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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2012
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FOOTBALL GAMEDAY PREVIEW KANSAS
BLAKE SCHUSTER
bschuster@kansan.com
1-9 (0-7)
STARTING LINEUP
OFFENSE
Last week KU fans saw what can happen when both James Sims and Tony Pierson are in the same backfield and are completely healthy — and suspension free. In case anyone missed it, they rushed for 329 yards and two touchdowns. Not a bad day of work. Any defense preparing for the Kansas passing game might be wasting its time.
Pos. NAME No. Year
QB Michael Cummings 14 Fr.
HB James Sims 29 Jr.
FB Nick Sizemore 45 Jr.
WR Kale Pick 7 Sr.
WR Andrew Turzilli 82 So.
TE Mike Ragone 84 Sr.
RT Aslam Sterling 77 Jr.
RG Randall Dent 64 Jr.
C Trevor Marrongelli 69 Sr.
LG Damon Martin 73 Sr.
LT Tanner Hawkinson 72 Sr.
K Nick Prolago 16 So.
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
DEFENSE
Texas' jaxon Shipley stiff-arms freshman linebacker Ben Heeney to progress down the field during last year's game against Texas at Darrell K Royal - Texas Memorial Stadium. Kansas was shutout 0-43.
Against Iowa State, Kansas will need to be dominant on third down. The Cyclones have converted only 38 percent of their third-down attempts. That's one status quo defensive coordinator Dave Campo would like to keep. If the Jayhawks can show more progress in limiting big plays and stay sound on third downs, it should be a good day for Kansas.
Pos. NAME No. Year
DE Josh Williams 95 Sr.
DT Jordan Tavai 9 Jr.
DT Kevin Young 90 Jr.
RE Toben Opurum 35 Sr.
OLB Jake Love 57 Fr.
MLB Ben Heeney 31 So.
WLB Huldon Tharpe 34 Jr.
CB Tyler Patmon 33 Jr.
CB Greg Brown 5 Sr.
SS Lubbock Smith 1 Sr.
FS Bradley McDougald 24 Sr.
P Ron Doherty 13 Jr.
If it's possible to have any momentum after a crushing double-overtime loss, Kansas does. The production of the run game, the timely field goals and the big defensive stops didn't amount to a win, but the Jayhawks should have a boatload of confidence in their ability to execute.
AT A GLANCE
As Charlie Weis put it, this game is not about the University, the football program or the fans. This is about the seniors who have gone through three coaches, long losing streaks and too many blowouts, but they have taken it all in stride to become focal points for Weis' rebuilding plan. Saturday is about them and a chance to leave Kansas with one more fond memory.
Keeping the run effective week after week has become a crucial part of the Jayhawks offense. Kansas coach Charlie Weis said coming up with new schemes for his backs is one of his favorite things he does to prepare for an opponent. Fans have to wait and see if it works again.
COACHING
Weis
PLAYER TO WATCH
Forget about one player; keep an eye on the entire offensive line this week. Those players have been underappreciated for the majority of the season, and yet their blocking is largely responsible for the Jayhawks' run dominance.
Offensive Line
SPECIAL TEAMS
QUESTION MARKS
It's all about staying solid for Clint Bowen's unit. The Cyclones are averaging 18 yards per kickoff return, nothing daunting, but they still need to be respected. And now that Nick Prolago has hit a few field goals, he might be a more viable option than he was in the past.
Can Kansas keep up the run game?
Fans ask this question every week, because every week it seems more important. Pierson needs to perform at the level he did against Texas Tech for Sims to stay effective. Pierson can do this, but will he?
BABY JAY WILL CHEER IF.
Kansas wins, plain and simple. It's time for the Jayhawks' improvement to show up in the winloss column. Regardless, Baby Jay should go wild as soon as the seniors step onto the field.
BY THE NUMBERS
7 James Sims can extend his Kansas record with a seventh straight hundred-yard game against Iowa State.
19
Kansas can break a streak of 19 straight losses in the Big 12 with a win.
PREDICTION 28
Tanner Hawkinson will make his 47th start for the Jayhawks this Saturday, breaking the Kansas record held by Hessley Hempstead.
47
2:00 PM
F
1