Entries by DJ Goodwin (750)
DJ GoodwinKansas Football Updated Recruiting List (2009 Class)
OFFENSE
PS Player/Location/Ht/Wt/40/Signed
QB -- Christian Matthews/Arlington, TX -- 6-3/180/4.6 -- 6/20/2008
QB -- Jordan Webb/Union, MO-- 6-0/204 -- 4/12/2008
RB -- Deshaun Sands/Coconut Creek, FL -- 5-9/175/4.5 -- 4/10/2008
OL -- Tom Mabry/Althoff, IL -- 6-5/270 --10/13/2008
OL -- Gavin Howard/Owasso, OK -- 6-5/260 -- 6/23/08
OL -- Riley Spencer/Hesston, KS -- 6-6/265/5.1 -- 6/22/08
DEFENSE
PS Player/Location/Ht/Wt/40/Signed
DE -- Jacoby Thomas/Texarkana, TX -- 6-3/223/4.71-- 12/9/2008
DE -- Randall Dent/Grand Prairie, TX-- 6-4/256/4.9 -- 12/7/2008
DE -- Tyrone Sellers/McCook, NE -- 6-4/215/4.57 -- 7/2/2008
LB -- Julian Jones/Lawton, OK -- 6-2/253 -- 10/27/2008
LB -- Huldon Tharp/Mulvane, KS -- 6-0/208/4.65 -- 8/25/2008
DB -- Calvin Rubles/Tyler, TX (JUCO) -- 6-2/180/4.4-- 12/10/2008
DB -- Dexter Linton/Arlington,TX -- 6-0/180 -- 6/20/2008
DB -- Darian Kelly/Girard, KS -- 6-2/195/4.5 -- 6/5/2008
DB -- Prinz Kande/Euless, TS -- 5-11/182/4.5 -- 6/2/2008
DB -- Tyler Patmon/Cedar Park,TX -- 5-11/180 -- 4/17/2008
Updated 12/12/08
Preferred Walk-Ons:
DB -- Rashawn Copeland/Highland, KS (JUCO) -- 6-2/190/4.4 -- 12/8/2008
Defections:
WR -- Neil Barlow
LB -- Earnest Norman
DE -- Kevin Young
Barry Sanders Jr -- Literally
I feel bad for #52 in this video. He really wants it, but in the end, it's a fail.
Friday Recycle: Quigley and Recruiting
Angus Quigley / Photo: annependleton.com
Had to do a little business travel this week and no free internet at the hotel, so the staff has fallen behind a bit. Besides the Insight Bowl announcement here's some of the stuff that caught my eye ...
QUIGLEY TO LB?
Yeah, it sounds great -- for spring of 2007. At this point, I think we have to admit that the personnel at running back has been mismanaged. The ideal scenario would have been for AQ to be moved last spring, the have Carmen Boyd-Anderson and Jake Sharp splitting time during the season while redshirting Jocques Crawford. Redshirting JC would have been a tough call, but I think not keeping CBA on deck was a mistake. The job is open in 2010. At 6-2/222. AQ is the right size and speed for LB and I'd love to see him rushing the QB, but it's hard to imagine he'll get that position figured out in one season. (Source - Dugan at KUsports)
WHY PAY FOR RIVALS?
DenverJayhawk at Rock Chalk Talk has pretty much eliminated the need for a premium subscription at Rivals. His interviews with the recruits are the best content out there and if you were following this week he had posts on two new defensive backs that will join the Jayhawks -- Three-star Rashawn Copeland from Highland CC and JC Three-Star Calvin Rubles from Tyler Texas. Copeland will join KU this spring as a preferred walk-on.
HELP AT DE ON THE WAY
Rivals is listing Randall Dent and Jacoby Thomas (RCT Breakdown) as new commitments at defensive end for the Jayhawks this week. Dent is listed as a three-star but Rivals has not yet rated Thomas. Signing two defensive ends is pretty nice after losing Olathe, Kansas three-star Kevin Young to Nebraska.
RIVALS PROFILE LINKS
DE Randall Dent
DE Jacoby Thomas
DB Calvin Rubles
DB Rashawn Copeland
Big 12 Championship Recycle: Boomer Sooner Style
Boomer Sooner / credit: photo mojo (flickr CC)
ALL OU, ALL THE TIME
Well, I don't think anyone was surprised by the 62-21 smash-up of Missouri by Oklahoma. Jason Whitlock is right on one account, the Sooners have the spread figured out. It's not too challenging. If you have better athletes at every position on the defensive side of the ball, you pretty much suck the life out of these prima donna style offenses. It starts with good cover skills in the secondary and then you mix in a d-line that can get pressure with four guys and you're pretty much set. Once the seconday is warmed up and sticking like glue, you can start blitzing just to make it more fun.
THE FUTURE
Too me, the future is Georgia Tech's Paul Johnson. Of course, defensive coordinators that can recruit top talent and coach the fundamentals are like the Holy Grail right now. However, if you can solve the defensive side of the equation, an old-style running attack is going to be very effective and morally crushing in the future. They'll eat the clock and run straight at these defenses that will be built on speed.
OKLAHOMA vs FLORIDA
On this one, Jason Whitlock is wrong. OU is going to demolish Florida. Why? Simple repetition. The Sooners have played their offense against teams that know how to defend them. Florida may have the athletes, but they don't have a season's worth of preparation. On the other side, again OU's defense has been doing this all year. They'll get more of a challenge out of their scout team. The only way OU fails is if they read, watch and listen to the media hype as they will be spinning this as an even matchup. As a Big 12 fan, here's my take -- OU, you better deliver the message because I think there are about four additional teams in the conference that would be more than willing to eat up the Gators. No screwing around, get your job done.
OU vs TEXAS
Yep, that would be the real championship game. I say the players set an informal date at some high school in Texas around February 1. OU can bring their trophy and the winner takes all.
NEBRASKA vs MU
I'm kind of surprised that MU isn't a little sore about being picked after Nebraska in the Big 12 bowl pecking order. You know, after trashing the Huskers in Lincoln. Of course, everyone understands how it works in the bowl system and the Tigers probably feel pretty good about playing in Texas for recruiting purposes.
KU vs NORTHWESTERN
The Alamo Bowl did miss out on a potential game that would have had some serious appeal to KU football fans. We'd all like to get another shot at the variation of Wildcat. Still, playing at an outdoor venue in a warm weather location has a ton of appeal.
BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
I could not find an online version, but the KC Star had a really cool two-thirds page photo/text summary of of all the Big 12 Championship games. It would have been much better in color but it packs a lot of information. Like there are five teams that have never played in the game -- KU, ISU, Tech, Baylor and OSU. Also, of the seven teams that have made it, they've all been in more than once. I want in.
Big 12 Predict-O-Scores: OU/MU Championship Game
As usual, the VIC-20 supercomputer is picking a close one. On paper, you sure like OU and Bob Stoops, but the Tigers sure have a few things in their favor -- the cold, a serious desire to erase the KU game, recent experience on the turf and probably a pretty good base fans at Arrowhead. We'll see:
Oklahoma 38, Missouri 33
Vegas has moved OU up to a 17-point favorite this week
Friday Recycle: Joe Bob + Tom Osborne vs Competition
BACK TO THE LAND OF PURPLE
So despite the arrival of a new bio lab in Manhattan, defensive line coach Joe Bob Clements is heading back to coach the defensive line at KSU. I respect the fact that he is loyal to his school. That's what makes college football fun. The interesting thing to me is debating whether or not it is a good career move. If Bill Snyder coaches for another five years, most will view that as a miracle. Three sounds like a good number to me. So, I guess Clements can expect a promotion or another job search in very short time. That's the coaching game I suppose -- but it seems like an un-necessary gamble.
From the KU perspective, some fans are indicating they didn't see much improvement on the d-line anyway, so no big deal. I'll point to the last two games as examples. Not flawless, but definitely their pressure factored into both games. Also, if you check the sack totals, we're up this year (23 vs 21) despite a big time schedule and the loss of James McClinton plus Todd Haselhorst. No, I think Clements was making progress. However, it does present an opportunity to upgrade and if any assistants are out there looking at this position, with the experienced young talent we have on the front four, you can walk in and look like a genius.
One thing we do have to watch though is the recruits that Clements had on board. We've had enough defections this year. Here's the list:
Gavin Howard (OL)
Julian Jones (LB)
Prinz Kande (DB)
Huldon Tharp (LB)
TOM OSBORNE WAS SCARED
The KC Star's Blair Kerkoff presented some Big 12 history that I was unaware of this morning. Evidently, Tom Osborne rallied the coaches during the formation of the Big 12 to vote 11-0 against (apparently R.C. Slocum was working on his e-newsletter) the concept of football championship game. According to Kerkoff the coaches were comfortable with the divisions and just wanted the division winners to head to the bowl games? Boy, I'd love some clarification on that because that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard.
It always amazes me to hear Texas, OU and Nebraska whine about the Big 12 Championship Game (B12CG). I can remember every Big 12 football champion, but I can't remember the national champion unless it was a Big 12 team. In fact, I have a hard time remembering the basketball conference champion -- generally I just assume it was KU. You've heard me say it a million times -- the Big 12 Title game is the only game that matters. The rest is just some sort of crazy post-season exhibition fantasy pageant built to support tourism.* You may get lucky and do all the right things to get in but often times it's not based on merit, so why worry about it. The B12CG is earned, logical and played on the field. Sure the south division is a mess this year, but the fact the two that tied and got left out held their own fate and didn't deliver. I can think of a better tie-breaker, but OU earns the spot according the rules. Done and done.
*I do like how the bowl system rewards players on something like 64 teams for sacrificing their bodies during a 12-game regular season. They get a nice trip and tons of swag even in the small bowls. I think that's the least the NCAA can do for those guys.
Thursday Recycle: The Kevin Young Situation
Great Scott
I thought I'd do a little write up on Kevin Young this morning. You've no doubt heard that the three-star defensive end from Olathe, Kansas has switched his commitment from KU to Nebraska. The timing was interesting as the info rolled out on Monday -- still near the peak of one of the greatest moments I've witnessed in KU football history.
Anyway, after heading over to the Phog gridiron board, what a mess? I guess our DL coach Joe Bob Clements is leaving to join Bill Snyder's staff (wow!) and now you have people (possibly friends or family) upset at posters on the KU Rivals board that criticized the switch.
Great scott. First, I really just wanted to say that it is hard for me to conceive of playing high school football in the Kansas City area and not picking either KU or Mizzou considering the commitment to Arrowhead for another four years and the impact that is having nationally. Second, I really can't imagine a Kansas kid watching that game and then saying, "Hey, I don't want to be a part of that -- Lincoln, Nebraska here I come. I want to be famous in the state of Nebraska. Weee!!!"
Of course, losing the DL coach probably has to factor in, but I kept my opinions pretty guarded on the Blake Lawrence situation a few years ago. He's #2 on the depth chart behind a senior, so maybe he'll get his shot as a junior. My take though is Nebraska takes KC kids sells them on the "tradition" and then puts them on the shelf strictly to keep them out of the hands of KU and MU on the off chance that they could develop. Before NU fans jump me on that, I see nothing wrong with that tactic -- it's called winning.
For local kids though, I honestly don't think you're going to get your best shot to play football up there. Listen, you can and will play football here and we do beat Nebraska and on top of that we will get into that Big 12 Championship game and win it and now is a great time to come to KU because the heart of your football career will occur during our weak south rotation. We'll go to battle those years with our recruits earned from the 12-1 Orange Bowl season. The point? Local guys, this is just the tip of the iceberg -- you're going to miss out on something special and that's just sad because I want every Kansas kid that can to be a part of it. However, for those that have made their decisions, farewell and best of luck in the land of red.
I'll get into the Job Bob situation later ...
Around the Big 12: Week #14
Three-Way Ties For Everyone
Okay, figuring out who is the champion of the south is impossible. In the case of a three-way tie, I believe all three teams should be disqualified and the last place team in the division should be awarded the Big 12 Championship birth. Or maybe we should give it to the winner of some lightweight conference like the Mountain West, Conference USA or the Big 10.
Anyway, I finally resolved it in my mind by giving each type of game a point value:
Road Win = 6
Neutral Win = 5
Home Win = 4
Road Loss = 3
Neutral Loss = 2
Home Loss = 1
Accounting for only the games played between Tech, OU and Texas the points are as follows -- Texas 8, Texas Tech 7 and Oklahoma 6. I'm still going to rank OU ahead of Tech, but I'm going to give Texas my top spot for now.
I'd also like to point out that NU, MU and KU all went 4-1 in their division and the only reason we avoided a three-way in the north is due to the extra loss KU took against south teams. MU and Nebraska each picked up their only south win against Baylor. Could I even make an argument that OU, Texas and Tech don't have it as rough as KU because we actually had to play all three of them -- they only have to play two. Oh well, the rotation comes back in 2010/2011 and that'll be just right for the new QB.
1 (A+ 98%) - Texas (11-1)
Really, make the interception in Lubbock and we avoid all of this. Of course, if there was a playoff, Texas would probably get over the Conference title loss due to a chance for redemption on the national stage. Hmm, maybe that makes the case for the bowl system and how it creates huge regular season games that really matter. I don't know, I think I'm still with Mike Leach on the 64-team playoff system.
(HD rank 4-4-3-3-3-3-1-1-1-2-2-2-2-1)
2 (A+ 98%) - Oklahoma (11-1)
The Sooners are going to have to win out to get back to the top of my poll.
(HD rank 1-1-1-1-1-1-3-3-3-3-3-3-1-2)
3 (A 92%) - Texas Tech (11-1)
You kind of wonder if it's ever going to happen for Tech. I'd petition to join the North.
(HD rank 5-5-4-4-4-4-4-4-2-1-1-1-3-3-3)
4 (B+ 89%) - Oklahoma State (9-3)
Definitely not ready for primetime yet. Still a 9-3 season is a pretty good jump from a 6-6 regular season result last year.
(HD rank 6-6-6-7-6-6-2-2-4-4-4-4-4-4)
5 (B+ 88%) - Missouri (9-3)
The Chase Daniel era is fading away, but that changes drastically if the Tigers come up with something to take down Oklahoma at Arrowhead. They should note that KU battled the Sooners for a while down in Norman.
(HD rank 2-2-2-2-2-2-5-5-5-5-5-5-5)
6 (B+ 88%) - Nebraska (8-4)
The Huskers snatched one away from CU with an amazing 57-yard surprise field goal. Doesn't seem like the Corn should have struggled that much at home, but it is a rivalry game. Will they move it to Denver?
(HD rank 8-7-7-8-8-8-9-7-6-7-6-6-6-6)
7 (B+ 87%) - Kansas (7-5)
Personally, I feel like we're a better team than both MU and NU, but you've got to go with the results on the field and the Huskers got us pretty good in Lincoln. I guess Phil Steele nailed it with third place and a 7-5 record, but I think we were a lot closer to 9-3 than he would have imagined. Of course, we were also a lot closer to 5-7 than I ever would have imagined.
(HD rank 3-3-5-6-5-5-6-6-7-6-7-7-7-7)
8 (C 75%) Baylor (4-8)
Yes, I raised the Bears five percent after a road loss. This is a dangerous team and it'll be interesting to see what they bring to the table next year.
(HD rank 11-11-10-9-9-10-8-10-10-8-8-8-8-8)
9 (D 65%) - Kansas State (5-7)
You're still going to keep the Power Towel promo right? I'm still bringing it to every game.
(HD rank 9-9-9-10-10-11-7-9-9-9-9-9-9-9)
10 (D- 61%) Texas A&M (4-8)
Did the Aggies really do the right thing?
(HD rank 12-12-12-12-12-12-12-11-11-10-10-10-10-10)
11 (D- 60%) - Colorado (5-7)
Pretty good defense for the Buffs ... too bad they couldn't get a hand up.
(HD rank 7-8-8-5-7-7-10-8-8-11-11-11-11-11)
12 (F- 49%) Iowa State (2-11)
Still securing the bottom spot.
(HD rank 10-10-11-11-11-9-11-12-12-12-12-12-12-12)
Inside the Tent: Kansas 40, Missouri 37
FROM ROW 15
Braggin' rights forever ended a little early. It disappeared over Kerry Meier's shoulder into the south endzone then glanced off Philip Strozier's extended hand a few plays later. Braggin' rights forever? C'mon, it's the war. It doesn't matter if you're playing for the national title in front of 80,000 or both teams come in 0-11. The only thing that matters is scoreboard and KU has it for this particular 365 day period.
THE GOOD
Jake Laptad gets the safety. That's when I knew. After two years of watching Chase Daniel stand back and pick us apart with no harrassment, I knew when he went down in the same endzone that Missouri snagged Todd Reesing to end the 2007 game. Irony, I love it.
BONUS GOOD
The end-game duel between Chase Daniel and Todd Reesing. It sure was nice to see Reesing win this one, especially with one of his typical avoid the rush plays. You know the one where he locates "Old Reliable" at the last minute. With the timeout prior, you have a lot of time to think about that one as a fan. My thought line was something along the following line. In situations like this you sometimes see the type of play that you remember forever. And we did.
THE BAD
Probably shouldn't even mention it as the defense set this up by playing three-and-a-half quarters with absolute guts. You could see that they had everything in this one because they were out of gas at the end and the tackling suffered ... or maybe the Tigers slicked up their jerseys with Vaseline or something. Again though, no criticism because they set up Todd Reesing for a final duel and their faith in the snake wrangler from Texas paid off.
THE SWEET
Guess who won't be here next year? Yep, #10 in yellow is gone. So is #45. And in my opininion, Jeremy Maclin is absolutely ready for the NFL. Why chance injury next year while a new QB learns the ropes? On the flip side, I'll be looking forward to watching Todd Reesing, Dezmon Briscoe, Kerry Meier, Jake Sharp, Darrell Stuckey, Jake Laptad, Max O and many more return to Arrowhead for the 2009 game.
WHAT'S NEXT
Well, we'll root against Mizzou on Saturday and wait for our official bid to the Insight Bowl next Sunday. Looks like we'll get Minnesota and I certainly like a Big 10 matchup. In the meantime, it's time to start up the campaign for dragging KU fans out to Arrowhead for the 2009 game. Hey, it's a four-year deal now and we know all of the negatives, but we're locked in. Plus, the Kansas players voted with their play on Saturday and delivered a victory to remember. Now, it's time for KU fan to step up and claim your side of the stadium. We're on the cusp now as a program and though we've improved our football fan base quite a bit, it's time to take it to the next level. It's time to toughen up and be a factor in every game. Forget the campus atmosphere and game day revenue for Lawrence merchants -- the number one reason KU fans are skipping the Arrowhead Border War is they don't like interacting with MU fans. No, it's not pleasant, but maybe that's the way it's supposed to be. It's a war on the field and the players have to go earn it. Maybe, KU fan needs to earn it in the stands as well -- cheer your team, set an unwavering example of good sportsmanship and maybe see something special.
