2011: One Step Closer to 2012.

Source: KU Sports

Turner Gill’s 2011 tenure started off nicely on Saturday night-- in hindsight--it started off with a bang.
Jayhawk fans have been kindly reminded of the North Dakota State ballgame plenty enough, so it is hard to forget the season that was last year. As a Kansas Football fan this year, it is important to put this season in perspective. Many fans have the impulse to look at 2011 as a clean slate. That is all and well, but they should not forget last year altogether. Remember last year not for some twisted masochistic reason, but as a barometer of improvement. Comparatively, you should be pleased with upgrade in talent and poise. That is what made this first game so satisfying. Don’t let me rant on the delay of games, false starts, broken-down plays, and plain lack of effort of last year. Instead, let me applaud the Hawks for Saturday’s effort, and the crisp, focused football that is to come in 2011.

Week 1

Box-Score Courtesy of: KU Athletics

               McNeese State (0-1) vs. Kansas (1-0)
               Date: Sep 03, 2011

               Score by Quarters     1  2  3  4   Score
                    -----------------    -- -- -- --   -----
                 McNeese State.......  0  3 13  8  - 24
                 Kansas..............  7 14  7 14  - 42

FULL SCREEN VERSION

Animated Drive Chart brought to you by Gameday Depot.

McNeese State was no walk in the park. A few crucial penalties helped the Jayhawks on their way to a misleadingly comfortable 42-24 win. 7 points were taken off the McNeese State scoreboard on an overturned trick-pass play, and a personal foul call granted KU another crack at the goal line late in the first half. But overall, the Jayhawks played well. Jordan Webb played game-manager all night, and aside from a suspect pass that fortunately landed in wide-out Jacorey Shephard’s hands, he was accurate and efficient. With 300-plus yards on the ground there wasn’t much needed of the gun-slinger. Offensively, the Hawks showed vast improvement over last year’s abysmal O.

Sophomore, James Sims, led the charge with a quiet 100+ yard game, but despite the story the box score told, the true freshmen stole the show. Even though they were outgained by the workhorse, Sims, tailbacks, Darrian Miller and Tony Pierson, showed their elusiveness and after-burners, respectively. Miller evaded hits with his dips and ducks, while Pierson looked like a “Poor Man’s Reggie Bush” (If Pierson amounts to half of USC Bush, then the Hawks have found gold). The offensive line, laden with returning players, paved holes all night long. Thanks to re-acquired wide-receiver’s coach, David Beaty, known for his savvy in blocking techniques, the wide-receivers actually showed some life in the run-blocking as well.

Defensively, the Hawks looked awfully athletic. Defensive end, Toben Opurum, pitched a fort in the McNeese backfield, Linebackers Steven Johnson and Tunde Bakare flew to the ball and made plays, and the secondary, well, got torched. For how athletic and young the Hawks looked on defense, they matched that with bonehead plays and blown coverages. Screen pass after screen pass scorched the D for big gainers and McNeese actually started trading touchdowns with the Hawks in the 3^rd and 4^th quarters. But keeping to the theme of staying positive and comparing this team to last year’s team, it is safe to say that the Hawks are moving in the right direction.

The Special Teams kept the night relatively quiet and with the addition of Long Snapper, Tanner Gibas, and Place Kicker, Alex Mueller, watching the Kansas Special Teams might have just become a less bone-chilling/nail-biting experience.

Only to be fair, I must relay some bad news to put a damper on the good mood, Jayhawk fans. The Hawks face top 25 talents in 6 of their last 9 games and three against top ten teams. It will be tough sledding once the team finally hits full stride in the middle of the season—it could be another long season. Often times the Jayhawks have been fighting for bowl eligibility in the latter part of October and early part of November. But, much like last year, barring an actual push from the defensive line or a much improved passing attack, 3-9 is not a thing of the past. But a 3-9 season with close losses to the likes of: Texas Tech, Baylor, Kansas State, and Missouri, will bring hope to a team in dire need of some. Wins are on the horizon. Hold me to this: the Hawks are bowling in 2012.