Quarterback job still unknown

Monday, April 16, 2007

Photo by Anna Faltermeier

Sophomore defensive end Richard Alspaugh attempts to tackle freshman quarterback Todd Reesing during the 2007 Spring Scrimmage in Memorial Stadium Sunday afternoon.

If fans intended to leave the Spring Scrimmage with a clear-cut picture of the Kansas quarterback situation, they left disappointed.

Sophomores Todd Reesing and Kerry Meier each had good moments on Sunday afternoon but no clear favorite to win the job emerged as the Blue team defeated the White team 48-0.

The score of the game can be taken with a grain of salt, considering the Blue squad was made up of primarily first-string players and the White team was comprised of reserves. The focus of the spring game was squarely on the competition for starting jobs and some standout individual performances.

Neither of the dueling quarterbacks was able to create any separation in the race for playing time. Reesing finished 10-for-20 for 171 yards, scurrying his way out of several potential sacks in the process. When Reesing was in the game, Kansas used a diverse array of plays, including short passes to senior tight end Derek Fine and longer throws to junior wide receivers Marcus Herford and Raymond Brown.

Meier was slightly less flashy than Reesing, but displayed good touch on several occasions, connecting with senior wide receiver Marcus Henry for two touchdowns. Meier finished 13-for-27 for 204 yards and an interception that sophomore safety Darrell Stuckey took the other way for an easy touchdown. But the lapse was an isolated incident and Meier showed poise throughout the scrimmage.

“It’s a heated competition,” coach Mark Mangino said. “Those guys are, in a friendly way, competing intensely.”

The 6-foot-4 Henry frequently utilized his notable size advantage against the second-stringers that covered him. He corralled six catches, gaining 150 yards and scoring three touchdowns. Henry has been one of the most promising Jayhawks during the past two seasons, but has yet to live up to his potential. He was at his best on Sunday, adjusting to poorly thrown passes, out-leaping defenders and picking up yardage after his catches.

“Marcus had a great spring,” Reesing said. “With his body type and his route running ability and the way he catches the ball I think he could step into the role of a number one receiver.”

The Blue team also dominated on the defensive side of the ball, allowing only 78 yards of total offense. The White offensive line was no match for the ferocious pass rush led by junior linebacker Joe Mortensen and junior defensive end John Larson.

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This year, we’ve got more experience. We’ve got more plays under our belt. We feel like more of a team right now.

-junior cornerback Aqib Talib

Mortensen laid several hefty hits on the quarterback and flew from sideline to sideline to tally 10 tackles and one sack. Thanks to Mortensen’s highlight-worthy game and the speed of junior outside linebacker James Holt, the defense looked nothing like last year’s version that was full of holes.

“I liked the way we were running to the ball on defense,” Mangino said. “We played the run pretty well. I liked the mental edge the defense of the Blue group had today.”

The secondary appeared to have made great strides during the five weeks of spring practices. Solidified by the addition of junior cornerback Kendrick Harper from Butler County Community College, the unit often forced the quarterbacks to tuck the ball and run when no receivers were open. Junior cornerback Aqib Talib said improved chemistry was key to the improved play of the defensive backfield.

“This year, we’ve got more experience. We’ve got more plays under our belt,” Talib said. “We feel like more of a team right now.”

More than four months remain until the Jayhawks’ season gets underway, but football-starved fans were anxious to take in some football in the middle of April. Sunday’s announced attendance was 8,200, the largest crowd for a spring game during the Mark Mangino era. Fans may not have learned which quarterback will emerge as the starter come fall, but for one afternoon they received a glimpse at the future, albeit uncertain, of Kansas football.

Kansan sportswriter Asher Fusco can be contacted at afusco@kansan.com.

— Edited by Sharla Shivers

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