THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN S sports
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Thursday, September 29, 2011
8
DEFENSIVE TACKLE RETURNS
COMMENTARY
Patrick Dorsey expected to play Saturday PAGE 6
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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
PAGE 12
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011
STARTING LINEUP
OFFENSE
The Kansas offense has been the most successful aspect of the team so far this season. They're averaging 447.7 yards per game and 37 points per game. They'll be going up against a Texas Tech defense that ranks 9th in total yards allowed out of 10 Big 12 teams. Their rushing attack was slowed against Georgia tech, but its still been successful throughout the course of the season. They are averaging 4.5 yards per carry and 235 yards rushing per game. Sophomore quarterback Jordan Webb has the fifth best quarterback rating in the country and has gone through the first three games this season without throwing an interception.
Webb
| 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
The defense will have its hands full against a Texas Tech offense that averages 48 points per game. The Kansas secondary has struggled to stop the pass all season, allowing its opponents to complete 76% of their passes. While the numbers don't bode well for the Kansas defense, they are coming off a bye week where they were able to prepare for Texas Tech and return to health. Their senior defensive tackle Pat Dorsey, who has recovered from a broken foot, will return to the action this week for the first time all season. Dorsey will go a long way to helping the defensive line pick up its play. It will be a make or break week for a Kansas defense that is out to prove its doubters wrong.
Pos. NAME No. Year
DE Pat Lewandowski 91 RFr.
DT Kevin Young 90 So.
DE Keba Agostinho 96 So.
OLB Toben Opurum 35 Jr.
MLB Steven Johnson 52 Sr.
MLB Darius Willis 2 So.
OLD Tunde Bakare 17 Jr.
CB Isiah Barfield 19 Sr.
CB Greg Brown 5 Jr.
FS Keeston Terry 9 RFr.
SS Bradley McDougald 24 Jr.
P Ron Doherty 13 So.
BY THE NUMBERS
The percent in which they Jayhawks have scored in the red zone. Kansas has come away with points from within the 20 yard line 13 times in 13 attempts.
AT A GLANCE
The number of Jayhawks from Texas
PLAYER TO WATCH
The Jayhawks enter conference play with a 2-1 record and an opportunity to exceed preseason expectations. They are coming off a bye week where they were able to move past the Georgia Tech loss and re-focus their thoughts on Texas Tech. Defensive coordinator Vic Shealy said the defense, which has been suspect at times, used the bye week to correct their fundamentals and technique. The defense is going to have to be on top of their game against an electric Texas Tech offense this week.
Junior defensive end Toben Opurum: Shealy said one of the keys to stopping the Red Raiders offense is to get pressure on their quarterback, junior Seth Doege
the player who has the best chance to get in the backfield and disrupt Doege is Opurum. Opurum is second on the team in tackles this season and is first in tackles for losses. The former running back has the athletic ability to beat opposing- offensive lineman, and he needs to when he takes the field Saturday, if Kansas wants a chance to win the game.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Junior kick returner and wide receiver D.J. Beshears returned six kickoffs in the Georgia Tech game for 104 yards. It was his first quiet game returning kicks, as his longest return of the day was for 21 yards. The kickoff
Beshears
coverage has been on top of their game all season, holding opponents to an average of 20.3 yards so far this season. Sophomore punter Ron Doherty, though rarely used, has been pinning opponents deep all season, averaging 47.8 yards per his 10 punts.
38 100
COACHING
Gill
The non-conference portion of the Jayahwks' season went better than most expected for coach Turner Gill and offensive coordinator Chuck Long. The 2-1 start already surpasses the one win season that Sports Illustrated had predicted. The offense has shown major strides of improvement, as the team has scored over 40 points twice. On the defensive side of the ball, defensive coordinator Vic Shealy's players have not shown the same signs of improvement as the offense. The defense has been dismantled by not only Georgia Tech, but by Northern Illinois and McNeese State as well. Shealy will be tested against a Texas Tech school that will pounce on any defense that is not prepared from the start.
MIKE VERNON
mvernon@kansan.com
MOMENTUM
The bye week helped Kansas in a big way. They've had time to recover and move on from the Georgia Tech game. They get a new start with conference play and the team feels confident and ready to show that Georgia Tech was a fluke.
PRED 49-3
QUESTION MARKS
BABY JAY WILL CHEER IF ...
e really that bad?
The Kansas defense ranks last in the NCAA by allowing an average of 550 yards per game. The Georgia Tech game inflated those numbers after running for over 600 yards and gaining over 700 total yards. The defense gets a chance to show that the Georgia Tech game was a fluke, because of their triple-option offense. The secondary has been suspect all season, and with Texas tech's pass happy ways, they'll be put to the test Saturday. After the game Saturday, a lot of questions about the defense will be answered.
If the defense has corrected some of its fatal flaws. The offense will have opportunities to score and should put some points on the scoreboard. It's up to the defense to slow the Texas Tech attack down and give the offense a chance to win them the game. If the defense can get pressure on Doege, it will go a long way to helping the defense keep the Red Raiders out of the end zone.
Clearinghouse has had ample time to dig around and make a ruling. I'm not arguing for the eligibility or non-eligibility of the remaining two players.
I'll arrange it in a running.
In the weeks leading up to tax day on April 1, places like H&R Bblock hire hundreds of part-time employees to lighten the heavy load pushed upon them in tax season. It makes sense. I'm no math major, but the number of incoming freshmen this time of year — in every sport, not just football and basketball — is a pretty significant number. And if I'm not mistaken, most high schools graduate around the same time of the year. Why not hire a truckload of extra help in the summer so guys like Justin Hunter and the Kansas duo can get an answer before they turn 30?
I'm arguing for a ruling.
Maybe H&R Block can show the Clearinghouse how to handle a rush. They deal with the IRS; it can't be much worse.
remaining on the game clock and the game on the line. On third and six from their own 30-yard line, Texas Tech stunned everyone — including the Kansas defense — by running a draw play to their running back Taurean Henderson.
Henderson ran up the middle and didn't stop until he reached the end zone for a 70-yard go-ahead touchdown run. Texas Tech took a 31-30 lead with which they would eventually win.
Edited by Jonathan Shorman
The loss was an epic collapse and an embarrassment to the program. The Jayhawks have not been able to shake the loss against Texas Tech, as they've gone on to lose four consecutive games to the Red Raiders.
The losses haven't been ordinary, either. Kansas has allowed 30 points or more in
back to get him out of the rhythm."
VIC SHEALY
Defensive coordinator
pact on this ball game" Gill said. "We're looking at their team and what they're doing in 2011 and we're looking at what we're doing here in 2011."
What's happened thus far in 2011 does not bode well for the Jayhawks.
Texas Tech's offensive numbers, but not quite what they used to be, are still very daunting, as the Red Raiders average 523.3 yards of offense per game.
Kansas defensive coordinator Vic Shealy said that, although he doesn't have the same running capabilities, Red Raiders' quarterback junior
Y Y
So when the Jayhawks take the field Saturday against Texas Tech, the odds will be against them to break the four-game losing skid. To overcome those odds, they'll have to have a defensive game plan that has not yet been seen in the previous matchups against the Red Raiders.
to be ominous when taking a glance at what the Kansas defense has done in 2011, ranking last in the nation by allowing an average of 550 yards per game.
Edited by Jennifer DiDonato
"You've got to be able to pressure the quarterback to get him out of rhythm," Shealy said. "In three ball games, they've had 21 passes for over 20 yards. You've got to limit that big play, and no one's done it. Hopefully we can do it."
T
CHRIS BRONSON/KANSAN FILE PHOTO
CHRIS BRUSSUN/KANSAS FILE PHOTO
Facing a threatening offense, Kansas will need a new defensive strategy to beat Texas Tech.
The Jayhawks have lost the last four games against the Red Raiders.