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| Source: KU Sports |
In a game where KU gave up 47 points, 610 yards of total offense, and lost the time of possession battle, steps were taken in the right direction on defense. It’s a little baffling, but this is where we are as a program. Nonetheless, it’s something to hang your hat on.
Now although I didn’t say it explicitly, I had a gut-feeling that we were going to see some fired up Jayhawks and a better defense on Saturday. Not to pat myself too hard on the back, but:
…if the Jayhawks show life on defense, Gill will have some momentum to carry into the coming weeks. Hopefully he figures out how to capture lighting in a bottle before the biggest game of his early coaching career, when the Kansas State Wildcats come to town October 22nd. His job could be riding on the line.
(And I still believe this Saturday’s Sunflower Showdown will be a prime topic of discussion when A.D. Sheahon Zenger discusses Turner Gill’s contract this winter. How can the Hawks improve after last year’s, 59-7, old-fashioned butt-whooping? )
But what impressed me most about my prediction was that—well—this team has been pretty unpredictable. That’s why I have resorted to predicting the unpredictable (a.k.a. KU holding Oklahoma to just 30 points through three quarters of football!).
(A new play chart was used for the defense this Saturday to adjust to the speed of these high-powered offenses. I don’t care how ridiculous it looks, but whatever floats the players’ boat is fine by me.)
If you would have told me before the game that Oklahoma was going to run 88 plays to KU’s 63, I would have thrown in the towel; forget it, the game is over. If you would have told me that Oklahoma would get this kind of field position! God bless it.
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So in retrospect, I am amazed how KU held the Sooners to a respectable 47 points (OU is has the 6th most high-scoring offense in the country).
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Somehow, someway, the Kansas defense held Oklahoma to 4 field goals on 7 trips to the red zone and gave Landry Jones one of his worst nights completion-wise, 29 of 48 with an interception, despite being backed up in their own territory all evening. And in all reality, this game was really not all that fluky.
Week 7
Box-Score Courtesy of: KU Athletics
#3 Oklahoma (6-0,3-0) vs. Kansas (2-4,0-2)
Date: Oct 15, 2011
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score
----------------- -- -- -- -- -----
Oklahoma............ 10 17 3 17 - 47
Kansas.............. 7 10 0 0 - 17
This wasn’t a game where OU jumped out early, and KU scored mop-up touchdowns late, but a game where OU scored last in an effort to boost their BCS rating. Discard the last touchdown and KU gave up just 40 points to a team averaging nearly 50. The ‘bend but don’t break defense’ worked. Although the defense certainly bent, giving up 247 yards on the ground, they stiffened near the goal-line. OU had tremendous field position all third-quarter and only managed a measly 3 points. If anything, the score did not show how competitive the game actually was.
New faces such as Collin Garrett (speed), Victor Simmons (speed), Dexter McDonald (physical), and Michael Reynolds (always around the ball) took the field with the look of a sleeker, faster defense. Garrett, who burned his red-shirt, was quick to the ball, Simmons stripped and recovered a fumble, McDonald manned up on OU speedster, Kenny Stills, and Michael Reynolds jumped a route and nearly intercepted a pass. Even some of the veterans, who have been getting thrashed all year, stepped up their games. Bradley McDougald made several tackles and a couple for a loss, Toben Opurum gave KU a good pass rush and a presence in the OU backfield, and Greg Brown and company played strong defense on the ball, probably the best we have seen in years.
On the season as a whole, the defense has been nonexistent, but only ignorant fans will scoff at KU’s defensive effort on Saturday. This just in: Oklahoma has a really good offense, so it’s time for a reality check. Lubbock Smith’s shoe came off on a particular play and while he was looking for it, Oklahoma rushed to the line and snapped the ball. Any defense would have been forced to burn a timeout in that situation. This week, KU held its own against the fast pace, and on the bright side it could be the fastest they will see for the rest of the year.
The defense, don’t get me wrong, was not the second coming of the ’85 Bears. Oklahoma converted on 7 of 16 third-downs, and rushed for 247 yards. But, outside of Baylor and possibly Texas A&M, the upcoming offenses will not compare in the slightest. Let’s keep improving from here on out.
Jordan Webb has been feeling the heat. Talks of turning to backup Quinn Meacham lit up the message boards early Sunday morning. Slow down, Bessy! Although it was the worst game by Webb, statistically speaking, the young but maturing quarterback still made some dazzling plays to keep KU in the game early. Facing one of the most potent front fours in the country, Webb made two instinctual plays: a shovel/option to Sims on 4th and 1 for a 56 yard touchdown on what looked like a busted play, and a “Reesing-like” scramble pass to Rell Lewis on third and long.
Although the Jayhawks netted only 6 yards of total offense in the second half, it’s best to just forgive and forget. OU’s raw talent was better than KU’s from the get-go and gave them a 27-17 advantage at half, and their depth was what won it in the second half. Although the talent gap between the first-string was not huge, it was noticeable with the back-ups. While Kansas players had their hands on their hips and were gasping for air, OU subbed in another fleet of highly-talented and well-rested players. OU became a two-headed monster—too much for a young Jayhawk team to handle.
How big was the loss of Kansas center, Jeremiah Hatch, who was carried off in a stretcher? Early in first quarter there were huge holes for the ground game (Darrian Miller had 15 carries for 66 yards, James Sims had 11 carries for 75 yards, and Tony Pierson had a couple of quick bursts too), but there seemed to be no room to run up the middle after Hatch was carted off the field. OU crowded the box, something a lot of defenses have been doing to KU lately, and made Webb make plays under heavy duress. Webb missed high on a lot of the throws he usually makes, probably because he had to throw over the long-armed OU defensive lineman as they came barreling after him.
One thing you can complain about: the wide-receiver woes continue. Although there were some key grabs early, I can recall drops by Herod and Matthews that would have moved the chains. Herod’s came at a point in the game where KU could have grabbed the momentum back. KU cannot afford to miss on those opportunities, especially when they were converted third downs only 3 of 17 times.
Special teams, punt and kick coverage… atrocious, abysmal. Throw out whatever word comes to mind when you think of a train-wreck. We know Ryan Broyles is good, but the Special teams cannot keep giving high-powered offenses a short-field. We know it’s a struggle as is for the defense, against K-State we need better play out of them.
Kansas endured four quarters with the Sooners on Saturday, not without the help of some fortuity. A couple of breaks—Sims’s touchdown, a Webb interception called back because of an offsides penalty, Webb’s scramble play, KU forced 3 turnovers (Ryan Broyles fumbled on his way into the endzone), they covered a Darrian Miller fumble deep in their own territory—went KU’s way, but that’s the game of football. Oklahoma had their breaks too. A backwards pass ruled a fumble was offset by a KU substitution penalty. In the Big 12 you need breaks to win games, KU made those breaks, but still lost by 30.
After the game, Oklahoma was very complimentary of the Jayhawks effort. “Kansas is a good team,” Landry Jones said, “they did a good job and their defense played hard. They came out here and they played well at home.” Ryan Broyles and Bob Stoops were also complimentary of the Jayhawks, Saturday. They felt like Kansas was more than they expected, and gave them credit for the way they played at home. This is good news to hear, especially from the mouths of some great football talents. Their thoughts on the crowd… well it wasn’t the most hostile venue they’ve seen.
Now although I am tickled to bash the Kansas student section and fan base as a whole, I thought given the circumstances that they came out and respectfully supported their team. Throughout the game I caught myself glancing over my shoulder in anticipation of a mass exodus of students (most likely off to go study…). And, true to form, Kansas students headed for the exits after 3 quarters of football. Three quarters of competitive football, mind you, where Kansas was within just 2 scores of the No. 3 team in the country, 30-17. Although they still don’t quite understand that football is a game of four quarters, after a 70-28 loss, I thought they came out loud and in good numbers.
Don’t get the idea that I finally am giving him credit, because I have been longing to write about Steven Johnson for a good time. Steven Johnson needs to become the face of the program, if he already hasn’t, and I will give him his due cred. The senior linebacker has transformed himself from a non-scholarship player into a monster through hard-work and resiliency. He leads the Big 12 with 63 tackles, and he added an interception against the Sooners. What we would give to have 22 Steven Johnson.
When asked about the game and the passion he showed, Johnson said “It was just a little anger in me. This University and Kansas football gave each and every one of us an opportunity. I got in each and every single person’s face, and I just told people what they needed to improve at and we went to practice and started working.” When asked about Coach Gill, Johnson’s eyes opened wide and he got a little defensive. “When people talk about Coach Gill—I am tired of people coming at my Coach. He gives us opportunities every day; some people want to shoot him down because he is not being disrespectful, no. Coach Gill is one of the greatest people you are ever gonna’ meet. Tonight I just played my heart out for him.” It’s that kind of devotion that will move this team forward; Gill has his player’s affection, now he needs to win games.
What makes sports so great is that you can take a lot from what you learn in a game and apply it to life in general. The best players don’t always win, but the best teams do. You need runts, role players; you need guys who are willing to lay everything on the line for their coach, their teammates, and their university. Coach Gill has been known as a players-coach, a guy players want to run through a brick wall for. Guys like Steven Johnson (see “The Gridiron” below) would be the first to toe the line.
Teams like the Philadelphia Eagles and the Miami Heat are full of star power, but they lack the role players, the guys who have been the ‘dogs all their life. When KU won the Orange Bowl that team cherished their role as the underdogs, and they won some football games too.
Segwaying to this week’s opponent, Kansas State, Head Coach Bill Snyder has been the mastermind of maximizing his talent and uniting his team as one body. Sports are bizarre; while Kansas pounded on McNeese State to open the season, K-State escaped by the skin of their teeth with a 10-7 nail-biter over Eastern Kentucky. The teams looked to be heading in opposite directions, but that’s not the case. Who would have thought that half-way through the year they’d be 6-0; Snyder has managed to steal 4 games when K-State was the underdog.
The Wildcat’s recruiting doesn’t jump out, but it doesn’t need to. Bryce Brown, the top recruit in the 2009 class according to rivals.com, who transferred from Tennessee has left the program with just 16 yards on 3 carries; yet, former 3* running back John Hubert has rushed for 545 yards on 105 attempts. Some said the cupboard was bare when Snyder took over after Ron Prince, yet this season will be their second straight bowl game. KU “out-recruits” KSU on regular basis, but the team that Snyder scraps together is always tough to beat. A team that believes in each other and has a little pep in their step, a chip on their shoulder, is a dangerous thing. As much as I’d like to say KU could win this game because they aren’t going up against world-class athletes (Oklahoma State and Oklahoma), they are going up against a world-class coach and a very solid team.
For argument’s sake, I’ll compare Turner Gill’s first 3 recruiting classes with Bill Snyder’s last three. Let’s take into account the player’s that signed at either school with offers from both of the schools:
In this year’s recruiting class, Kansas has gained a commitment from OL Brian Beckmann, the No. 3 rated player in the state of Kansas (mind you a weak year even for this state). Kansas State has unranked defensive tackle Wesley Hollingshed.
In 2011, Kansas received LOI’s from 15th rated dual-threat quarterback Brock Berglund, 4* running back Darrian Miller, 4* athlete Anthony “Call-me-Tony” Pierson, 3* WR Marquis Jackson, and 3* DE Michael Reynolds. The Wildcats won only the recruiting battle with former wide-out Kevin Lockett’s son, 3* WR Tyler Lockett, and 3* center Shaun Simon.
And in 2010, Kansas won the battle most notably with 4* running back Brandon Bourbon and 4* athlete Keeston Terry, while Kansas State signed 4* running back DeMarcus Robinson and JUCO 4* DE Adam Davis. The one noticeable “win” K-State had was DeMarcus Robinson, but it came in the same year KU got Brandon Bourbon and James Sims, thus it became a moot point, especially given Robinson’s production (or lack thereof).
So with Turner Gill constantly beating the old man in recruiting, how does he not beat them on the field? Well, Bill Snyder has a formula…
In 2010, Kansas State signed 6 JUCO players out of their 17 player class. In 2011, 7/28 JUCO, and in 2012 they have signed just 1/10, but more will surely come. Why is this significant, you ask? Well, Snyder rarely misses on these players.
Kansas State’s run defense, for instance, particularly the front four (which has been one of the best in the country) is made up of Ray Kibble, Vai Lutui, Adam Davis, and Jordan Voelker. Kibble, Lutui, and Davis are all JUCO players, and Voelker is a JUCO walk-on! Daniel Thomas, if you remember, turned out to be a nice little find for the Wildcats, as well. I’m not saying that JUCO players are the end-all-be-all, but Snyder clearly has a knack for finding diamonds in the rough. Kansas on the other hand, has not. Jocques Crawford, Quinton Woods, and Calvin Rubles come to mind. Snyder knows what he is looking for, and despite what recruiting services such as rivals and scout say, he always finds it.
KSU is still susceptible to an upset in the Sunflower Showdown. Outside of one blowout, a 37-0 win over Kent State, the team has won by an average of 4.4 points. Kansas State has never been known to be snake-bit in trap games under Snyder, but with a team that has relished in the underdog role, heading into Lawrence as favorites over an improving Jayhawk team is a danger sign. Can the Jayhawks capitalize on this momentum? For Gill's sake, let’s hope they do, or else the stars may be aligning… the return of the fat man.
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