Kansas Gameday

Offense: Entering last week, the Kansas offense was a mystery. After a jaw-dropping 538-yard performance against Central Michigan, only one question remains: will Kansas top 600 yards this Saturday? The new offense fit sophomore quarterback Todd Reesing like a glove, the receivers did not drop a single pass, junior tackle Anthony Collins bulldozed everyone in his path, and Brandon McAnderson looked elusive and quick as an every-down back. Coach Mark Mangino said Southeastern Louisiana could show Kansas some different setups on defense, but Kansas’ offense should find a way to light up the scoreboard often.

RATING: 4/5

Defense: The Jayhawks looked strong on defense last week. Senior defensive tackle James McClinton brought pressure up front, junior linebacker James Holt recorded nine tackles, and freshman cornerback Chris Harris more than held his own in his first collegiate game. Southeastern Louisiana only managed 14 points against New Mexico State, one of the more porous defenses in the nation, last week. The Kansas defenders should try to get their hits in early, because by the second half the reserves could be on the field.

RATING: 4/5

Special Teams: Out of all the impressive units last week, the special teams may have been the best. Senior kicker Scott Webb enjoyed one of his most impressive performances, making seven extra points, one field goal and placing three kickoffs in the end zone for touchbacks. Sophomore wide receiver Raimond Pendleton stole the show with his 77 yard punt return touchdown. His sure hands and good field vision make him a consistent long-return threat and a sure bet to field the ball cleanly. Senior punter Kyle Tucker only averaged 38.2 yards per punt but has shown the ability to pin opponents deep in their own territory.

RATING: 4/5

Momentum:Kansas currently has almost as much momentum as any team in the nation. Coming off of an absolute drubbing of a respectable Central Michigan team that set the season-opening attendance record, Kansas looks almost unstoppable at the moment. Mangino and his players were loose and confident post-game and the pressure has been lowered from its pre-Central Michigan level. The offense feels good about its new scheme and the defense feels good about its new personnel.

RATING: 5/5

Coaching: Mangino earned a gold star for his ambitious calls in fourth-and-short situations. He twice elected to go for first downs and twice gained the necessary yardage. The return of offensive coordinator Ed Warinner was the big story heading into the season and is an even bigger story now that his offense proved versatile and efficient. The no-huddle offense kept Central Michigan off-balance and resulted in 45 offensive points. There’s no telling what it could do to an overmatched FCS opponent like Southeastern Louisiana.

RATING: 5/5

At A Glance: After handling its toughest non-conference foe with ease last weekend, Kansas looks poised to start the season 4-0. Southeastern Louisiana’s talent level is nowhere near that of Kansas, but the Jayhawks must avoid growing complacent heading into Saturday’s game. Overlooking one non-conference opponent could throw the entire season overboard for the most promising team of the Mark Mangino era.

By the numbers (2007 and national rank):

Scoring offense: 52.0 ppg (10)

Rushing offense: 230 ypg (31)

Passing offense: 308 ypg (14)

Scoring defense: 7.0 ppg (20)

Rushing defense: 114 ypg (52)

Passing defense: 180 ypg (51)

Player to watch: Sophomore running back Jake Sharp

The Southeastern Louisiana defense likes to apply pressure to the quarterback to force miscues. If the Lions bring heavy blitzes, Reesing could toss a shovel pass or quick swing pass to Sharp as a safety valve. With the defense in front of him, Sharp finds ways to discover seams and gain yardage. With the defense behind him after an overzealous blitz, he could have an easy path to the end zone.

Questions:

Will the Jayhawks stay focused? All week long, Kansas players have denied feeling any sort of emotional letdown while preparing for a lower-division team like Southeastern Louisiana. Will Kansas be caught looking forward to next week’s rematch with Toledo?

Will Kansas score 50 again? Kansas blew Central Michigan’s supposedly decent defense out of the water last week, scoring 35 first half points before letting up on the accelerator. Southeastern Louisiana’s defense isn’t anywhere near as physical or talented as Central Michigan’s. The 50 point question may not be an “if?” but rather a “when?”

— Asher Fusco

Momentum: On the surface, the Lions have little momentum. They enter with a five-game losing streak dating back to the middle of last season. Southeastern Louisiana suffered a blow out 35-14 loss to its first FBS (formerly known as Division 1A) opponent last week and including Kansas, still has two more to face this season. The only other Big 12 team it ever played was Texas Tech last year, which resulted in a 62-0 loss. But all FCS (formerly known as Division 1AA) teams are receiving a minor boost in morale after Appalachian State’s heroics at Michigan last weekend.

RATING: 2/5

Coaching: Coach Mike Lucas took over as interim head coach with three games remaining last season. He was unable to lead the Lions to any wins and lost each game by an average of 16 points. Lucas was formerly the Southeastern Louisiana defensive coordinator and taking his place is first-time coordinator Matt Webb. Offensive coordinator Tommy Condell spent the last three years calling plays for two CFL teams, the Ottawa Renegades and the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

RATING: 1/5

— Case Keefer