Friday, September 19, 2008
A quick look at the Kansas football stat sheet shows that the Kansas running game has averaged just 105 yards per game. Angus Quigley, the team’s third-string running back at the beginning of the season, leads the team in rushing with just 153 yards in three games.
The problem for coach Mark Mangino and Kansas is not that the run game is struggling, but trying to figure out why.
Angus Quigley, a third-string running back, leads the Jayhawks in rushing with 153 yards in three games, including their loss at South Florida last Friday. Starter Jake Sharp and transfer Jocques Crawford have recorded 62 and 64 yards, respectively. The team hopes to use tomorrow's game against Sam Houston State to jump start its running game.
“The run game is obviously not where we want it to be at this point in time,” Mangino said. “We are behind in that area and there are several reasons for it.”
One group to blame, obviously, is the running backs. Junior college transfer Jocques Crawford has just 64 yards on the ground and Jake Sharp, who has started all three games, has only 62.
“I don’t think the running backs at times are seeing things as well as they ought to,” Mangino said. “I think there are times when there are creases and lanes and we are just not seeing them.”
Another group to blame is the offensive line, which features three returning starters on the interior but two freshman tackles on the outside. Jeff Spikes and Jeremiah Hatch are playing in their first few games at the college level, but Mangino said it would be unfair to put the blame on them.
“I’m guilty of this myself — we’ve put a lot of it on the shoulders of the two tackles,” Mangino said. “And when we watch the tape, those guys are a small part of the problem. They’re not the problem.”
Perhaps the biggest reason for the running game’s struggles has been the blocking of the wide receivers. Several plays have been close to becoming long runs, but opposing cornerbacks have been able to break lose from the KU wide receivers and make the tackles. Mangino has been critical of the wideouts in recent days, but Jonathan Wilson said that they are working to improve.
“It’s not as easy as everyone thinks it is,” Wilson said. “You’re out in the open, and the refs can see a lot more of what’s going on. You can’t do all that holding and stuff like that. They can dodge out of the way, so you have to keep your feet under you and keep a good base. We’re going to work on that. I expect us to do better.”
Playing a sub-par team such as Saturday’s opponent, Sam Houston State, should provide a much-needed chance for the Jayhawks to get their running game going. With a bye week to follow before Big 12 Conference play starts Oct. 4th at Iowa State, the offense needs to get their running game going or else.
“We will do the things that are necessary,” Mangino said. “Obviously we will practice it and if it does not improve we will make personnel changes if we need to.”
— — Edited by Kelsey Hayes
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