annependleton.com
Annie at annependleton.com provided Hawk Digest with some great photos from the Sam Houston State game. Rather than hold back and use just one for a game preview, I thought it would be nice to create a gallery. You can check it out here:
Really, I'm not doing much recycling of content lately as you can check all of the main KU football stories on our KU football news page and nothing too revolutionary comes through anyway. So let's just consider this me recycling my own content:
After checking a little bit of the film, I thought it should be noted that Chris Harris is a great open field tackler. The other new corners could really take a tip from what Chris did last year -- he made sure he never let anyone get behind him and then he damn sure made the tackle in front of him. That'll get you a long way as a corner.
I kind of liked what Sam Houston State did to us defensively. I guess you can't quite call it a success as we scored 38 points, but only putting two guys in the three point stance, seemed to give them a tactical edge. They dropped eight on occasion and did a few cleverly disguised blitzes that were effective. At least once, they dropped nine back in coverage.
On the failed fourth and inches, Rich Baldinger was calling out Jeff Spikes (I think) for not getting low enough and allowing the d-lineman to submarine in. True, but the guard was just as guilty. I'm pretty sure it was Adrian Mayes. At the stadium, I was blaming Ryan Cantrell, but on the video it looks like he did his job for the play called. Anyway ... blocking fundamentals -- keep working on it.
Actually, the o-line has really developed slow pretty much each year under Mark Mangino -- except 2007. All the more reason to schedule winnable games in September.
The slide continues as the conference went 5-4 overall and 2-2 against BCS schools. Texas, Nebraska and CU will have high profile BCS games coming up this week.
Big 12 vs BCS: 6-5
Big 12 vs All: 33-8
1 (A 95%) - Oklahoma (3-0) #2, s = 84
The last team to beat OU at home was this week's opponent -- 4-0 TCU (ranked #24 in the AP).
(HD rank 1-1-1-1)
2 (A 93%) - Missouri (4-0) #5, s = 26
I docked Mizzou a percentage point for keeping it close against Buffalo in the first half (42-21 final), but I'm sure they're just getting bored. I suspect they'll be ready to play at Lincoln in two weeks.
(HD rank 2-2-2-2)
3 (A- 90%) - Texas (3-0) #8, s = 83
Holding Rice (52-10) to their lowest score this season could be a good sign for the defense. The Arkansas game is this week and is our first real look.
(HD rank 4-4-3-3)
4 (B+ 87%) - Texas Tech (4-0) #11, s = 118
UMASS went down easy (56-14) and now it looks like KSU might not provide much a challenge either (even in Manhattan). Tech gets a bye before the K-State matchup and the won't face a ranked team until 10/25 (@KU).
(HD rank 5-5-4-4)
5 (B 84%) - Colorado (3-0) #26, s = 55
You gotta move the Buffs up after representing against the Big East with the 17-14 OT win over WVA. It could be a short stay though as they take on FSU (2-1, 3-12 home loss to Wake Forest) at Jacksonville. Of course, a win there gets the bandwagon really rolling.
(HD rank 7-8-8-5)
6 (B 83%) - Kansas (3-1) #17, s = 51
KU fans have defended the Jayhawk football program all off season. They'd like to see the players do the same. The 38-14 win over Sam Houston didn't necessarily electrify the Jayhawk nation. Maybe the USF game took a little more out of the tank than we thought (it was a hard-hitting epic down there in Tampa). The bye week comes at a good time as the Hawks prepare for a road trip to Ames and KU needs a few guys to return to the line-up.
(HD rank 3-3-5-6)
7 (B- 81%) - Oklahoma State (2-0) #31, s = 120
The Cowboys had a bye week and get ready to host 2-1 Troy. The Trojans might provide a game as they put up a little bit of a fight against Ohio State in a 28-10 loss.
(HD rank 6-6-6-7)
8 (C+ 79%) - Nebraska (3-0) #37, s = 12
The Huskers get into the meat of it now. They'll host Virginia Tech (3-1), then Missouri and then travel to Texas Tech -- the critical stretch of the 2008 campaign for Nebraska.
(HD rank 8-7-7-8)
9 (C- 70%) Baylor (2-2) #80, s = 40
The Bears soar into the #9 spot by virtue of losing to UCONN 31-28. The Huskies are better than Louisville, so that gives Baylor the edge over Captain Ron and the Wildcats. The Bears have a bye week then they'll host OU (ouch).
(HD rank 11-11-10-9)
10 (D+ 68%) - Kansas State (2-1) #64, s = 116
It was more the way they lost, than who or where. KSU falls 38-29 at Louisville and everything appears the same as it was at the end of 2007. Louisiana-Lafayette should provide a little morale boost before conference play.
(HD rank 9-9-9-10)
11 (D+ 67%) Iowa State (2-2) #87, s = 91
I guess losing to UNLV 34-31 OT and Iowa on the road is better than losing to Arkansas State and Miami at home. The Clones get to rest up before the Jayhawks come to town.
(HD rank 10-10-11-11)
12 (D 64%) Texas A&M (1-1) #90, s = 88
Kind of a tough draw to have to beat Miami to escape the cellar. That didn't work out (41-23 loss), but Army comes to town and the Black Knights are 0-3. The early part of the Big 12 schedule isn't impossible or anything so if the Aggies can build some confidence they could start to turn this thing around.
(HD rank 12-12-12-12)
# = CBS Sportsline Rank
s = CBS Strength of Schedule
“I don't think there was anything that was remarkable about our play tonight. I think we got a win, which is a key thing, but we still have areas that we must improve in before Big 12 Conference play.”
--Mark Mangino
From Row 46
I walked into the game about 12 minutes before kickoff. The bowl was probably 95% full of red and blue at that point. Amazing. Probably the highlight of the game. Well, maybe the Todd Reesing magic trick TD pass to Dezmon Briscoe was the true game highlight; however, I'm not even sure I want to talk about the game. How can you complain about a 38-14 win, though? It's probably wrong, but a lot of people are doing it.
The game was never out of control, but yes, Sam Houston State QB Rhett Bomar looked fairly comfortable in passing for 340 yards (not to mention much-improved since I last saw him in '05). Jake Laptad and Richard Johnson Jr. had a few moments on the pass rush, but the Jayhawks didn't really threaten Bomar too much.
On the other side of the ball, the running game opened up strong in the first quarter with Angus Quigley, but the Bearkats adjusted and slowed us down there for most of the game (Quigley 16-61 yds, 3.8 ave, 1 TD). All three running backs looked like they played with fire to me, but the offensive line is not getting it done. There is no excuse for not being able to pick up a couple of inches on a QB sneak. We expected a learning curve at the edges, but the interior should be picking up the slack.
What can you say about the defense? We lost two starters from 2007. We can't replace that? There is no question in my mind that this defense should be better than the 2007 edition. Four games in this should be a non-issue. The season is slipping away boys, when are you going to come to the table with fire? Eight games left seniors -- you better make your mark.
The Randoms
Concerns, Issues ...
I would guess the word "concern" is probably the most utilized word in the college football world (print, TV, blogs, fans) during the month of September. "Issues" might rank directly behind. Still, today I would encourage KU football fans (especially the ones that have been around a while) to sit back and enjoy the atmosphere. The game shouldn't be much of a challenge, but tonight we'll be treated to great weather and a full house. Stick around for four quarters and take it all in. You only get seven/eight chances to watch football in Memorial each year.
Big 12/Big East Challenge
Baylor gave it probably their best shot but fell at UCONN 31-28. That makes the Big 12 1-3 this week versus the Big East. Of course all three losses were on the road. Still, not a good start for the Big 12 which is now 4-6 in BCS match-ups.
The Buffs
Nobody wants to play in Boulder, but still the WVA win is pretty impressive and a good way to start off the stretch of playing four straight ranked opponents. CU will travel to Jacksonville to match up against #24 FSU in two weeks then host #7 Texas in Boulder before their trip to Lawrence. We should know a lot about the Buffs by then.
USF Fans
It was interesting that the talk about USF fans getting hardcore with KU fans at the Ray Jay carried on throughout the week. More interesting was the fact that it was partially driven by apologetic Bulls fans. In fact, USF QB Matt Grothe mentioned witnessing some of the behavior as well and was pretty disappointed. Hopefully, they can work that out. I was thinking this was a good series to continue. A solid BCS opponent that gives fans a chance to go to Florida every now and then. Of course, if the game experience is brutal, then there is no reason to keep it going.
Neil Barlow De-Commits
I mentioned this in the forum, but didn't have time to post it in the main news section. WR Neil Barlow has switched to Arkansas according to Rivals. It's not the end of the world, but I have to say it sure would have been interesting to have a receiver with that kind of height and speed on deck.
Hawk Digest Newsletter #3 -- Sam Houston State
(all archived newsletters -- Newsletter Download Page)
Photo: www.annependleton.com
Series: First Meeting
Time: September 20, 6:00 p.m. (CT)
Venue: Memorial Stadium (50,071) Location: Lawrence, KS
TV: FCS
Line: None
Most Recent Meetings:
None
The Rundown
Consider segment one of the 2008 season completed. The earlier schedule all built toward the heavyweight matchup with USF. KU came up a little bit short in that and identified/confirmed strengths and weaknesses. The game against Bearkats kicks off another segment that builds toward the big one in Norman. It's a great time for Jeff Spikes and Jeremiah Hatch to apply what they learned in Tampa. More importantly, we've got to see this defense get more aggressive -- yes, specifically in the pass rush.
The Key
The key to the game probably occured when Jayhawk fans nailed the advance sellout. An angry Jayhawk team is going to want to put on a show for the growing fan base. The team may not quite realize what it means to have an advance sellout at Memorial after a tough road loss, but I think we can be assured the coaching staff will pass that along. On the field, I think we know what it takes for KU to win -- line up and execute. There are a few things we'd like to see -- Dezmon Briscoe and Daymond Patterson back with attitude, a decent kick return, some sacks, Angus Quigley as the starter and a 100 yard back. Oh yeah, and we'd also like to see Kerry Meier at QB in the second half.
The Bullets
--Mark Mangino on Sam Houston State
The first question was dropped in the forum by our ROWYHO editor. Actually, it wasn't so much a question as it was a beleaguered plea for justice. Apparently Fox Sports is still living in 2007 and thinks it's still the fashion to bash KU's 2008 football schedule (along with Mizzou and Ohio State among others). KU comes in with the seventh "easiest" schedule. My first thought was that I bet I could come up with at least seven BCS schools that should absolutely be on the list before throwing KU out there. I quickly went to work with the old Playbook. I used the criteria of any BCS teams that didn't face at least one BCS non-con. Here's your result:
Arizona -- Idaho, Toledo, @New Mexico
Indiana -- W. Kentucky, Murray St, Ball St, Central Michigan
*LSU -- Appalachian St., Troy, North Texas, Tulane
Minnesota -- N. Illinois, @Bowling Green, Montana St., Florida Atlantic
Mississippi State -- @LA Tech, SE Louisiana, Middle Tennessee St
*Texas Tech -- Eastern Washington, @Nevada, SMU, UMASS
*Wisconsin -- Akron, Marshall, @Fresno St, Cal-Poly
Teams with the asterisk were already on the Fox list. With that data, KU should at least rank no higher than #11. In fact, the Jayhawks are in the following select group of BCS teams that took on at least one ranked BCS opponent:
Virginia -- USC
Ohio State -- USC
Washington -- OU
Cincinnati -- OU
ASU -- Georgia
Miami, FLA -- Florida, Florida State
Illinois -- Missouri
Arkansas -- Texas
Clemson -- Alabama
West Virginia -- Auburn
Kansas -- South Florida
NC State -- South Florida
USC -- Ohio State
Oregon State -- Penn State
Syracuse -- Penn State
Purdue -- Oregon
Baylor -- Wake Forest
Ole Miss -- Baylor
South Florida -- Kansas
Colorado -- W. Virginia, Florida State
Illinois -- Mizzou
Alabama -- Clemson
What's up with the constant parade of fans walking up and down the aisles during the game?
You said it. Listen Joe KU football fan, I understand there are basic necessities required to cheer on the Hawks. I know you've got a small bladder filled up by that trash-can sized Coke you just shot-gunned. I know about the possibility of starvation if you don't get to the concession stand for nachos, cotton candy and a hot dog. I know about needing that halftime brewsky. However, if you've got to make an exit, use the aisles between plays. It's just a quick pause, then go, go, go ...
Actually, I'll go a little farther. Can't the ushers get involved and keep the aisles clear during the play? It's not that big of a deal, they do it at pro sporting events. If we're charging $60-$85 a ticket, then I think you can act like a "pro" event staff.
KU Sells Out For Sam Houston St?
I love it when a plan comes together. Selling out for an FBS school after a tough road loss? Sure, Band Day helps, but like the Jayhawk football program, it appears that the fans are also turning the corner. Let's start talking about finishing out that bowl.
Last week the VIC-20 went 2-2 straight up and 2-2 as a spread-beater. We're throwing in a few more games this week and we'll see what happens:
KSU 29, @ Louisville 33
Vegas has KSU -4.5
West Virginia 34, @ Colorado 21
Vegas has WVA -3
Baylor 16, @ UCONN 36
Vegas has UCONN -16
Buffalo 18, @ Missouri 40
Vegas has Mizzou -35
Miami 20, @ Texas A&M 29
Vegas has Miami -4
Sam Houston St 8, @ Kansas 46
NO LINE
Rice 20, @ Texas 45
Vegas has Texas -30
UMASS 16, @ Texas Tech 39
NO LINE
Iowa St 25, @ UNLV 22
Vegas has UNLV -2.5
DJ Goodwin
It was a pretty easy week for the VIC-20 to go 6-3 straight up, but the VIC missed on three of four projected close games.
Against the spread, it was a brutal 2-5.
For the season, 8-5 SU and 4-7 as a spread-beater.
Here's the full article link: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&page=dash0803&sportCat=ncf
It was a rough week for the North as KU and ISU dropped games to produce a 2-2 record against BCS teams for the Big 12. Overall, the conference was 6-2 for the weekend. It's tough to be the Big 12 team that lost to the Big East.
Big 12 vs BCS: 4-3
Big 12 vs All: 28-4
1 (A 95%) - Oklahoma (3-0) #2, s = 96
I don't think OU is kidding around this year. Next up is a little bye week, then a match up with 3-0 TCU (just knocked off Stanford).
(HD rank 1-1-1)
2 (A 94%) - Missouri (3-0) #5, s = 43
After watching two quarters of Mizzou against Nevada I was ready to give them the national championship. Then I saw the OU game and then the USC game. Still, it looks like MU will be pretty comfortable playing against the elite programs this year. Buffalo next.
(HD rank 2-2-2)
3 (A- 90%) - Texas (2-0) #8, s = 85
We didn't get the big matchup with Arkansas this week, so the Horns will eat some Rice next week and we'll have to wait until 9/27 to get a good look at UT.
(HD rank 4-4-3)
4 (B+ 87%) - Texas Tech (3-0) #11, s = 105
Can we safely say that MU is better than Tech? The fashion parade continues as UMASS comes to Lubbock this week.
(HD rank 5-5-4)
5 (B 84%) - Kansas (2-1) #19, s = 32
Moving the Hawks down seems wrong, but until the rest of these guys play somebody and the running game puts up a 200-yard game, KU is going to have slum it here in the middle of the pack. Rhett Bomar and Sam Houston State come to Lawrence this week.
(HD rank 3-3-5)
6 (B- 81%) - Oklahoma State (2-0) #34, s = 107
Beating up on Terry Allen, eh? Baylor kind of took a little luster off of the WSU win, but the Cowboys look to be on schedule. They've got a bye week coming up then a home date with Troy (2-0 this season and 8-4 last year).
(HD rank 6-6-6)
7 (C+ 79%) - Nebraska (3-0) #44, s = 4
This week the Huskers took care of New Mexico State 38-7, but we're all anxious to see them take on Virginia Tech. Two weeks for that as NU has a bye this weekend.
(HD rank 8-7-7)
8 (C+ 78%) - Colorado (2-0) #46, s = 120
CU rested this weekend. Good idea with W. Virginia on the way. Followed by FSU in FLA, Texas, @KU. Weehoo!
(HD rank 7-8-8)
9 (C+ 77%) - Kansas State (2-0) #60, s = 92
The Cats go to Louisville on Wednesday and have a great opportunity to keep the momentum rolling. Sort of a "must win" to go bowling.
(HD rank 9-9-9)
10 (C 74%) Baylor (2-1) #78, s = 77
It looks like I might have the Bears under-ranked after a 45-17 beatdown of WSU, but that loss to #14 Wake is holding me back. Get that win @UCONN and you're going to soar in this poll.
(HD rank 11-11-10)
11 (C- 70%) Iowa State (2-1) #84, s = 81
Losing to Iowa is not like losing to Arkansas State so the Clones easily avoid the cellar. Next up a trip to UNLV. Gotta have it.
(HD rank 10-10-11)
12 (D+ 67%) Texas A&M (1-1) #89, s = 72
The bye week seems to be a little early in the season, but hopefully they put it to good use. Miami comes to town and the Aggies would love to erase a bad memory from 2007.
(HD rank 12-12-12)
# = CBS Sportsline Rank
s = CBS Strength of Schedule
“Listen, I’m not impressed that we were in that much of a hole. I liked the way the kids displayed character and fought back and everything, but we put ourselves in that position, so hopefully it’s a learning experience for us.”
--Mark Mangino
From the Living Room
The challenge here is to not over-react after giving it away at the end like that. You have to look at this for what is was -- a close road loss to a ranked team with a lot of hard-hitting athletes. The main thing will be what will the Jayhawk players and coaches do with this.
A lot of fans will look at the offensive line and tackle play as the #1 concern. Sure their were some issues on the edge, but you know what -- at times they isolated Spikes on Selvie and sure he got schooled a number of times. However, on occasion he also made the play. Those guys are at the front end of their curve.
What "zooms" to the top of the list for me is the pass rush? Where's our George Selvie? Hey, I'll take a Jarriett Buie. We've been talking about this for a year-and-a-half now. I like our defensive ends and I don't want to pin this loss on them. They're Academic All-Americans and can stuff the run and play smart, solid "D." So they are really holding up their end of the bargain. You just can't escape the fact that we have not identified a legitimate pass rush specialist. Brandon Perkins, where art thou? Yeah, I was jealous of USF. Watching Todd Reesing duck, dance and hop around to avoid the blazing rush all night while on the opposite side Matt Grothe went through a pack of cigarettes in the pocket will do that to a guy. For the record, we did get some pressure on Grothe, but it wasn't the same kind of "Holy &*^*^! How in the heck did he get here that fast!" type of speed rushes that Buie and Selvie put out there.
So, if we don't have the talent for the pass rush, you need to use a scheme to do it. We saw validation that Clint Bowen really had been calling the defense for the past few years. Same plan as always -- no blitz on first down on their half of the field. Keep the linebackers five yards deep on first down -- great against the run, but not so great against the pass with a quarterback like Grothe (there a better QBs coming). Listen I thought we were clear on this -- you have to re-invent yourself every year. Break your tendencies.
Concern #2
This goes back to the quarterback battle between Bill Whittemore and Zach Dyer. It took about three plays for the fans to know that Whittemore was the real deal. Still in week 2, Dyer was the starter. Follow that up with the mis-calculation of not getting Jason Swanson prepared to play in 2005. How about continuing to play a one-armed Kerry Meier over Todd Reesing at the end of 2006? Listen carefully. Angus Quigley is the best running back on the field right now. If I can point to a single avoidable reason why we lost this game, it was that we didn't utilize Angus Quigley as a runner in the first half to bruise up the USF defense and shorten the game. I don't have the patience for this anymore. A coaching mistake cost us a very winnable game.
Concern #3
Putting up 34 on the road against USF is a great output (only scored more at OSU last year [43]). The one thing that bothers me is that I didn't see anything new. Understandable against FIU and LA Tech, but this was a big game. There's a whole season of film on this offense and teams are going to come at us prepared. Innovate or die.
The Randoms
