Reesing, Kansas won't sneak up on opponents in '08
Kansas was coming off a decent 2006 — not a great one — and it had a nice team returning with a cushy-soft schedule to fatten up on. But even so, 12-1?! An Orange Bowl win with some suggesting the Jayhawks deserved to be national champions after finishing the year with the best record of any BCS team? Really?
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Missouri was gettable. It was a team that was on the rise with plenty of good talent and on the verge of being a Big 12 power, but Kansas was supposed be an also-ran even with a supposedly good defense coming back and a promising young quarterback in Todd Reesing to work around. That the offense came up with one of the most unstoppable, efficient seasons ever was a complete shock, and that the team came through with every big play at the right moment was the most pleasant surprise.
So how did this happen? How did KU go from being a schlub of a program, an afterthought, to a national power? It's simple: outside of the punting game, it did everything right.
First in the nation in turnover margin. Seventh in passing efficiency. First in the Big 12 in defense and scoring defense. First in the Big 12, and second in the nation, in scoring offense and eighth in the total offense. The Jayhawks committed just 53 penalties (compared to 81 committed by their opponents) and converted 43 percent of their third down opportunities and 60 percent on fourth downs. If you can do all that, good things tend to fall into place.
Of course, it also helped to play just a few teams with a pulse, miss Texas and Oklahoma, and not have to deal with anyone of note, outside of possibly Central Michigan, in the non-conference schedule. However, you have to beat who you play, and it's not like KU had the market cornered on easy schedules. It finished with the 72nd toughest schedule in the nation, which was better than USC's, but only five BCS-league teams had it easier.
The schedule won't be an excuse for anyone this year with Oklahoma, Texas, and a loaded Texas Tech to deal with, along with a trip to South Florida and an improved North slate to face. But while many might think KU could go back to normal with the tougher slate, other teams are going to have to deal with a real-deal Jayhawk team now. This isn't going to be the automatic win it used to be.
It's a great time to be a Kansas fan. The football team is a power, the basketball team finally broke through and won another national title (talk about stealing the thunder away from the football program ... 'Marsha, Marsha, Marsha'), and the potential is there for the fun to keep on going. Yes, Kansas is the real deal, and now, with the spotlight on, it's going to get a chance to prove it with everyone watching.
What to look for on offense: The running game needing Jocques Crawford to be as good as expected. The Jayhawks have found a star running back from out of nowhere in each of the last two years, with Jon Cornish shining in 2006, and Brandon McAnderson rolling last year, and while Jake Sharp and Angus Quigley are decent veterans who can help the cause, they're hardly special talents who can carry the ground attack. Crawford fits the current KU running back mold and needs to be a 1,000-yard-caliber back from the moment he steps off the bus.
What to expect on defense: The linebacking corps to be among the best in the Big 12, if not the best. This is sort of by default. The Big 12 might be better overall, but the linebackers are nothing special across the board. Even so, even if this was a strong year for linebackers, KU's would stand out with Joe Mortensen, Mike Rivera and James Holt being three seniors who have seen it all. These three should dominate even more considering the front line should be good.
This team will be much better if ... the overall punting game is better. Kansas was terrific in every aspect but the punting game, finishing 109th in the nation with a 31.82 net average, and 103rd in punt returns, averaging 5.97 yards per try. Bowling Green transfer Alonso Rojas was a one-time big recruit who has a big leg, and now he has to prove it.
The schedule: The Jayhawks might be able to slip on by with yet another breezy non-conference schedule, but it'll all catch up to them in Big 12 play. To be fair, there's a bear trap of a pre-conference date at South Florida, which makes up for playing FIU, Louisiana Tech and Sam Houston State. Opening up at Iowa State won't be as easy as it sounds, and going to Oklahoma and hosting Texas and Texas Tech from the South is as bad as it gets. Going to Nebraska won't be a plus, but at least there's a week off before the regular-season ending showdown against Missouri.
Best offensive player: Junior QB Todd Reesing. Kerry Meier was supposed to be in the mix for the starting job going into last year, and at the very least appeared ready to be a part of the rotation. Instead, Reesing took over the spot and had a season for the history books throwing for 3,486 yards and 33 touchdowns with just seven interceptions. He was ultra-efficient, razor-sharp, and consistent.
Best defensive player: Senior LB Joe Mortensen. The entire linebacking corps is the strength, and Mortensen, and all-around playmaker, is the star of the show in the middle. A great tackler who has gotten better at coming up with plays in the backfield, he should be in the mix for the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year if he doesn't have any issues with an off-season knee injury.
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| Hard-nosed Joe Mortensen will man the middle for the Jayhawks, who are stacked at linebacker. (Doug Pensinger / Getty Images) |
Key player to a successful season: Senior OT Matt Darton. Reesing didn't get tons of time to work last year, but the protection wasn't awful thanks to star tackles Anthony Collins and Cesar Rodriguez coming through with big years. Redshirt freshman Jeff Spikes is expected to grow into an all-star at left tackle over the next few seasons while Darton, a decent reserve so far, needs to step in and shine on the right. The Jayhawks have options to try out, but Darton needs to use his experience to be steady.
The season will be a success if ... the Jayhawks win the Big 12 North. Lost in all the greatness of last season was that KU came up with one really bad first half against Missouri and didn't even win its own division. While the Big 12 championship should be the goal after last year's monster success, just winning the division would be a great step up. Considering how strong Missouri is going to be, and with dates with the big boys from the South, getting to the title game for the first time would be impressive.
OFFENSE
KU did everything right, and was one of the most efficient and effective attacks in the country. The offense could pound the ball when needed and push the passing game deep to open things up, and was great at going for the kill and even better at answering when pushed. It'll be a stretch to get the same overall production, and the O stunk this spring, but it should be terrific as the season goes on. Todd Reesing grew into a special quarterback and a perfect leader who rarely made mistakes, but he'll have to be even better early on until the tackle situation is settled (even though it's promising) and until the right running combination is found. Jake Sharp is a nice back, but JUCO transfer Jocques Crawford could be the team's newest star. The receivers are nice, with the return of Dexton Fields and Dezmon Briscoe, but they're not special.
Quarterbacks: After showing good promise in a rotation role as a freshman, junior Todd Reesing blew up last year with a Heisman-caliber season completing 62 percent of his passes for 3,486 yards and 33 touchdowns with seven interceptions. Three of his interceptions came in the win over Kansas State and two came early in the loss to Missouri (before he caught fire). Reesing is a special quarterback who doesn't get the respect he deserves because he's not big and doesn't look the part of a big-time passer. He can do it all, makes great decisions, and is ultra-efficient. Kerry Meier is an excellent No. 2, and there are promising options who'll get time over the next year or two to improve. Overall, this is a terrific situation.
Running Backs: Lose Jon Cornish, replace him with Brandon McAnderson. Lose McAnderson, replace him with ... ? It might not exactly be a running back by committee approach, but there will be several backs in a rotation until one emerges. Jake Sharp is a good veteran who can carry the offense for short stretches, but for the KU running game to work like normal, it needs Angus Quigley or Jocques Crawford to be the blaster the team has had for the last few years. The results will be better than the talent. Crawford, the junior college offensive player of the year after leading the nation with 1,935 yards and 19 touchdowns for Cisco JC needs to be the star. At 6-1 and 230 pounds with speed, he's a dangerous prospect who should perfectly fit into the Kansas mold of backs.
Receivers: While Marcus Henry was the team's most dangerous receiver, 6-0, 204-pound senior Dexton Fields was the leading pass catcher for the second season in a row with 63 receptions for 834 yards and six touchdowns. A nice, steady target for most of the year, he blew up late, starting with an 11-catch, 109-yard, two touchdown performance against Iowa State and finishing with 26 grabs for 327 yards and three scores over the final three games. The KU coaching staff wanted to push the ball deeper last year, and the results were tremendous with a 12.5 yards-per-catch average and 36 touchdowns. The system is better than the talent, but Fields is a serviceable receiver to work around until more talented prospects like Johnathan Wilson and Dezmon Briscoe start to do more. There's plenty of potential to stretch the field and provide some big pop, but consistency and keeping the chains moving will be the key to this corps.
Offensive line: Last year the tackle situation was the one steady part going into the season. Now the two spots are up for grabs with Anthony Collins and Cesar Rodriguez gone. The line wasn't dominant last season, but it cranked out the long scoring drives when the team absolutely needed them. While mediocre in pass protection, allowing a Big 12-high 26 sacks, it was good when it had to be. Now the trio of guards Adrian Mayes and Chet Hartley along with center Ryan Cantrell should be terrific, while the tackles are promising. Jeff Spikes has the potential to be special in place of Collins on the left side, while it'll be an ongoing battle for the job on the right side. Several backups have seen a little bit of game action, but there will be huge problems if the interior suffers any major injuries.
DEFENSE
The whole is better than the sum of the parts. There might not be a whole slew of all-stars, but this is a tough, hard-nosed, veteran group that'll be a rock against the run and should be decent against the pass. The biggest question mark will be the coaching with Clint Bowen taking over the Big 12's best D. With nine starters returning, any slip will be blamed on the new defensive coordinator since he has pieces to work with and he's not going to change too much, if anything. The secondary will be worse without CB Aqib Talib, but there are three good returning starters and Kendrick Harper is ready to shine in a full-time starting corner role. The line needs to get to the quarterback more, but it's good at getting into the backfield and should be a rock against the run if the four-man tackle rotation can make up for the loss of DT James McClinton. The strength of the defense, and maybe the team, will be a linebacking corps that gets the team's top three tacklers back. Joe Mortensen is a terrific all-around playmaker in the middle, while Mike Rivera and James Holt will both make around 100 tackles on the outside.
Defensive line: Three starters return to the line, but the one loss, tackle James McClinton, is a big one. Looking to step in and fill the void will be 6-4, 290-pound senior Todd Haselhorst, who made 17 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss as a key reserve. The Jayhawks were third in the Big 12 against the run two years ago because everyone threw the ball. Last year, the run D was eighth in the nation despite not having much of a pass rush to help the overall stats. For the second straight year, no one ran for more than 200 yards. With three starters returning and good promise at the open tackle spot, there's a chance it could be three in a row. There isn't any star power and there isn't any one irreplaceable player, but everyone works well together and everyone holds up well against the run. It'll be a revolving door on the inside with Haselhorst, Caleb Blakesley, Richard Johnson and Jamal Greene all able to produce. The ends are serviceable, but unspectacular.
Linebackers: Kansas has three players who'll be on the All-Big 12 team in some way. Joe Mortensen, Mike Rivera and James Holt will combine to make 300 tackles. The KU starting trio started every game last season and didn't like giving up a play of time. That's good, but the reserves are hardly seasoned despite being around the program for a while. One of the team's strongest players, Mortensen is a natural for the middle, while he has great range and could be moved to the outside if absolutely necessary. He's the leader of the defense and a possible Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year if has another season like 2007, and if a knee injury that limited him this offseason isn't a problem.
Secondary: Step one in the secondary is to replace Aqib Talib, an All-America star who was the team's backfield playmaker. Looking to step in is senior Kendrick Harper, a 5-9, 190-pound backup who got hurt early and was never quite right all year, but made 19 tackles and an interception. After having the nation's worst pass defense two years ago, KU improved dramatically and was among the strongest in the nation leading the Big 12 in pass efficiency defense. Now the defensive backfield will be tested against quarterbacks like USF's Matt Grothe, Oklahoma's Sam Bradford, Texas Tech's Graham Harrell, Texas's Colt McCoy, and Missouri's Chase Daniel. Expect the overall stats to be worse, much worse, but the safeties — Darrell Stuckey and Justin Thornton — will hit, and corners Harper and Chris Harris will own the mediocre quarterbacks. There will be more big plays allowed, but there will also be plenty of interceptions.
Special teams: The kicking game loses steady Scott Webb, who didn't have a ton of range but hit 18 of 26 field-goal attempts. Stephen Hoge, a 6-4, 216-pound redshirt freshman, will take over for Webb. Ultra-efficient in high school and solid in practices, he has the potential to be good. If he can hit everything inside the 35, the team will take it. Kyle Tucker was a decent three-year punter, but he's replaceable. It'll be up to Alonso Rojas, a top recruit for Bowling Green, to restart his career with the Jayhawks. He was abysmal for the Falcons, but that was mostly because of the strange kicking style BGSU had him employ. He has a huge leg and can be used as a kicker if needed. The punt return game was miserable, averaging just 5.97 yards per try, but Marcus Herford is a special kickoff returner averaging a 28.6 yards per try with two touchdowns. Finding a steady punt returner will be a job throughout the fall practices with Anthony Webb getting the first look after averaging just 0.8 yards per try.
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