Everything you need to know about Kansas football

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GAME 1: Kansas 49, I-AA Northwestern St. 18  Story

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Game 3: Toledo 37, Kansas 31, OT Story

Athlon's Kansas 2006 Team Preview

Athlon Sports

Published: July 22nd, 2006

ATHLON SPORTS 2006 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEWS

The jokes have stopped. If you’re going to praise Mark Mangino for anything, credit him with forcing an end to all those one-liners about Kansas being a one-sport school. Mangino heard them all during his first three years in Lawrence.

Kansas loses an early season game: “When does basketball start?â€Â

“People can’t say that anymore,†says Kansas AD Lew Perkins. “We knew all along that basketball and football could be successful here. Now we’re starting to prove it.â€Â

Indeed, Kansas set home attendance records during a 2005 season that saw the Jayhawks end their 36-game losing streak against Nebraska. Their berth in the Fort Worth Bowl marked their second postseason appearance in the last three years. Campus spirit shops sold KU football garb as quickly as they did hoops apparel. Make no mistake: They still love their basketball in Lawrence  but football is a big deal now, too.

It’s not as if Kansas still doesn’t have a long way to go. The Jayhawks’ 7–5 finish in 2005 marked their only winning record in the last 10 seasons.

Mangino believes this year’s squad can build on that success, but only if it gets banner efforts from a freshman quarterback who’s never taken a college snap and a defense that features eight new starters.

“We’re not holding it together with spit and putty anymore,†says Mangino, now in his fifth year. “We’ve got good, solid football players who are stepping up for the kids that graduated. We’re light years ahead of where we were in 2002.â€Â

LOWDOWN

Coach: Mark Mangino (5th season, 19-29)

2005 record: 7-5 (Beat Houston in Fort Worth Bowl)

Big 12 finish: 3-5 (5th North)

2005 I-A offensive rankings:

Rushing: 75th (134.0 ypg)

Passing: 88th (195.7 ypg)

2005 I-A defensive rankings:

Rushing: 3rd (83.3 ypg)

Passing: 59th (220.0 ypg)

DEPTH CHART

Offense (6)

WR  80  Dominic Roux  Sr.  86  Marcus Henry  Jr.

WR  6  *Brian Murph  Sr.  11  Jonathan Lamb  Sr.

WR  88  Dexton Fields  So.  13  Marcus Herford  So.

LT  65  *Cesar Rodriguez  Jr.  69  Travis Dambach  Sr.

LG  77  *Bob Whitaker  Sr.  64  Jake Cox  Sr.

C  74  *David Ochoa  Sr.  76  Matt Mann  Sr.

RG  50  *Ryan Cantrell  So.  67  Rameses Arceo  Jr.

RT  78  Anthony Collins  So.  60  Jose Rodriguez  Fr.

TE  85  *Derek Fine  Jr.  96  Mark Dierking  Jr.

QB  10  Kerry Meier  Fr.  7  Adam Barmann  Sr.

RB  29  Jon Cornish  Sr.  22  Angus Quigley  Fr.

Defense (3)

DE  92  Rodney Allen  Sr.  97  John McCoy  Sr.

DT  91  Wayne Wilder  Sr.  94  Caleb Blakesley  Fr.

DT  93  *James McClinton  Jr.  72  Todd Haselhorst  So.

DE  98  Paul Como  Sr.  87  John Larson  So.

OLB  37  Joe Mortensen  So.  58  Jake Schermer  Fr.

MLB  40  Mike Rivera  So.  16  Brandon Duncan  Fr.

OLB  33  Eric Washington  Sr.  12  James Holt  So.

CB  3  *Aqib Talib  So.  31  Michael McCoy  Jr.

CB  23  Blake Bueltel  Jr.  38  Raymond Brown  So.

SS  24  *Jerome Kemp  Sr.  36  Tang Bacheyie  So.

FS  25  Darrell Stuckey  Fr.  27  Sadiq Muhammad  So.

Special Teams

K  39  Scott Webb  Jr.

P  15  Kyle Tucker  Jr.

KR  2  Kenneth Thompson  Sr.

PR  2  Kenneth Thompson  Sr.

(#) Indicates number of returning starters

* Indicates returning starters

2006 SCHEDULE

Sept. 2  Northwestern State

Sept. 9  UL Monroe

Sept. 16  at Toledo

Sept. 23  South Florida

Sept. 30  at Nebraska

Oct. 7  Texas A&M

Oct. 14  Oklahoma State

Oct. 21  at Baylor

Oct. 28  Colorado

Nov. 4  at Iowa State

Nov. 18  Kansas State

Nov. 25  at Missouri

OFFENSE

If Kansas earns a second consecutive bowl berth for the first time in school history, it will do so with a freshman calling the shots under center. Yes, for the first time in recent memory, Kansas will enter August two-a-days without a quarterback controversy. Head coach Mark Mangino has anointed Kerry Meier as the starter, and anyone who watched Kansas’ spring game can understand why.

At 6'3" and 210 pounds, Meier has the body and athleticism of an NFL signal-caller. By the end of spring drills, receivers were doting on the zip and accuracy of Meier’s passes, and coaches bragged about Meier’s speed and ability to pick up yards on the ground.

“As of right now, physically, I think I’m all right to run (our offense),†Meier said. “My mentality as a quarterback has to come along. But I’m ready to work at it and get better.â€Â

Even if Meier plays beyond his years, he may not be the team’s biggest offensive threat. Tailback Jon Cornish is primed to become KU’s first 1,000-yard back in 10 seasons following a breakthrough campaign in 2005.

“The way the o-line and I have been talking … 1,000 yards would be a disappointment,†the 205-pound Cornish says. Especially considering Kansas returns four starters in the trenches.

The Jayhawks’ biggest weakness may come at receiver, where their most-proven commodity is tight end Derek Fine.

DEFENSE

Kansas loses eight starters from a unit that led the Big 12 in rush defense a year ago, but it’s not as if the cupboard is bare.

Linebackers Joe Mortensen, Mike Rivera and Eric Washington are eager to step into the limelight after playing behind Kevin Kane, Banks Floodman and Nick Reid, the league’s 2005 Defensive Player of the Year, the last two seasons. “We’re not trying to fill their shoes,†Rivera says. “We’re trying to make new shoes.â€Â

Mangino says this group of linebackers has more athleticism and speed than the previous unit. The question is their intangibles.

Kansas’ toughest challenge on defense will be replacing end Charlton Keith, arguably Kansas’ top player of the last decade. Coaches couldn’t be any higher on Rodney Allen, one of the country’s top junior college prospects in 2004.

Still, the biggest area of concern for Kansas is its secondary, because of a lack of depth.

Cornerback Aqib Talib is a NFL prospect who will contend for All-Big 12 – and maybe All-America – honors. Scouts love his height (6'2") and closing speed. Kansas would like to redshirt true freshman Anthony Webb, but a lack of numbers may force him onto the field.

SPECIALISTS

The Jayhawks couldn’t be feeling any better about their kicking game. Scott Webb may not be known for his distance, but the junior was 11-of-13 from inside 40 yards last season, when he made 27-of-29 extra points. Even better: Kyle Tucker was one of 10 finalists for the Ray Guy Award, which is given annually to the nation’s top punter.

FINAL ANALYSIS

Fans in Lawrence still love their hoops, but football is a big deal now, too. Mangino has created excitement about the program by leading the Jayhawks to two bowl games in the last three years.

Even though one of the top defenses in school history will have to be rebuilt, the Jayhawks still like their chances in the league race. Barring an injury to Meier or Cornish, Kansas’ offense should be vastly improved. The schedule is quite a bit easier, too. Instead of Texas, Oklahoma and Texas Tech, the Jayhawks get Baylor, Oklahoma State and Texas A&M. That, if nothing else, should keep Mangino’s squad in the hunt until the end.

[BigShoop]

Weakness in the secondary? Hmmmm.....can they cover 4 WRs at a time?

Lack of WRs on offense? Good, cause Mike Jenkins cant cover anybody.

[John Browns Body]

A more accurate Depth Chart.

http://www.kansas.rivals.com/cdepthtext.asp

[John Browns Body]

Weakness in the secondary? Hmmmm.....can they cover 4 WRs at a time?

Lack of WRs on offense? Good, cause Mike Jenkins cant cover anybody.

Yes they can cover 4. We play in a conference with Texas Tech. But it'll be tough Saturday.

The WR's have been a big surprise. I for one am more concerned with the OL. They have been underwhelming, to say the least.

[Matt]

we got this one    ;D

[Jamie]

I have to admit, all I know about Kansas football is that Lucy Draper (played by Kathy Ireland) kicked a last-second field goal in a monsoon to give the Texas State Fightin' Armadillos a hard-earned 3-3 tie with them in Necessary Roughness.

[DontPushMe]

is this game on tv in the bay area?

if not, any chance of an online link to watch?

[Brad]

is this game on tv in the bay area?

if not, any chance of an online link to watch?

DPM,

It's on Fox Sports Net - almost nationwide, if not nationwide...you should be able to see it in Tampa, provided you have cable or DTV.

[John Browns Body]

we got this one    ;D

Good luck Rezz!

[E.T.]

... Good, cause Mike Jenkins cant cover anybody.

:

He leads the team in Pass Deflections . . . and is equal to Trae.

Go BULLS !!!