Big 12 Preview: Kansas Jayhawks
July 11th, 2008 by James Lawrence
Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas Tech are the hot topics and perceived title contenders. However, the question on everybody’s mind in the Big 12 is just how good are the Kansas Jayhawks? From 2002-2006, Mark Mangino’s Jayhawks posted a 25-35 record, although beyond a disastrous 2-10 ’02 record, they were essentially a .500 team. Perhaps this is why their 4-0 start in 2007 didn’t generate the same buzz as other surprise teams plowing through cupcake schedules (hello, Boston College).
Around the time the Jayhawks hit 8-0, KU was a part of the top 10 discussion. At 11-0, they were two games away from the BCS Championship. Unfortunately they were disposed of rather handily by a tough Missouri squad. This prompted lots of questions – including ones from yours truly – about the legitimacy of an 11-1 team with a very weak schedule. Such questions were answered in a consistent, if not dominant, Orange Bowl victory over Virginia Tech.
Mark Mangino has compiled an unimpressive 37-36 total record at Kansas, 2-1 in bowl games. Don’t let the numbers fools you – Mangino is a great coach who needed time to turn around a horrible program. The Jayhawks had endured six consecutive losing seasons before his arrival.
Ed Warinner returns for his third season as KU’s offensive coordinator. However, former defensive coordinator Bill Young left for the greener pastures of Miami and will be replaced by last year’s co-defensive coordinator Clint Bowen.
Todd Reesing (above, Icon SMI) is the man who makes this offense go and he returns for his second year as the Jayhawks’ starting quarterback. Last season, he threw for nearly 3500 yards (20th nationally in yards per game), a 62% completion percentage, and a 33-7 ratio. His 148.8 rating was 14th nationally and Reesing figures to be among that third grouping of QBs who sees significant time in most fantasy leagues.
The Jayhawks do lose starting halfback Brandon McAnderson, the team’s only 1000-yard rusher last season who also ran in 16 TDs. There’s little (if any) dropoff between him and new starter Jake Sharp, who put up similar numbers (821 yards, 7 TD, 5.6 ypc) last season as McAnderson. Sharp also has the benefit of becoming more of a featured back in 2008 versus the dual-RB approach to 2007.
Roughly half of the production at receiver returns in 2008, including receptions-leader Dexton Fields. Fields hauled in 63 receptions for 834 yards and six scores last season and could push 1000 and 10 in 2008. Dezmon Briscoe was productive in the red zone in 2007, grabbing 7 TDs despite just 43 catches. As the #2 WR in 2008, his numbers should improve dramatically. Kerry Meier will be completing the transition from QB to WR as he becomes the third receiver after being used more as a utility man in 2007. Meier is one of very few players who can claim to have run, thrown, and caught touchdowns last season. You can expect his role to remain a very versatile one in 2008. Marcus Herford, who had a major role on the special teams in 2007, also figures to become more incorporated in the offense in 2008. The tight end position, however, is inexperienced and there is nobody worth looking at here.
Defensively, Kansas finished 4th in scoring last season and in 2008 they will be returning nine starters. This includes the four leading tacklers and one of two interception leaders. Unfortunately, one of the two losses is Thorpe-winning cornerback Aqib Talib, who provided lockdown coverage, lead the team in interceptions, and even scored four offensive touchdowns. Talib’s pick-six was arguably the difference in the Orange Bowl and its early timing certainly allowed Kansas to control the flow of the game. He is replaced by a senior, Kendrick Harper, but not a very highly recruited player with limited game experience. It will be the safeties – Darrell Stuckey (72 tackles, 2 int) and Justin Thornton (46 tkl, 5 int) – who anchor the secondary while the three linebackers lead the defense as a whole.
On the special teams, Stephen Hoge is a first-year kicker who had an 86% FG percentage in high school as well as an 85% touchback percentage. It is tough to speculate how he will perform at the college level. Marcus Herford is a beastly return man who took two kickoffs back for TDs in 2007 and averaged 28.6 yards a pop. As Kansas faces livelier offenses this year, his return productivity should increase with more kickoffs returned.
If you thought Kansas’ 2007 schedule caused the team to be overrated by the polls, you’ll think the opposite in 2008. After two home warm-up games, the Jayhawks travel to South Florida to face a tough Bulls team very similar to themselves. The Jayhawks must travel to Oklahoma and host Texas Tech in consecutive October games. November features a trip to Nebraska followed by a visit from Texas, a week off, and then a rivalry game against Missouri. We’re not sure about USF and Nebraska, but I’m thinking that five or six teams on that schedule finish the season ranked, two or maybe even three in the top ten. It’ll be tough for the Jayhawks to win games and as a result it will be tough for their players to consistently put up strong fantasy numbers. Watch when you start these guys, although a tough opponent doesn’t necessarily mean bad numbers as lots of the decisive Big 12 games could turn into shootouts in 2008.
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