THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2009
SPORTS
9B
FOOTBALL
Ryan Waggoner/KANSAN
Sophomore cornerback Ryan Murphy forces an incompletion during the first half. Kansas takes on Texas Tech Saturday. The Red Raiders lead the nation in passing yards and touchdowns on the season.
Secondary must improve
Young defenders prepare for big test against Red Raiders
BY JAYSON JENKS
jjenks@kansan.com
In a morning meeting between two ranked teams — an expected showdown featuring two talented and explosive offenses — Kansas' game against Texas Tech last season followed that high-scoring victory.
script. At least early on.
The Jayhawks and Red Raiders each posted 14 points in the first quarter and the day's shootout seemed fully underway. Instead, Texas Tech scored
"We didn't rush them or cover them. It was a double-edged sword of negativity."
the next seven touchdowns, dismantling Kansas 63-21 for all to see.
It's a lesson — an embarrassment really — that both Kansas' players and coaches certainly remember.
CLINT BOWEN Defensive coordinator
"We had a lot of problems last year with them," defensive coordinator Clint Bowen said. "We didn't rush them or cover them. It was a double-edged sword of negativity."
More than any game to this point in the season, Texas Tech presents the ultimate challenge for Kansas' rather inexperienced secondary that features two freshmen starters.
The Red Raiders have played three quarterbacks this season, a problem coach Mike Leach has rarely had to deal with. But Texas Tech's production has hardly dipped.
Leach's high-powered attack still ranks first nationally in passing yards, second in passes attempted and first in touchdown passes.
“It's a quick-strike offense. In one play, points can be up on the board,” sophomore cornerback Daymond Patterson said. “We found that out last year.”
Yet the Jayhawks enter this season with fresh faces dotting the secondary: Freshman safety Lubbock Smith and cornerback D.J. Beshears started last week against Oklahoma while also playing heavily against Colorado
two weeks ago.
Patterson and some of the more seasoned Jayhawks attempted to verbalize the experience of defending Texas Tech's offense to some of the younger players this week.
The message was rather simple. Every
team in the Big 12 throws the ball at a high frequency. Texas Tech throws it even more than most.
"We just said on first down you're
going to see a lot more passes than you usually do" Patterson said.
Much of the conversation surrounding Kansas' football team the past two weeks has revolved around the changes in
the secondary. And rightfully so, as coach Mark Mangino and his staff decided to insert new starters midseason for the second consecutive year.
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Jenks at twitter.
com/jaysonjenks
But the switches also reveal an underlying problem that has plagued Kansas since Aqib Talib
The Jayhawks simply don't possess a natural playmaker at the cornerback position.
turned his sights on the NFL after the 2007 season.
"In the past we had Aqib Talib who could mess everything up and return it 100 yards for a touchdown," Bowen said. "We don't have that right now."
"We just said on first down you're going to see a lot more passes than you usually do."
DAYMOND PATTERSON Sophomore cornerback
When facing a team with a historically explosive offense, though, a popular question usually surfaces: Can a defense actually stop Texas Tech or are the Red Raiders a lock to amass large numbers in the passing game?
At least outwardly, the Jayhawks ripped that idea to pieces.
"I don't believe that they deserve to get their yards because they're Texas Tech and they've got that system," Bowen said. "I ain't buying into that. We've got to stop them. We can't give up yards."
Still, Kansas secondary will be
faced with the Big 12 most daunting test.
Texas Tech has built a reputation as a team that generally picks defenses apart with a relentless pass attack. Certainly, after last season's debacle, the Jayhawks fully understand that
"We will be tested this week," Mangino said. "This will be a good test for our defense on how to play the ball and how to compete one-on-one with guys."
Edited by Tjm Burgess
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Houston offense shows it can run
ASSOCIATED PRESS
HOUSTON - Houston is a pass-heavy team. That isn't going to change.
It's a performance coach Kevin Sumlin said creates a complete offense. It could make the nation's most potent attack even better heading into this weekend's game against Southern Mississippi.
But when SMU slowed the Cougars' passing attack this weekend, Houston ran for a season-high 161 yards and scored three touchdowns in the victory.
Beall is Houston's leading rusher with 505 yards. But the Cougars like to use two running backs, and Charles Sims was Saturday's star, rushing for a career-high 105 yards and two scores.
"It just makes us that much harder to stop," running back Bryce Beall said. "Teams just can't sit back in coverage if they're worried about the run and the pass."
Beall has learned a lot in his second year with the Cougars. His high school team ran the ball "almost every play," so he had to adjust to Houston's wide open
Houston (6-1, 2-1 Conference USA) is in a four-way tie for the lead in the conference's West division. Southern Mississippi (5-3, 3-1) is tied with Marshall and East Carolina for the East division lead.
Saturday was the first time all season the Cougars ran more times than they threw and Case Keenum finished with a season-low 233 yards passing after entering the game averaging 417.
"When people take away the pass, we've got to be able to run the ball," he said. "They did a great job of doing that, especially this Saturday. It just shows another side of our offense. If we need to run the ball we can and we can be successful do it."
The Cougars' improved running game will be tested against a Golden Eagles defense that held Tulane to 54 yards rushing last week and is 4-0 when holding teams under 100 yards.
offense. He said playing for the Cougars has improved his catching and blocking skills, making him a complete running back.
Sumlin said the increased production from his running backs is due in part to the work of second year offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen.
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