Game Preview: KU vs South Florida

 

Photo: www.annependleton.com

Hawk Digest Newsletter #2 PDF -- USF 2008
(all issues located here)

Series: KU 1-0
Time: September 12, 7:00 p.m. (CT)
Venue: Raymond James Stadium (65,857) Location: Tampa, Fla.
TV: ESPN2
Line: South Florida (-3.5)

Most Recent Meetings:
2006 KU 13, South Florida 7

Hawk Digest Preseason Capsule on South Florida

The Rundown
Well, the secret little playoff game in Tampa Bay gets under way tonight on ESPN2 and though the national media is passing on this one, the winner really should move to the fringe of national title talk. For KU, the pattern continues you on -- you have to keep winning to get respect. For Mark Mangino and the Jayhawks, respect is now defined as being discussed on national TV as a team that will eventually get exposed. We have to continue winning to keep that going, but you set 'em up, we'll knock 'em down. Really, the pressure is on USF tonight because teams that lose to Kansas get tossed on the scrap heap.

The Key
USF has a great run defense, so it's tough to expect KU to get things rolling there tonight. Especially considering that FIU and LA Tech have somewhat proven the strategy at least slows the Hawks down by holding KU under their home scoring average. The Jayhawk wideouts have looked good so far, but they'll have to deal with a much bigger secondary tonight. Still if the receivers are game and Reesing can spread the ball around the field early on, I think the run game will start to open up in the second half. We like to create tight, physical games on the road and I suspect we'll use Angus Quigley as a punisher tonight. We've really got to run at George Selvie to get some hits in and take his wind away on the pass rush. On the other side of the ball, we'd clearly like to limit Matt Grothe's running ability. We've obviously got the defense to do that, but he seems to get his yards each week. This will be a nice challenge for the senior LBs.

The Bullets

• Pass conference? Angus Quigley is seventh on the list of Big 12 rushers at 65.5 yards per game. If he could push that over 70 this week, he could possibly jump up to fourth
• Todd Reesing ranks second in the conference in passing yards per game (334). Graham Harrell is at 416.5
• Kerry Meier leads the Big 12 with 18 catches 
• Dezmon Briscoe is averaging 100.5 yards per game (fourth in conference) 
• Daymond Patterson is averaging 20.6 yards per punt return to lead the Big 12 
• Phillip Strozier is tied for the conference lead with four passes defended 
• Tim Biere is now listed as the Jayhawks #1 tight end. Last week though, KU opened with four wideouts
• Kansas leads the nation in pass efficiency defense at 51.84
• KU is 4-8 vs ranked teams in the Mark Mangino era.
  
• KU has won four straight road games.
  
• The Hawks have won eight-in-a-row against non-conference opponents, but this is the first true road game during that streak
• Last non-con loss was that 2006 road game against Toledo (31-37 2OT)  

"Everybody always says we play cupcakes and stuff. This is a respect game for us. We want to prove that we should be ranked even higher."
--Chris Harris, Kansas cornerback