Haselhorst and Webb Departure: The Impact

Todd Haselhorst battles in the 2008 Spring Game | www.annependleton.com

Deep Impact?

Losing both Todd Haselhorst and Anthony Webb strikes an odd chord as they happen to play the only two positions that lost starters on the Blue Steel defense. With the daily barrage of articles and blogs labeling KU overrated and primed for a big fall in 2008, fans of the KU gridiron have no interest in losing players from the two-deep. It's reported that Haselhorst is hanging it up due to health concerns and that is certainly understandable. Still, it hurts to see the big man go. Personally, it may be that I just was hoping for a breakthrough senior season after a career filled with injuries. Ever since Todd walked into that Big Blue Monday in Overland Park with Mike Rivera as two highly-touted local recruits back in 2004, I was pretty much a fan. Todd played as a true freshman and really showed quite a bit that first year. I was always rooting for a big-time comeback, but it doesn't always work out that way. Still, there's much more to life than football, so on behalf of all Jayhawk fans, we wish you the best.

Impact: Rivals is showing Jamal Greene and Richard Johnson Jr. as the starters, but I have a hard time believing Caleb Blakesly will not earn a starting position after playing so much in 2007. That trio is solid, but you can also throw Patrick Dorsey into the mix and incoming recruit Darius Parish who is built ready to play at 6-3/325/5.08 forty. Losing the experience and depth hurts but in the long run it just means more playing time for some youngsters. If they perform, we will not notice that much of a drop-off.

The Anthony Webb Situation

You can argue this one many ways. Anthony Webb came in as recruit with high expectations and played as a true freshman in 2006. He's been criticized on the boards for his technique and he certainly had some struggles that first year, but he also had some big moments with a couple of INTs vs KSU on Senior Day. However, he didn't earn any points last year with fans for his fielding of the ball on punt returns. Still, with his natural talent, it seemed like it was too bad for him to be working as a #2. With Harper in for one more year, it seemed like he would be in the mix to battle for that starting spot. Maybe it was never meant to be, but I feel like he could have stuck to it that he really did have the potential to be a solid Big 12 corner. Good luck to Anthony as well and we'll always remember him for returning that INT for the TD against K-State.

Impact: As long as Kendrick Harper stays healthy, it shouldn't factor in too much. Isiah Barfield will see some serious time this year and I suspect Ryan Murphy will get into the mix as well.