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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1. 2012
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FOOTBALL GAMEDAY PREVIEW KANSAS
BLAKE SCHUSTER
bschuster@kansan.com
1-7 (0-5)
STARTING LINEUP
OFFENSE
For the third straight week Michael Cummings will start as quarterback for the Jayhawks although Dave Crew will remain captain. As far as Big 12 defenses go, Kansas will catch a break in Waco, Texas. Baylor is ranked 120th in total defense in the FBS — a spot occupied by Kansas last season — and has allowed more than 200 rushing yards per conference game. James Sims, anyone?
DEFENSE
ASHLEIGH LEE/KANSAN
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.
Sophomore halfback Tony Pierson crosses into the end zone with ease scoring Kansas' second touchdown during Saturday's game against Texas in Memorial Stadium.
Here's where things get a little tricky. As bad as the Bears' defense has been their offense is just the opposite. Baylor ranks number one in the nation in passing offense and is scoring 44 points per game. Kansas has, for the most part, done well at limiting high-scoring offenses — see TCU, Oklahoma State and Texas — but those games were at home. The good news? Baylor quarterback Nick Florence has thrown 11 interceptions this season.
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.
There is something to be said about outplaying a team you haven't beaten since 1938. Texas now joins Rice, Northern Illinois and Oklahoma State as games that could have — should have — been won, but that very well might boost the Jayhawks' confidence even more. Put it this way. Mack Brown is not happy about that win.
AT A GLANCE
Defense has gone out the window for Baylor. The team is ranked last in the FBS and is allowing 42 points per game. That's not to say that this Bears team is an easy win. Terrance Williams has been deadly at wide out, gaining 1,200 yards and nine touchdowns. Stopping Baylor on offense will dictate the Jayhawks' chances of a victory.
COACHING
Since Baylor is allowing more than 350 passing yards, and Charlie Weis loves the long ball, we could finally see Michael Cummings using his arm strength. Kansas will need to score more than its average of 17 points to win and it's up to Weis to make that happen.
Neis
PLAYER TO WATCH
Since returning from a three-game suspension, James Sims has rushed for more than 100 yards five times. The one game he didn't reach that mark, Sims scored two touchdowns. Weis has called him the best back in the Big 12 and plenty of others are jumping on that bandwagon.
Sims
SPECIAL TEAMS
After allowing both a kickoff and punt return touchdown against Oklahoma, coach Charlie Weis said it was "all hands on deck" for special teams. Against Texas, the longest return went for 14 yards, a significant improvement. There's no question special teams is Kansas' biggest cause for concern and that will likely be the case until a permanent kicker is found.
QUESTION MARKS
Aside from Northern Illinois, the Kansas defense has not been at its best on the road. Can the Jayhawks put together more defensive pressure on Baylor than they did to Oklahoma and Kansas State?
Baylor quarterback Nick Florence has been ripe with bad passes. Will Kansas be able to snag a few?
Can the passing game finally produce?
Michael Cumming's arm will be needed more against the Bears than the Long-horns, but is he up to the task?
BABY JAY WILL CHEER IF
Kansas wins. Robert Griffin III credited Baylor's 31-30 overtime win in Lawrence as the signature moment of his Heisman campaign. Payback in Waco and the Jayhawks' first conference win in 18 tries would start the program's redemption. No more moral victories for this team; they are too close to victory for that.
BY THE NUMBERS
Number of touchdowns scored by Kansas wide receivers
112 Kansas overall ranking in passing
Quarterbacks used by Kansas this season (including Blake Jablonski and Christian Matthews)
TYLER ROSTE/KANSAN
4
TYLER ROSTE/KANSAN
Running back James Sims
sprints downfield. Sims ran
for 178 yards in Saturday's
loss against Texas.
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PREDICTION 28
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