6C
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2004
Colorado should give Kansas a rocky game
BY JONATHAN KEALING
jkealing@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTWEEK
Overall
Kansas comes into this weekend's game against Colorado missing many of its critical pieces on offense. Sophomore quarterback Adam Barmann is likely out for the remainder of the season, and junior Jason Swanson will start in his place against Colorado. Sophomore running back John Randle and junior Clark Green are both nursing injuries, but both expect to play. These injuries could not come at a worse time, as the Kansas offense has been struggling lately.
The Jayhawks not only need to win this contest, but they need to win the remaining three games to be bowl eligible. The Buffaloes come in at 4-3 and still have hopes for a Big 12 North title. They are led by their junior quarterback Joel Klatt, who has passed for more than 1,300 yards in six games this season. However, like Kansas, Colorado is also missing a key offensive component in senior tailback Bobby Purify. Purify is questionable for this week's game with a shoulder injury.
Both teams need to win this game, but with Kansas' question marks on offense, expect Colorado to prevail.
Edue: Colorado
Defensive Line
Both teams have been successful in getting pressure on the quarterback this season, as Kansas has 16 sacks, while Colorado has 19. The Buffaloes
are led by sophomore defensive end Alex Ligon, who has 4.5 sacks this year and has also forced two fumbles. The Kansas defensive line is led by senior defensive end David McMillan, who has four sacks on the year.
The difference between these two defensive lines is in stopping the run. Colorado ranks last in the conference in rushing defense, allowing more than 188 yards per contest. Kansas is currently third in the conference in the category, giving up about 112 yards per game. Kansas has been dominant in stopping the run. Look for that to continue this week with Colorado possibly missing its leading rusher.
Edge: Kansas
Offensive Line
Colorado's offensive line has done a good job of protecting its quarterback, allowing just nine sacks this season. This has allowed Klatt to be successful throwing the football, and the team is averaging 227.7 passing yards per game.
Kansas has not been as strong stopping the pass rush, giving up 16 sacks so far on the season. The Jayhawk offensive line has also struggled to open holes for its running backs, and the team is averaging just 2.8 yards per rush. The average could drop even lower because Randle and Green are both battling injuries.
With Colorado doing a great job giving time for its quarterback to throw, the edge goes to the Buffs.
Edge: Colorado
two best wide receivers from last season, but this year the wide outs are still producing. The air attack is more balanced as well, as the team has six players with 10 or more receptions and three with 20 or more. The receivers are led by junior Evan Judge, who has 24 receptions for 302 vards and three touchdowns.
Colorado may have lost its
With the Kansas offense sputtering in recent weeks, the Jayhawks' wide receivers have seen less opportunities. The team has not had more than 200 receiving yards in any of the last four games. On the season, senior wide receiver Brandon Rideau leads the Kansas wide receiving corps with 409 yards and five touchdowns. Expect Kansas' offense to continue to struggle this week.
Edge: Colorado
Secondary
Colorado's secondary is one of the worst in the Big 12, as the Buffaloes are last in the conference in pass defense and have just six interceptions on the season.
Kansas' secondary, on the other hand, is tied for first in the conference in interceptions with 13. The Jayhawks are led by sophomore cornerback Charles Gordon, who has four interceptions on the season.
The secondary will face a quarterback in Klatt who has thrown two more interceptions than touchdowns this season, and with its starting running back potentially limited this week, Colorado may have to turn to the air for offensive success. The Kansas secondary may have junior cornerback Theo Baines back in the lineup after he missed all of last week's game
against Iowa State. But even if Baines does not play, look for the Kansas secondary to be successful.
Edge: Kansas
Quarterbacks
After using Adam Barmann most of the season, the team will have to adjust to playing in front of Swanson all the time with Barmann out with an injury.
Kansas football coach Mark Mangino said that Swanson was making great strides, but fans will have to wait until Saturday to find out just how great.
Colorado's Joel Klatt is not only a football player, but has spent time in minor league baseball as well. Klatt has amassed some impressive number in his three years at Colorado. This season, against Texas A&M, Klatt went 23-34 for 329 yards and two touchdowns.
Edge: Colorado
Running Backs
If Kansas' running backs are healthy, they can be a couple of the most dangerous in the Big 12. When injured, as both Randle and Green are, they aren't as effective.
Looking at Colorado's depth chart, there's no listing for running back, only versatile back, shorthand for versatile back, and tailback. Versatile back is a new roll, with junior Lawrence Vickers inspiring the position. He can cut like a tailback, charge like a full back and catch like a receiver. At least, that's what his coaches say. Meanwhile, tailback Bobby Purify keeps moving the ball and is slowly approaching the top of Colorado's all-time rushing mark.
Three Buffalo linebackers, sophomores Walter Boye-Doe and Thaddaeus Washington and junior Brian Iwuh are all listed as only probable for the game, all three nursing leg injuries. However, Jordon Dizon is a difference maker for the Buffers. A true freshman, he has started six games and leads the team in tackles with 61.
Kansas' linebackers are pretty close to being the class of the Big 12. They may not be the flashiest group, but they go out and try every game. Juniors Nick Reid and Kevin Kane have had banner seasons in which they have contributed tackles and sacks
and have climbed to the top ranks of Big 12 statistics. Edge Venge
Edge: Kansas
Special Teams
Few Big 12 teams are worse at kicking field goals then Kansas. But on the bright side, things have been getting better. Aside from a tough field goal in swirling winds that went off the uprights last weekend, senior place kicker Johnny Beck has been consistent over the last few games. The punting has been solid, and
strong. If the team can keep penalties down, special teams could be a game changer.
returns have been
Colorado's special teams have the distinct advantage of playing in an atmosphere that's very
thin. It's no wonder then that sophomore placekicker Mason Crosby's season-long field goal is 60 yards, and junior punter John Torp leads the Big 12 with an 47 yards per punt.
The quality of Buffaloes' punt and kick coverage teams is solidly in the middle of the Big 12, as is their success with point-after-touchdown conversions. Without the friendly air of Folsom Field, the special teams will not be as good as they are at home.
Edge: Kansas
Coaches
One coach has 15 years of head-coaching experience, two Big Ten titles, five bowl appearances and was suspended indefinitely this offseason. The other coach has three years of experience as a coach, no conference championships, just one bowl appearance, but no suspensions.
With all the controversy from rape accusations and recruiting violations Colorado went through during the offseason, perhaps coach Gary Barnett deserves credit for getting his team to win at all. Mangino, on the other hand, has taken a team that was just about at its lowest point and turned it in the right direction.
While Barnett has done well with a team in trouble, why reward someone for bad acts off the field?
Edue: Kansas
- Edited by Neil Mulka
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