PAGE 68
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4; 2012
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FOOTBALL GAMEDAY PREVIEW KANSAS
BLAKE SCHUSTER
bschuster@kansan.com
OFFENSE
1-3 (0-1)
After an injury scare with running back Taylor Cox during Kansas' loss to Northern Illinois, Charlie Weis is reporting that all players are healthy and ready to go for Saturday. Cox was held out of the NIU game after getting hit in the first quarter. The Jayhawks well get a second opportunity to see what a healthy and full back-field can produce for them.
Pos. NAME No. Year
QB Dayne Crist 10 Sr.
HB Tony Pierson 3 So.
FB Trent Smiley 85 So.
WR Kale Pick 7 Sr.
WR Andrew Turzilli 82 So.
TE Mike Ragone 84 Sr.
RT Gavin Howard 70 Jr.
RG Randall Dent 64 Jr.
C Trevor Marrongelli 69 Sr.
LG Duane Zlatnik 67 Sr.
LT Tanner Hawkinson 72 Sr.
K Ron Doherty 13 Jr.
CHELSEY BOUATAN/KANSAN
DEFENSE
The Jayhawks defense has improved from allowing 43.75 points per game last year to give up 23 points per game this season. But that improvement may begin to vanish this week, Kansas State's offense is averaging 432 yards this season. That doesn't bode well for a Kansas team that allowed 403 yards against Rice.
Pos. NAME No. Year
DE Josh Williams 95 Sr.
DT Jordan Tavai 9 Jr.
DT Kevin Young 90 Jr.
RE Toben Opurum 35 Sr.
SLB Tunde Bakare 17 Sr.
MLB Ben Heeney 31 So.
WLB Huldon Tharpe 34 Jr.
CB Tyler Patmon 33 Jr.
CB Greg Brown 5 Sr.
SS Dexter Linton 23 Jr.
FS Bradley McDougald 24 Sr.
P Ron Doherty 13 Sr.
STARTING LINEUP
The Jayhawks continually get closer to gaining momentum, but then have to play the fourth quarter. Add Northern Illinois to the list of games Kansas should have won. The Jayhawks' inability to close out games has cost them two wins this season and is hurting any chance of changing their status quo.
AT A GLANCE
With Missouri no longer a regular on the Jayhawks' schedule, Kansas State becomes the premier game for Kansas. The Wildcats have toed with their I-70 neighbors recently, scoring 59 points in each of their last two meetings. Charlie Weis has stressed the importance of this game to his players over the last two weeks — including a history lesson on the series — and is looking to make the hype around this game as big as when Kansas played Missouri.
COACHING
Charlie Weis flat out said that Bill Snyder is a better coach than he, so we can rule out any decisive schematic advantage there. What Weis does have, however, is a few new plays that he has worked into the arsenal for this week. Weis said Kansas State has a very specific game plan — he compared them to Navy, Air Force and Army — and that you have to prepare strictly for it. Saturday we'll find out if Weis is ready.
Weis
PLAYER TO WATCH
Christian Matthews found his way into the NIU game and showed off his proficiency on the ground. The wide receiver recorded 43 yards on five carries while running the wildcat offense for Kansas. Weis hasn't said he'll use the wildcat formation against Kansas State, but after the success against the Huskies there aren't many reasons not to run it again.
Matthews
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Jayhawks are entering their fifth game of the season and have yet to find any upgrade on kickoffs. Kansas has recorded only one touchback on kickoffs this year, while on the other side of the ball is averaging 17 yards per return. Not only is Kansas allowing good field position, it's struggling to find any.
ASHLEIGH LEE/KANSAN
QUESTION MARKS
Kansas was able to use the wildcat formation effectively against Northern Illinois, how much of it will Weis use this weekend?
Speaking of quarterbacks, how will the defense slow down Collin Klein?
And if Weis does return to Christian Matthews as the signal caller, will Weis allow him to throw? Matthews completed a three-yard pass against the Huskies, yet the wide receiver was originally recruited as a quarterback.
The senior has already gained 100 yards by using the ground and air this season, and he played a major role in taking down Oklahoma on the road.
Will the Jayhawks be able to contain him?
BABY JAY WILL CHEER IF
Kansas doesn't get blown out. The last two meetings have been abysmal for the Jayhawks. Charlie Weis said it himself, the Wildcats are succeeding with all of the same resources that Kansas has. Jayhawk fans are beyond tired of the embarrassing losses to their in-state rival.
BY THE NUMBERS
1910 last year the Wildcats and Jayhawks did not meet in football
.800 Kansas State head coach Billy Snyder winning percentage against Kansas
26
Amount of games Kansas leads Kansas State in the football series
KEEPING THE HAWKS ROLLING SINCE 1974
TRAVIS YOUNG/KANSAN
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TRAVIS YOUNG/KANSAN
PREDICTION 13-
CHELSEY BOUATAN/KANSAN
— Edited by Stéphane Roque