Kansas Jayhawks 2006 Football Preview:

With an Offense, These Jayhawks May Feast

By Big12-Fans Writer Brandon Reese

I’m looking back over my yearly resolutions and it’s a little disappointing. Six months after the fact I haven’t dropped a single pound. If anything I’ve gained five. I’m still smoking around a pack a day and my savings haven’t tripled like I’d anticipated. I haven’t learned a new language yet; I’m not working out three times a week, or once a week for that matter. But down near the bottom of the list, I find one resolution I haven’t yet broken. There’s one chance to redeem myself and this article represents the first of what Kansas fans hope will be the first of many attempts to stave off temptation. I haven’t made a joke about Mark Mangino’s girth, and it’s my solemn goal to fulfill that promise to myself.

Speaking of eating, how about Kansas’s finish last year? They feasted on four of their last five opponents, with that one loss coming to eventual national champion, Texas. They kicked Nebraska’s teeth in, garnering their first victory over the Shuckers in over 30 years. They earned their first bowl bid since getting romped in the 2003 Tangerine Bowl, and scored their first bowl victory since 1995 in the Aloha Bowl. They did it with a hungry defense and an offense that finally started showing up around week six.

For the purpose of this entry, I guess the main question is, “How does last year’s relative success translate to this year’s potential?” And I’m so glad I asked.

Early on, defense will be the phase of the game that wins games. Again, the offense is more than capable of dropping a couple. Home dates against Northwestern St. and Louisiana-Monroe don’t present significant challenges, but a road date at MAC up and comer Toledo could present problems, followed by South Florida at home. Kansas will know where they stand early as neither of these teams is a pushover.

Last year’s 11th ranked defense will be a disappointment if they’re not as rigid as they were last year. They lost some solid players, mainly linebackers, but the interior line and defensive backs expect to make up for that inexperience. James McClinton and Wayne Wilder look to be mainstays in the middle, with a pair of backups that would start at most other Big 12 schools, Todd Haselhorst and Caleb Blakesly. The defensive ends are expected Paul Como and Rodney Allen. Allen is widely regarded as what could possibly be the largest factor on this side of the ball. He’s fast for his 6’2” 290 lb. frame, and can flat out close the door on runs to the corner. Cornerback Aqib Talib will spearhead the defensive backfield and will be expected to permaseal whoever he’s covering. At safety, a possible highlight reel exists in Jerome Kemp, and the remaining slots will be filled with juco transfers Blake Beutel and Mike McCoy, redshirt Tang Bachieye and Darrell Stuckey. While they’re green, all of them have the wheels to play and will be expected to step into their roles without any back steps. Incoming freshman standout Anthony Webb will see some time, and may step into a starting role if he can make the necessary plays.

Oddly enough, an offensive minded coach like Mangino has had no luck on that side of the ball. This is as stacked an offense as the Jayhawks have fielded since he took over there. They return four starting offensive lineman, but two of those five slots will be filled with new starters. Jake Cox is a juco transfer expected to start at center and former backup Anthony Collins will take over at tackle. Tight end Derek Fine is what all coaches look for in a tight end. He’s a big target that can block well and suck up anything heading his way. Senior John Cornish returns to his running back spot, after averaging close to 4.5 ypc in the last five games. This is where things get very bleak. You’ll hear Kansas fans talk about how talented redshirt freshman QB Kerry Meier is. I don’t want to take a thing away from the kid, because he practices against one of the top defensive units in the country. What I will say, is expect very little from him, especially early. It will take time for him to adjust to game speed in the Big 12. He will cost the Jayhawks a couple of games with bad throws and poor decisions. It’s nothing to get down on him about, but it will happen. Meier will be a stud at Kansas in the next two years, but until then he’s stew. I hear both of Kansas Blue’s football fans whining all the way down here in Texas, so let me explain further. It’s not all Meier’s fault. He’s young, and his receivers leave a lot to be desired. Brian Murph is the only returning starter. He gained 368 yards on 33 catches, which isn’t exactly lighting it up. With no recognized deep threats or possession guys, Meier is literally building it brick by brick.

Kansas has some potential in building a midlevel Big 12 program this year. They’ll make a bowl this year, and doing that in back to back years is a true testament to Mangino and how he sets the table in terms of schedule and recruiting. He’s put together a couple of cupcakes out of conference, but there’s plenty of meat with South Florida and Toledo to get respect. Somehow, Kansas drew the bottom three South finishers so this offense could get fat on opposing defenses early in the conference schedule. It’ll be another year of serious parity in the North, but I’ll say Kansas will throw their weight around and likely finish third or fourth in the conference.

You thought I couldn’t do it. A whole Kansas article and not a single Mangino fat joke. Nobody said the next six months would be easy.