Confucius Say …

As most of you know, it was an extremely disappointing weekend. Many of us have been soul searching trying to figure out just how we lost that game to South Florida last Friday. Although we must keep it in perspective that the loss doesn’t mean the season is over, it is a considerable blow and we need to correct some things going forward.

I decided to contact my spiritual leader, Confucius, to see if he could offer any insight. Here were his words of wisdom:

1) Man with one half have twice as much as nothing, but only half as much as everything:

The South Florida game was a game of two very different halves. I thought we played the first half with intensity and a hunger to win, and conversely the third quarter was about the worst performance I’ve seen from the Jayhawks in quite a while. You have to like the comeback in the fourth, and we should probably give some credit to the Bulls, but we’ve got to play the game for all four quarters or it will be a long conference season.

2) Big Tackles with slow feet usually find opponent has the upper hand:

I know Mangino says he’s not concerned about our young tackles … sorry, that’s just wrong. It is a big concern. I’m not putting this all on Spikes, that’s a pretty big job stopping George Selvie; but we have got to do a better job protecting Reesing. We definitely need some help on the outside. If the running backs aren’t going to be running the ball, they better be blocking.

3) Man who has wedgie can run forward to find comfort in Endzone:

What happened to our return game? Perhaps the most entertaining part of the first 2 games was watching the excitement that was our special teams play and punt returns. DP Electric was that X factor that energized our team, and I thought we had a pretty poor showing on both kick and punt returns at USF. I felt like both Herford and Patterson were dancing around back there. Maybe it was poor blocking (should we go back to the basics with the wedge?), maybe it was just good coverage, but I think we’ve got to do better than that with our return game.

4) Linebacker who buys into system, usually get quarterback:

All in all, the linebacker play was pretty good. James Holt had a monster game with something like 13 tackles, but I was really hoping that I would have heard Mortensen’s and Rivera’s names called quite a bit more. These guys are the heart and soul of the defense, and they have got to get it going. These guys understand the system, and should be meeting at the quarterback with regularity, or if not, they should be racking up their tackle totals.

5) Spread Offense and Spread Girlfriend the same, soon lead to score:

I love this offense, and I love the way Reesing scrambles and moves the ball around. Meier is leading the nation in receptions, and Johnathan Wilson had a tremendous breakout game. We all know what Briscoe can do and once we get Fields back, our receiving corps is going to be that much better. I do hope we can find a way to mix in the tight end and more importantly some running plays, because at some point we’re going to become pretty predictable.

6) Good Defense and Angry Wife also the same, lead to certain denial:

I also believe this is an awesome defense. We went nearly 10 quarters this season without allowing an offensive touchdown and then it blew up on us. We know how good the linebackers are, and the secondary is young but talented. If we can just find a way to generate some pressure up front, life will not be fun for the opposition.

Look Who's On The ESPN Front Page

 

Here's the full article link: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&page=dash0803&sportCat=ncf

 

Around the Big 12: Week #3

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 

Inside the Tent: South Florida 37, Kansas 34

“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

• Hey, the national pundits finally had their day. Wee! Keep saying it every game and eventually you are right. I'm impressed.
  
• Kerry Meier. 11 receptions, 120 yards. Really I don't need to say anything else.
  
• Nice breakout by Johnathan Wilson 10 catches, 171 yards and two TDs.
  
• You got the feeling that the USF defense had #80 and #28 burned in their brains.
  
• This is a rough one. USF obviously showed what they could do, but with the game on the line in the fourth quarter, it really didn't seem like they did anything to win the game other than the safety making a great runback. KU was stuffing their run and moving the ball all over. Quigley was running hard. It just comes down to what you think is a fairly safe deep ball that gets picked and returned for a field goal attempt. I feel unsatisfied. Like Teddy KGB just took me for three stacks of high society.

South Florida Live Thread in the Forum

Ready to rock! Get in on the live game thread here. 

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

Brand New Big 12 Predict-O-Scores - Week #3

The week we unveil the Hawk Digest Predict-O-Score results developed in the HD summer R&D lab. The Predict-O-Score VIC-20 supercomputer has never been wrong. Of course, it's also never been tested before, but let's fire this sucker up with a few of the BCS match-ups for the Big 12 this week:

Kansas 29, @ South Florida 27
Vegas line is USF -3.5

Oklahoma 34, @ Washington 27
Vegas line is OU -20.5

Iowa State 17, @ Iowa 27
Vegas line is Iowa -13.5

Washington State 30, @ Baylor 26
Vegas line is now PICK EM (Baylor opened at -5)

Yes, the Predict-O-Score Computer picked three out of four road games. Results are absolutely not guaranteed.

Credit: c.j.b (Flickr CC)

Update on Sunday, September 14, 2008 at 08:47AM by DJ Goodwin

The Predict-O-Score got off to a pretty mediocre going 2-2. The KU/USF game almost produced a nice 3-1 record, but that's how it goes.

As a spread-beater, the P-O-S fared no better at 2-2 -- way off on both the OU and Baylor games. Let's see how the VIC-20 fares next week before we start kicking it around. 

Are You Ready For South Florida?

This might help.

Sound and the Fury: South Florida + Rip His (censored) Head Off

Credit: davierae (Flickr CC)

What concerns you most about the matchup with South Florida?
Brian Hanni and David Lawrence tipped me off to this factor. USF is very tall all across the defense -- including the secondary (6-1, 6-4, 6-2, 6-0). Of course, we know that a tall defensive line means -- the o-line has to create lanes for Todd Reesing. However, the bigger concern is that the Bulls could go ahead and stack the box like FIU and LA Tech to stop the run. Those teams fell to KU, but they held the Jayhawks well under their scoring average, so the strategy isn't necessarily a failure.

That leaves the USF secondary matched up in a lot of one-on-one with our talented wide receiver unit. Bigger DBs means more tie-ups at the line. So, as high as I am on our young set of wide receivers, I think their challenge this week will be escaping their cover man in individual matchups. If they can do that, we are good. It'll be a nice test and great experience for the OU game.

Also, consider that USF may be able to slow our running game with just a base defense. Stopping the run is what they do. Oregon went crazy on them last year in the bowl game (353) but prior to that they were only allowing 112 yards on the ground per game (131 ave after Oregon). In our 2006 game with the Bulls, they held us to our second lowest output of the year at 118 yards and our lowest ypc of 3.4. That was of course, the year of Jon Cornish.

Still, I like what Angus Quigley has been doing and I expect improvement in the run game this week. I also think rotating three backs will be good for Jocques Crawford as you sometimes gain perspective from the sideline.

What's your take on the students' profanity laced kickoff cheer?
The lady that sat next to me for the FIU game asked me what the students were chanting. I told her. She seemed pretty offended. I guess it's the profanity, because no one has any problems with the "hit 'em again, harder, harder" cheer. I suppose it's not the best example of sportsmanship out there, but it is college and there is a certain level of rowdiness that all students feel the need to strive for -- I mean D-Day, Otter and Bluto set the bar pretty high. I say it's all in good fun and on occasion in life you'll be exposed to a little profanity from young kids. Try to not to let it bother you.

One thing though, I believe in the tradition of Michigan hockey, the students are supposed to add another line or word to the phrase each year -- sort of a senior class gift.

Why do I have to see a Kansas State Ringtones ad everytime I come to Hawk Digest?
For the love of all that is sacred and holy isn't that about the most disappointing item to see each day as you tune into the only website on Earth dedicated solely to Kansas Jayhawk football. It's a necessary "evil" though. Google ads key off of words in the site and "Kansas" and "football" conjure up the old KSU ringtone ad. Evidently the Wildcat fans are still into buying ringtones. Good for them, we need the revenue here ... hoping to hit 100k this year. NOTE -- You can get Nebraska ringtones on the Big 12 Portal page. 

You Missed One

Finally, it’s hump day. We’re half way through another week, and that much closer to another Saturday. Earlier this week, I was browsing the web and came across this list of College Football’s Top 10 most obnoxious fan bases. It was intriguing and sort of gave me a new found understanding of why some of these school’s fanatics are so annoying to others. But, as I’m flipping the pictures and reading the captions, it occurs to me that there is one school that was noticeably overlooked. Yes, many of you may have already guessed it…The University of Missouri!

Look, I know I’m biased. I’m a lifelong Jayhawk with a general dislike for MU, and like so many of you, I know that KU represents all that is pure and good, while Mizzou has been described as Lucifer's alma mater; but here’s the deal. A good case can be made that MU fans should probably be on this list because in this rivalry based on the Border War, Missouri happened to be on the wrong side of slavery issue (and tried to bully Kansas into their little confederate club). Today's Mizzou fans score bonus obnoxiousness points when they brag about WIlliam Quantrill wasting roughly 150-200 civilians in Lawrence (followed by the obligatory town burning).

Personally,  I say they are Top 10 because of that rude, drunk, fan that showed his “sportsmanship” by spitting in my buddy’s face last year after Missouri won the Border War at Arrowhead, or because they chucked trash and screamed obscenities at me at my one, and most certainly last basketball game in Columbia.

All of that is I guess the standard off-the-shelf Mizzou nastiness, but really I think there is one large singular rationale that justifies why MU fans really need to be on this list. That reason is the incredibly annoying and insatiable obsession they have with KU. It’s the infamous “Antler” group that raids a visiting Jayhawk team’s hotel at 2:00 am in an effort to make enough noise to wake them the night before a game. Or how about that military hummer, complete with MU flags and stickers, that continuously rolls up and down Mission road honking its horn during a KU football rally. It’s this fascination with KU that is so hard to figure out, and brings obnoxiousness to a whole new level. I mean really MU fans, must you be so addicted to your dislike for KU that you would rather spend time hating KU than focusing on your own university? I wonder what on earth MU would do if there wasn’t a KU to hate. It’s quite sad, but it’s as if KU is necessary to define Missouri. 

Photo: KOMUnews (Flickr)

Those isolated (?) horror stories you hear time and time again of aggressive MU fans attacking others in a drunken stupor (although not entirely understood) are one thing, but it's the collective and extremely unhealthy  fixation on KU that puts this obnoxious group in the top 10 for me.

KU vs Louisiana Tech Chart Breakdown

We added the full table of stats this week as well (at the bottom). The main thing that jumped out at me is that maybe we were a little predictable running on 21 of 31 first down plays and passing 13 of 14 plays on third down. Of course, nine of those third downs were long yardage, plus as Mark Mangino said you might as well take what they give you.

 

  

Around the Big 12: Week #2

It was a perfect 12-0 week against non-BCS competition for the conference. This week the Big 12 needs to back up the talk as five teams will engage BCS competition (UT/Arkansas, OU/Washington, KU@USF, ISU@Iowa, Baylor/Wash St).

Big 12 vs BCS: 2-1
Big 12 vs All: 22-2

1-Oklahoma (2-0) #1, s = 81
At 21-14 it looked like a game at the half, but OU poured it on after the break and beat up on a pretty good Cincinnati team. I'd move the Sooners up a spot if I could. At Washington next week.
(HD rank 1-1)

2-Missouri (2-0) #6, s = 102
The Tiggers played an exhibition against SE Missouri and did what thye had to do. The result was an expected score of 52-3. The KC Star mentioned continued difficulty in pass coverage though. Nevada and Buffalo visit Columbia before MU heads to Lincoln for a "real" test.
(HD rank 2-2)

3-Kansas (2-0) #10, s = 17
Todd Reesing and his merry band of wideouts are on schedule. We'd like to see a running game, but it seems to get better in the fourth quarter when #22 carries the ball. Defense is solid, but we'd like to know more about the injuries. The Jayhawks head to South Florida now for a huge one. A lot to gain for the Jayhawks and the Big 12.
(HD rank 3-3)

4-Texas (2-0) #9, s = 46
UT gets a 42-13 over UTEP (0-2) and Colt McCoy is off to a nice start with a 7 to 1 TD to INT ratio. The Longhorns will get a much better measuring stick when Arkansas visits this Saturday.
(HD rank 4-4)

5-Texas Tech (2-0) #12, s = 105
Nevada racked up 488 yards of total offense, but the Tech defense was stout in the red zone. That could build confidence going forward. Graham Harrell was a little off as he hit just 19 of 46 and had two picks (297 yds). Home dates with SMU and UMASS are next. After a bye, the Red Raiders open Big 12 play at KSU.
(HD rank 5-5)

6-Oklahoma State (2-0) #34, s = 63
The Cowboys put up some big offensive numbers in their 56-37 win over Houston (1-1). The Cougars led 16-14 at the half but OSU had a 28-point outburst in the third quarter and ended up with 699 total yards! Home dates with Missouri St and Troy with a bye week between are up next. OSU hosts A&M for their Big 12 opener.
(HD rank 6-6)

7-Nebraska (2-0) #53, s = 6
The 35-12 win over San Jose St looks good in print, but this game was actually 14-12 in the early part of the fourth quarter before the Huskers got serious. The best news is that the NU defense had a three-and-out in the fourth quarter. That's a pretty big step in the right direction, so I bumped the Huskers up over Colorado. New Mexico St is next, then the Huskers will take two weeks to prepare for Virginia Tech.
(HD rank 8-7)

8-Colorado (2-0) #49, s =91
The Buffs win 31-24 over Eastern Washington, but this one was far from under control. The Buffs were down 21-7 at the half and got the winning score on an INT TD return with 1:44 left. That was after tying the game with just 2:05 left. Most teams like to relax a bit before taking on FSU and West Virginia, but hopefully, the bye will will help.
(HD rank 7-8)

9-Kansas State (2-0) #63, s = 64
Party like it's 1998! The Cats roll Montana St 69-10. Hey, the Buffs would have taken it back in 2006. KU fans don't believe it, but it is possible that Josh Freeman might be good. The Cats travel to Louisville for a Wednesday nighter (9/17).
(HD rank 9-9)

10-Iowa State (1-0) #82, s = 104
Progress is measured pretty easily here. The Clones knock off Kent State 48-28 one year after letting the Golden Flashes push them around in Ames (23-14 in 2007). At Iowa (2-0 vs Maine, FIU) this Saturday.
(HD rank 10-10)

11-Baylor (1-1) #85, s = 3
Northwestern St was just what Art Briles needed. The Bears roll 51-6. Washington State comes to Waco on Saturday. We'll see if anything was learned from the Wake Forest experience.
(HD rank 11-11)

12-Texas A&M (0-1) #89, s = 72
The Aggies get a 28-22 road win against New Mexico. The starting QB goes down and A&M improves -- what does that mean? After a bye week, Miami (FLA) comes to town.
(HD rank 12-12)

# = CBS Sportsline Rank

s = CBS Strength of Schedule