Thursday, March 29, 2007
By Asher Fusco
The 2007 season is still five months away, but the Kansas football team is already hard at work trying to cure some of the ills that it suffered last season.
First and foremost, coach Mark Mangino is focused on improving his team’s pass defense. However, the changes are not taking place exclusively in the defensive secondary. The coaching staff is hoping to add speed to a defensive line that had trouble pressuring the quarterback.
“Anytime you can put pressure on the quarterback, it’s your number one pass defense,” Mangino said after Wednesday’s practice. “We want to force him to throw the ball before he’d like to.”
With the loss of defensive end Paul Como and defensive tackle Wayne Wilder to graduation, several spots on the line are up for grabs. Two weeks into spring practice, sophomore Max Onyegbule, junior Russell Brorsen, and sophomore Jeff Wheeler have established themselves as the competitors for the two defensive end jobs.
nutgraf
Senior James McClinton is the incumbent at defensive tackle and the leader of the defense. Caleb Blakesley could be the front-runner at the other defensive tackle spot.
Last season, Brorsen started eight games and led the team with three forced fumbles. Two of those fumbles came in the victory against Kansas State.
Senior James McClinton is the incumbent at defensive tackle and the leader of the defense. Caleb Blakesley could be the front-runner at the other defensive tackle spot.
Among the group of moderately experienced defensive ends, Onyegbule stands out as the wild card. After being converted from linebacker to defensive end late in the 2006 season, the Arlington, Texas, native has shown an ideal combination of strength and speed.
“It’s important to have some speed off of the edge,” Mangino said. “It squeezes the pocket and puts pressure on the quarterback and running back.”
Onyegbule, at 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, will add a dimension the Kansas defense sorely lacked for much of last season: a consistent pass rush. A quick defensive end like Onyegbule will also take pressure off McClinton, allowing him to focus his energy on stopping the run.
“He’s young, so he’s still learning what to do,” McClinton said of Onyegbule. “He’s going to be a good player, a good athlete. He’s having an impact out there.”
The defensive secondary will also look a bit different from last year’s version. Junior college transfers Patrick Resby and Kendrick Harper have already made their presence felt. Resby, a junior, who Mangino said is still learning the ropes, will compete for playing time at strong safety. Harper, also a junior, is in the mix to receive playing time opposite All-Big 12 First Team junior Aqib Talib at cornerback.
“Kendrick is doing well, getting a lot of reps, and learning on the run,” Mangino said. “I like his attitude. He is a feisty guy who is very focused on his work.”
Between the infusion of fresh blood from Harper and Onyegbule and senior leadership from McClinton, the Jayhawk defense may be equipped to piece together the pass defense puzzle.
Kansan sportswriter Asher Fusco can be contacted at afusco@kansan.com.
—Edited by Lisa Tilson
Football spring practice begins today
The Jayhawks begin preparation for the 2007 season today as they look ...
Mangino looking to reshape Kansas defense
Junior defensive end Max Onyegbule is one of the most improved players ...
Linebacking positions brimming with talent
Mangino predicts the linebackers will be strong for the year. The defensive ...
Leadership important for senior tackle
The football team will open the 2007 season without many of its ...
2008 depth chart
At Monday’s spring scrimmage, the Jayhawks showcased their skills.
Notes: Haselhorst’s status unknown
Coach Mark Mangino said junior defensive tackle Todd Haselhorst had a “great ...
Scrimmage to set tempo for fall season
Sunday's scrimmage at Memorial Stadium will be the teams first exposure to ...
Spring Scrimmage in review
Couldn't make it to the Spring Scrimmage? No worries, Kansan.com has a ...
Football Notes: Sept. 12, 2007
Here are some notes from Saturday's football game.
Defensive line tries to keep pressure on
Defensive line answers Mangino’s call
After Kansas coach Mark Mangino called for a better showing from his ...
Surprising season deserves top grades
The Jayhawks shone in nearly every facet of the game this season, ...
Safety key to Kansas defense
After being sidelined for the first five games of last season, Kansas ...
Football report card: October 17, 2007
Sportswriter Asher Fusco evaluates the Jayhawks performance thus far this season
Defensive tackle earns football honors
James McClinton joins 103 candidates on the preseason eligibility list for the ...
Football Notes: September 19, 2007
Here are some notes from KU's game last Saturday
Fusco: Spring scrimmage brings no worries for ...
The offense looked ugly, but the defense stood out in last week's ...
Football Notes: September 26, 2007
Updates and National Attention for Football Jayhawks
Coaches shuffling starting roles in early
Injuries and players moving on has created an opportunities to start for ...
Fusco: NFL less than generous to Jayhawks
Aqib Talib and James McClinton might have deserved better pro bids.
KU plans ahead for K-State rivalry
With the Sunflower showdown only a few days away, the Jayhawks reveal ...
Football Notes: November 16, 2007
Here's what's happening in Kansas football for November 16, 2007
Football team blends together deliciously
The Jayhawks most successful season in over a century is a product ...
Jayhawks stuff Aggies 19-11
Texas A&M came into Saturday's game against Kansas as the nation's fifth ...
New players, new plan
A gutsy fourth-down decision by coach Mark Mangino sparked an outstanding performance ...
Game Day: Kansas vs. Central Michigan
This Saturday the Kansas football team takes on Central Mighigan University in ...
Football Notes: October 31, 2007
Find out who coach Mark Mangino picked as players of the week.
Fusco, Keefer: Kansas impressive but not perfect
The 62-0 victory against the Lions may have been expected, but it ...
Football Notes: November 19, 2007
Here's what's going on in college football
Mangino goes all out for win
Kansas wasn't conservative in its season-opener, going for a fourth-and-one and showcasing ...
Football Notes: November 13, 2007
These are the football notes for November 13, 2007.
KU Gameday: November 20, 2007.
This is the gameday info.
Kansas keeps focus, wins 45-7
Though Kansas fans may have been thinking ahead to the looming Border ...
Montemayor: McClinton returns for pro day
Kansas’ former defensive lineman looking for second chance to be drafted.
Football Notes: September 6, 2007
An update on junior cornerback Kendrick Harper’s recovery from injury and information ...
Football Game Day: September 8, 2007
How do the Jayhawks compare to the Lions? Asher Fusco and Case ...
Kansas football defense must rebuild
New recruits and returners may struggle to take graduates’ places
Jayhawks win ground battle
Kansas’ early fourth-and-one stop of Texas A&M set the tone for the ...
Football notes: February 27, 2008
Former Kansas players finish NFL Combine tryouts.
Fusco: Bill Young’s move to Miami affects ...
Columnist proves Bill Young was an asset during his KU coaching career
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