6A SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FOOTBALL
FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2009
New defensive players must rely on returners' leadership
BY JAYSON JENKS
ijenks@kansan.com
Yesterday we looked at the offensive positions for the year ahead. Today, The Kansan breaks down what to expect from each defensive position for the upcoming season.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Junior defensive tackle Jamal Greene makes a tackle during the Insight Bowl during the 2008 football season. Greene's experience and size will be assets to the Jayhawks in the upcoming season.
Kansas' defensive line this year features all the qualities that usually translate on success on Saturday's size (304-pound Jamal Greene), athleticism (Quintin Woods) and experience (Caleb Blakesley started 11 games in 2008).
Crippled by the lack of a true pass rusher, the Jayhawks failed to develop consistent and timely pressure on opposing quarterbacks, especially against Texas Tech and Oklahoma.
None of those same traits, however measured up last season.
The situation somewhat improved on third down when coach Mark Mangino allowed linebacker James Holt (10 sacks) to rush the quarterback late in the season. But Holt is gone, and with him the majority of Kansas' sacks from last season.
The layhawks are anchored at defensive tackle this season by senior Caleb Blakesley, a gritty player who started 11 games last year but produced just 14 tackles for a loss. That lack of disruptive production is one that haunted the defensive line as a whole a year ago.
And it's something Kansas must improve upon to win the Big 12 North.
Junior Jake Laptad returns as Kansas' leader in sacks with seven and should be paired with
either senior Maxwell Onygebule or junior college transfer Quintin Woods. After originally committing to Michigan out of high school, Woods enters as one of the most highly touted players in Mangino's recruiting class.
But if history serves as any indication, the success of junior college transfers is grossly unpredictable.
Sophomore Richard Johnson Jr. was productive before being sidelined eight games into his freshman year because of injury. He could very well be the surprise on the line this season.
Teammates gushed over Greene's athletic potential last season while Woods begins his time at Kansas with hype attached his name. The performances and steadiness of the line will determine the success of Kansas' defense.
Kansan's outlook: The line seems to be split into two categories: the consistent producers, such as Laptad and Blakesley, who turn in reliable, yet less flashy performances. And, in the other grouping, there are players ripe with potential.
LINEBACKERS
Herein lies the biggest mystery surrounding the Kansas defense. Gone are the steady presences of three-year starters Mike Rivera, James Holt and Joe Mortensen. Enter a cast of inexperienced replacements.
Arist Wright, who has made six starts and 77 tackles in three seasons, leads the newcomers in experience. Other than that, not much else is proven in the unit.
Angus Quigley from running back to linebacker. As a running back, Quigley displayed the toughness and pop required to play linebacker (remember the Texas game?)
The most talked about development is the conversion of senior
But Quigley appeared to wander during the spring games and Mangino said he hasn't developed as quickly as the coaching staff had hoped.
The name to remember here is Huldon Tharp, a true freshman from Mulvane, who Mangino said was close to earning a starting spot.
Perhaps the most noteworthy move aiding this unit is Manginos decision to play five defensive backs and two linebackers. The secondary serves as an experienced strength and the new scheme will allow the Jayhawks to more effectively defend spread offenses.
Kansan's outlook. More than any position, the linebacker spot is filled with unknowns. Tharp is close to locking down a starting spot. But the question is: If Tharp does that, who will line up next to him?
Drew Dudley drew praise from Mangino during Kansas' media day. Look for Quigley, Wright, Vernon Brooks and Justin Springer to also offer serious competition.
Still, on paper and simply put,
this is the unit with the most holes.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
anchor a unit loaded with experience. Junior Phillip Strozier started the final six games last year at safety and had two interceptions.
Early last season, coach Mark Mangino shuffled his defensive back alignment like a deck of cards. But even before the dust settled and the positions became occupied full-time, the ace of the group was senior safety Darrell Stuckey.
Stuckey, an All-Big 12 First Team selection last season, returns to
Sophomore Daymond Patterson opened last season at wide receiver before sliding into the cornerback spot similar to Charles Gordon in 2003. He will start at one of the cornerbacks spots again this year.
Justin Thornton started the final 5 games at cornerback after starting the first 7 at safety opposite Stuckey. Thornton, who didn't play in the Insight Bowl for disciplinary reasons, opened fall practices on the second-team defense and has since been moved back to safety.
Playing opposite Patterson on the first team is sophomore Anthony Davis. Teammates said Davis is an excellent athlete who has developed a solid grasp of the defense this season.
And then there's junior Chris Harris, who should start at the nickel back position. Harris earned Freshman All-American honors two years ago, then made seven starts last season before being replaced by Patterson.
At 6 feet 3 inches tall, junior college transfer Calvin Rubles could also see playing time in the new scheme.
Kansan's outlook: Easily the most experienced unit, the secondary will ease the strains of playing against the Big 12's notorious pass-heavy spread offenses.
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Stuckey is a natural playmaker and leader while Patterson developed into a solid cornerback late in the year. The other spots are filled by capable and proven starters and the unit possesses quality depth.
But a successful secondary can only hold its assignments for so long, and that's where a pass rush is much needed.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Jacob Branstetter returns to anchor Kansas' kicking game after connecting on nine of 12 field goals in 2008. The problem, though, is that he wasn't effective from longer distances: His longest-made field goal was a 34-varder.
A year of strength training should help Branstetter's range as it did for Scott Webb early in his career.
Alonso Rojas developed into a solid situational punter after switching to a rugby punting style late in the season. He pinned 15 punts inside opponents' 20-ward lines.
The return games were more skeptical. Departed senior Marcus Herford struggled so heavily on
kickoff returns that Mangino inserted Briscoe into the role late in the season. The option to use Briscoe again could be tempting.
Patterson sparkled early as a punt returner but was replaced near the end of the year because he struggled catching punts. He's a gifted playmaker but Mangino has never tolerated turnovers on special teams.
Mangino said freshman Bradley McDougall will see time on special teams this season.
Kansan's outlook: Special teams should be an area of consistency for Kansas this season. Mangino's continued ability to recruit more talented athletes creates a trickledown effect that should help improve special teams' play.
— Edited by Abbey Strusz
SECONDARY (CONTINUED FROM 10A)
or two years ago or five years ago.
The changes are more for the players — for the players to adapt
— than it is a wholesale change of the system."
Players reasserted Mangino's sentiment. Senior Justin Thornton said the changes were made for matchup purposes and that they were "nothing too big."
Regardless, the secondary will feature a heavy rotation of at least five defensive backs this season. Leading the secondary is senior safety Darrell Stuckey, an All-Big 12 first team selection last season.
Stuckey will be joined at safety by junior Phillip Strozier, who started the final six games of the season last year. Patterson has a lock on
one of the cornerback positions, while sophomore Anthony Davis is listed at the top of the depth chart at the other spot.
Davis played sparingly last season but teammates raved over his athletic ability and conceptual improvement this season.
to learn the plays and gain confidence," Stuckey said. "He proved that he could play at a high level and that he could execute the defense."
Harris said, "AD's always been very talented and one of the quickest players on the team. He's just bringing it all together."
"it's one of those things where he was a great athlete but he needed
Still, the secondary has to face
the pass-heavy offenses of the Big 12 - something the layhawks struggled with last season.
Kansas ranked 10th in the Big 12 in pass defense last year, surrendering 273.6 yards per game. But players insist this unit is better equipped for success in the Big 12.
"We can affect the quarterback more instead of having three linebackers on the field." Harris said. "We weren't affecting the quarterback at all really. And since everyone in our conference has a spread offense, we'll be able to stop the pass better with more defensive backs out there."
— Edited by Megan Morriss
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