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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FRIDAY,OCTOBER 7,2011
KANSAS
2-2
FOOTBALL GAMEDAY PRESENTED BY PREVIEW WAVE
ETHAN PADWAY
epadway@kansan.com
STARTING LINEUP
MIKE VERNON
mvernon@kansan.com
OFFENSE
PREDICTION 55-24, OSU
Pos. NAME No. Year
DE Toben Opurum 35 Jr.
DT John Williams 71 Jr.
DT Kevin Young 90 So.
RE Keba Agostinho 96 So.
OLB Steven Johnson 52 Sr.
MLB Darius Willis 2 So.
OLB Tunde Bakare 17 Jr.
CB Isiah Bartfield 19 Sr.
CB Greg Brown 5 Jr.
FS Keeston Terry 9 RFr.
SS Bradley McDougald 24 Jr.
P Ron Doherty 13 So.
The defense showed signs of improvement for the first time all season against Texas Tech. They limited an explosive Red Raiders offense to only seven first quarter points, as the defensive line put on the pressure, and the secondary flew to the ball. Things then returned to business as usual for a defense ranking 119th in the country. Texas Tech scored 38 points in the next three quarters, keeping this season's question marks with the Kansas defense. They'll have to pressure senior quarterback Brandon Weeden, which is the only way to disrupt an offense that has yet to be slowed all season.
The Jayhawks' offense looked like one of the best in the country for one quarter last Saturday. Kansas exploded to a 20-0 start over Texas Tech, but scoring only 14 points the rest of the game. The Jayhawks' offense ranks 26th in the country, averaging 455.25 yards per game. Kansas brings four different running backs to the action, each of whom have had their chances to shine this season. Freshman Brandon Bourbon got his turn against Texas Tech, running for 101 yards on 10 carries. The Jayhawks will be running a whole lot Saturday, to keep the Cowboys' offense off the field.
BY THE NUMBERS
Pos. NAME No. Year
QB Jordan Webb 2 So.
HB James Sims 29 So.
FB Nick Sizemore 45 So.
WR Kale Pick 7 Jr.
WR D.J. Beshears 20 Jr.
TE Tim Biere 86 Sr.
RT Tanner Hawkinson 72 Jr.
RG Duane Ziatnik 67 Jr.
C Jeremiah Hatch 77 Sr.
LG Trevor Marrongelli 69 Jr.
LT Jeff Spikes 74 Sr.
K Alex Mueller 10 Fr.
DEFENSE
10
13
The number of consecutive road games Kansas has lost
The number of Kansas players who have caught a pass so far this season.
AT A GLANCE
After missing out on an invaluable opportunity to start conference play 1-0 and improve into the season 3-1, Kansas enters the teeth of its Big 12 schedule. The offense has continued to perform well, while the defense will be put to the ultimate test in taking on the nations third best offense, No. 6 Oklahoma State.
MOMENTUM
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Jayhawks' special teams had a bad day against Texas Tech, Junior receiver and returner D.J. Beeshares suffered from a case of fumble-itis, as he botched both a kick and punt return. Freshman kicker Alex Mueller had a PAT blocked by the Red Raiders, and sophomore punter Ron DoHerty had three punts for 113 yards, good for an average of 37.6 yards per punt. They'll have to pick it up against Oklahoma State this week if they want any chance to come back to Lawrence victorious.
There is none. Kansas let two consecutive games slip away in the second half. If that isn't demoralizing for a football team, not much else is. The Jayhawks are entering the toughest portion of their schedule as they follow Oklahoma State with No. 3 Oklahoma.
COACHING
Gill
While the team showed signs of progress against Texas Tech, it could not put together a strong four quarters. Kane-
halftime and was outscored 21-0, a sign of poor halftime coaching adjustments. Gill and the staff has reviewed their halftime routine and he says things will be different this week. Saturday show whether or not the coaches have corrected their fatal third quarter flaws.
Coach Turner Gill said Terry has been the most improved defensive player so far this season. With the light resting sleep
on the Jayhawks' secondary this week. Terry's performance can go a long way in slowing down the Cowboys' pass attack. Terry had the defense's first interception of the season against Texas Tech. Turnovers will be huge in Saturday's game and Terry could make the big plays for the Jayhawks' secondary.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Freshman safety Keeston Terry:
Terry
QUESTION MARKS punts will the defense force?
The Kansas defense may very well take a pounding against the Oklahoma State offense this week. The question is not whether Kansas can contain Oklahoma State throughout the game, but whether it will be able to force any punts from the Cowboys. Don't expect too many as the Cowboys put up 48 points in Lawrence last year and, with the defense performing worse this year than last, it could be a long day on the sidelines for the punt coverage unit.
BABY JAY WILL CHEER IF
The defense somehow forces pressure throughout the game on Weeden. If they can do that, there is a chance that the defense will force some turnovers, something they haven't been able to do all season. This will put their dangerous offense in good field position all game. Kansas will have to win the turnover battle in a big way if it wants any chance to win this weekend.
STARTING LINEUP
OFFENSE
Oklahoma State's offense is one of the most explosive in the nation. It is ranked third in total offense and sixth in scoring, averaging 46.75 points per game. While all the attention is poured onto the passing game, the running game has put up solid numbers too, led by Wichita-native Joseph Randle.
| Pos. | NAME | No. | Year |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| LT | Levy Adcock | 73 | Sr. |
| LG | Nick Martinez | 75 | Sr. |
| C | Grant Garner | 74 | Sr. |
| RG | Lane Taylor | 68 | Jr. |
| RT | Parker Graham | 71 | So. |
| QB | Brandon Weeden | 3 | Sr. |
| RB | Joseph Randle | 1 | So. |
| FB | Kyle Staley | 9 | Jr. |
| TE | Wilson Youman | 86 | Sr. |
| WR | Justin Blackmon | 81 | Jr. |
| WR | Josh Cooper | 25 | Sr. |
| WR | Hubert Anyiam | 84 | Sr. |
| WR | Tracy Moore | 87 | Jr. |
| K | Quinn Sharp | 13 | Jr. |
Pos.
DE
DT
DT
DE
OLB
MLB
CB
CB
FS
SB
CB
P
DEFENSE
If there is an Achilles' heel on the Cowboys, it is their defense. They rank 104th in yards allowed and 76th in scoring, but some of those numbers are deceptive, as they allowed second half touchdowns against Louisiana-Lafayette and Tulsa.
NAME No. Year
Richettjones 99 Sr.
Anthony Rogers 94 So.
Nigel Nicholas 89 Jr.
Jamie Blatnick 50 Sr.
Shaun Lewis 11 So.
Caleb Lavey 45 So.
Alex Elkins 37 Jr.
Brodrick Brown 19 Jr.
Markelle Martin 10 Sr.
Daytawion Lowe 8 So.
Justin Gilbert 4 So.
Quinn Sharp 13 Jr.
17 1
Halftime deficit Oklahoma State overcame against Texas A&M.
BY THE NUMBERS
COACHING
Gundy
Number of times Oklahoma State has lost to Kansas since entering the Big 12 in 1995. The only Kansas victory came in 2007 when the Jayhawks won 43-28 in Stillwater.
Mike Gundy is in his seventh season at the helm of his alma mater. He holds a 51-29 record. Last year marked the first time the powbys finished in
a tie for the Big 12 South division under Gundy. He gained national attention for his 2007 post game rant defending his players saying the media should attack him instead because, as he said "I'm a man, I'm 40."
SPECIAL TEAMS
Sharp
Punter/Kicker Quinn Sharp is in his first season holding both punting and kicking duties. He previously had only handled punting duties. The results have been successful so far as, Sharp has made nine of 10 field goal attempts with his only miss coming from more than 40 yards out.
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BABY JAY WILL WEEP IF .
PLAYER TO WATCH
Oklahoma State is riding high after defeating Texas A&M on the road. The victory gives it an early leg up in the Conference title race, as it was the first to dispatch a Top 10 team.
AT A GLANCE
Weeden
The Kansas offense turns the ball over like it did last week. If it repeats that performance, the Cowboys will put the pedal to the floor and the game will be over before it even begins.
After coming from behind to defeat Texas A&M in College Station, Texas, two weeks ago, Oklahoma State thrust itself to the front of the Big 12 championship picture. The Cowboys are powered by their offense, led by Quarterback Brandon Weeden and Receiver Justin Blackmon. The Cowboys will be looking to hang a high number on a reeling Jayhawk defense.
MOMENTUM
Cowboy Quarterback Brandon Weeden: Weeden is averaging 398 passing yards per game and he will be sure to put on a performance against
the Jayhawks. Weeden has thrown for at least one touchdown in every game he has started in his career at Oklahoma State.
QUESTION MARKS
boys put the game away early?
Last season the Jahayhw jumped out to a 14-10 lead over the Cowbys before Oklahoma State scored 38 unanswered points. If the Cowbys jump out to an early lead, the game could be over before the first quarter ends, allowing the Cowbys to begin their preparation for their trip down to Austin the next week.
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