensive coordinator about three weeks ago, it has sort of become topsy-turvy. Mike Smith, the new defensive coordinator, is a former Red Raider. The numbers don't stack up; Tech is still giving up 500 yards or so a
game, but there has been more pressure on the quarterback. It's a process; Tech had to recruit four JUCO defensive linemen to fill the gaps. Unless you are Bill Snyder, you aren't going to have a ton of success going that route. They also have true sophomore and true freshman cornerbacks that have played almost every game this year.
DAN: Texas Tech has found seemingly every way possible to beat the layhawks over the past 10 years. Do you notice that trend, and how do you see this one playing out on Saturday?
SETH: Thinking that Kansas can do itself a huge favor with ball control. Not getting in too big of a hurry and limiting Tech's chances to score. That's their best option because when the defense gets gashed, there isn't much depth behind the starters. If I were Kansas, that's probably what I would do. Texas Tech does seem to just win. Thinking back to the 2012 game, Tech probably shouldn't have won. Kansas has a handful of guys that are difference makers in guys like (senior linebacker Ben) Heeney and (freshman running back Corey) Avery. Avery is just a freshman and extremely talented, and Cummings is getting his career back and going passing the ball, and the Tech corners have not been very adept at stopping the pass. Those are problems. Those big cornerbacks that Kansas has can jam the Tech wide-receivers at the line, too. Kansas could definitely be problematic.
I'll predict a win, not too confident about it. I think the line is at 13 or 14 right now, but I'd have Tech winning by 10 right now.
Edited by Emily Brown
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