Fusco: Spring scrimmage brings no worries for Mangino

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

At first glance, Kansas looked downright shoddy in last week’s spring game. The offensive line that routinely bowled over opponents last season leaked like a sieve. The Jayhawks’ normally-swashbuckling junior quarterback Todd Reesing made his most impressive plays on defense – making two tackles after throwing interceptions. Reesing’s corps of receivers didn’t help him out by dropping several catchable passes, and the team’s running backs didn’t do much in the way of blocking.

But what sportswriters and fans interpreted as four quarters of ugliness, Kansas coach Mark Mangino seemed to like. Mangino, intense even on the best of days, didn’t condemn his starting offense’s 17-point, hit-or-miss effort. Instead, he quietly gave credit where credit was due.

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That Kansas’ defense has displayed continuity even after losing former defensive coordinator Bill Young shouldn’t come as a surprise.

“Defensively, we looked sharp – as I’ve said all along, we have a chance to have a pretty doggone good defense again,” Mangino said. “We’re looking for depth on defense, and I think we’re finding that in several kids who are going to play a lot.”

Heading into a season in which the Jayhawks will attempt to replace first-team All-American cornerback Aqib Talib and second-team All-American defensive tackle James McClinton, the defense’s strong showing against a proven offense is reason for optimism.

Senior cornerback Kendrick Harper, the favorite to step into Talib’s spot, made one of the most important plays of the spring scrimmage when he returned a fumble recovery 23 yards for a touchdown. Freshman defensive tackle Richard Johnson, Jr., proved why he was the front-runner to inherit McClinton’s job by making three tackles and displaying impressive strength for a player just shy of 280 pounds.

In the absence of senior linebacker Joe Mortensen and junior safety Justin Thornton, each a projected starter, youngsters Justin Springer and Phillip Strozier played capably. Springer, a sophomore linebacker, probably won’t pry Mortensen’s starting job away this season, but his 6-foot-4, 232-pound frame should give Kansas fans something to look forward to. Strozier, a sophomore safety, seemed comfortable and didn’t make any major miscues – the mark of a good defensive back.

Best of all, Kansas’ new defensive coordinator, Clint Bowen, didn’t give the defense much of a makeover. Just like last year, the Jayhawks lined up in a 4-3 set for most of the scrimmage. Just like last year, Kansas filled gaps and flawlessly executed the fundamentals. And just like last year, Kansas shut its opponent down – only this time, it held serve against the offense that led the Big 12 in scoring last season.

That Kansas’ defense has displayed continuity even after losing former defensive coordinator Bill Young shouldn’t come as a surprise. Bowen spent the last two seasons as the team’s co-defensive coordinator and has coached the Jayhawk safeties for five years.

“We have been grooming Clint to take over as defensive coordinator here because we knew that eventually Bill Young was getting close to retirement,” Mangino said. “A lot of the things you saw on the field last year were not only Bill Young’s stuff, but Clint Bowen’s, too. He’s had a major influence on our defense – schemes, everything. I think the transition has gone very well.”

Senior linebacker Mike Rivera echoed Mangino’s sentiments and said that Bowen’s youth – he graduated from Kansas in 1994 – helped him connect with the players on a personal level. With the same basic schemes, an infusion of new players at several positions and fresh blood at defensive coordinator, the 2008 Kansas defense could be special.

The slugfest of a spring game may have been tough for casual observers to stomach, but if Mangino wasn’t worried, there probably isn’t much to get worked up about. With last year’s 12-1 record as a witness, the man knows a thing or two about football.

—Edited by Mandy Earles

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