Monday, August 13, 2007
Injuries have already started to take their toll on the Jayhawks. Two players projected to crack the defensive starting lineup are sidelined. Junior defensive tackle Todd Haselhorst suffered an injury during summer workouts, but Mangino said he should be healthy for the Sept.1 season opener. Junior cornerback Kendrick Harper could be out for the next four to six weeks with an injury he sustained on the first day of fall practices. Harper is tentatively scheduled to make his return to the field by the time Big 12 Conference play begins in early October. Mangino did not go into detail on the nature of the injuries.
At times during the first open practice of the fall the offensive line looked shaky. After the loss of three starters from last year’s dependable unit, experienced juniors Ryan Cantrell and Chet Hartley should be able to fill in at center and right guard. But the most important piece of the offensive line could be junior guard Adrian Mayes, who has seen action in only one collegiate game, appeared. He overmatched in 11-on-11 drills earlier this month. At media day, junior tackle Anthony Collins said the team was not concerned about the turnover on the offensive line. “We’re more athletic, we’re more skilled, and we’re bigger. We’re better than last year,” Collins said.
Mangino said he was pleased with early returns from a few true freshmen. Mangino said freshman wide receivers Dezmon Briscoe and Jonathan Wilson and running back Carmon Boyd-Anderson could see playing time. On defense, cornerback Chris Harris, defensive tackle Richard Johnson Jr. and defensive end Jake Laptad all made favorable impressions in the first several practices. Offensive coordinator Ed Warinner said the addition of Briscoe and Wilson would give the wide receiving corps much-needed depth.
After nearly every play of the open practice, defensive coaches shouted terms like “bandit”, “base one” and “base two”. Every command was followed by players hustling around and swapping positions. “We’ve been jumping around a lot,” Mangino said. “We’re just utilizing different packages to play to the strengths of our linebackers.”
Mangino said the team was using nearly all of its allotted three hours of practice time every day. The team’s open practice lasted about two and a half hours and was followed by a short conditioning session. The start of practice was comfortable, but temperatures were rising quickly. “I’m not going to lie — it’s getting pretty hot out here,” said senior tight end Derek Fine. “But it’s just a part of football. You kind of come to expect it.”
A new NCAA rule could result in more injuries and more excitement. This season, kickoffs are being moved from the 35-yard line to the 30-yard line. The five-yard shift will cut down on the number of touchbacks and add more kick return opportunities. Though the rule change could benefit Kansas and its solid kick returners, Mangino said he was not looking forward to the adjustment because of the additional collisions that could take place.
— Edited by Dianne Smith
Football Notes: Sept. 12, 2007
Here are some notes from Saturday's football game.
Linebacking positions brimming with talent
Mangino predicts the linebackers will be strong for the year. The defensive ...
How Kansas could avoid another Oklahoma
Blame for Saturday’s loss should be spread around, but Mangino has only ...
Notes: Haselhorst’s status unknown
Coach Mark Mangino said junior defensive tackle Todd Haselhorst had a “great ...
Offensive duo shows progress
Matt Darton and Jeff Spikes will play in positions that were previously ...
Kansas football defense must rebuild
New recruits and returners may struggle to take graduates’ places
Coaches shuffling starting roles in early
Injuries and players moving on has created an opportunities to start for ...
Crawford aims for 2,000-yard season
The running back said he and tailback Jake Sharp could rack up ...
Strategy problems lead to KU losses
The football team is struggling on several levels on a four-game losing ...
Football spring practice begins today
The Jayhawks begin preparation for the 2007 season today as they look ...
Gameday: KU plays Colorado Oct. 11
Jayhawk football breakdown and predictions
Football Notes: September 19, 2007
Here are some notes from KU's game last Saturday
Football Notes: September 6, 2007
An update on junior cornerback Kendrick Harper’s recovery from injury and information ...
Defensive strength highlights spring game
Kansas' spring football game was marked by a lackluster offense and a ...
Football practice sees position changes
Two starters suspended this spring; status to be reviewed this week.
Defense clamps down in Kansas' 34-7 victory
The Jayhawks hold the Miners to four rushing yards Saturday night
Kansas to face another stiff defense
The Kansas football team lost its perfect season when it played Missouri ...
Porous defense looking for answers
Poor tackling cited as main reason for Jayhawks’ struggles on the defensive ...
Junior safety’s play highlights victory
With his touchdown-saving play in the third quarter, Darrell Stuckey ensures his ...
Kansas hits opponents with the pass
The Jayhawk offense capitalizes on defenses’ preoccupation with the running game.
New players, new plan
A gutsy fourth-down decision by coach Mark Mangino sparked an outstanding performance ...
Stuck on You
Darrell Stuckey's third quarter play exemplifies what the Jayhawk defense is all ...
Kansas wins 35-33
The Jayhawks faced a 20-point halftime deficit, but Todd Reesing threw three ...
Gordon garners accolades, awards
Shutout victory against Louisiana Tech spotlights junior ...
Although overlooked as an offensive star during the preseason, Angus Quigley currently ...
Red zone woes lead to Jayhawk loss
Kansas clings to victory, avoids upset against ...
Defense struggles heavily but the offense picks up the slack.
Offensive line talented but inexperienced
With three starters gone from last year’s line, a couple of back-ups ...
Kansas struggles to slow Southern Miss
Team wins despite defensive problems in the first three quarters.
Kansas keeps focus, wins 45-7
Though Kansas fans may have been thinking ahead to the looming Border ...
Injured Harper prepares for return
Return of cornerback may help Kansas’ passing defense in Big 12 opener ...
Football team readies for opening game
Although he’s facing an opposing squad that the University trounced last year, ...
Reesing’s starting chances increasing
Sophomore quarterback Todd Reesing appears to be the likely starter at quarterback. ...
Veteran offensive line looks to improve
Jayhawks unable to clinch a late victory
Furious comeback in the second half came just short of giving Kansas ...
Football players bounce back from injuries
Kendrick Harper and Dexton Fields are expected to play against Iowa State ...
Reesing benched, offensive line struggles
Mangino says he is not afraid to rearrange lineup.
Talib shines in spring scrimmage
Coach Mark Mangino allowed both quarterbacks to be "live," meaning they could ...
New offensive line grows in offseason
Young players fill holes and take on new responsibilities.
Past plays make future predictions
Football team learns from mistakes to prepare for conference games.
From left: Kimberlee Hinkle, Libby Johnson and Hannah ...
1 comment
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID