Sophomore cornerback Ryan Murphy forces an incompletion during the first half. Murphy recorded his second interception of the season in Kansas' 35-13 loss.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
In a morning meeting between two ranked teams — an expected showdown featuring two talented and explosive offenses — Kansas’ game against Texas Tech last season followed that high-scoring script. At least early on.
The Jayhawks and Red Raiders each posted 14 points in the first quarter and the day’s shootout seemed fully underway. Instead, Texas Tech scored the next seven touchdowns, dismantling Kansas 63-21 for all to see.
It’s a lesson — an embarrassment really — that both Kansas’ players and coaches certainly remember.
“We had a lot of problems last year with them,” defensive coordinator Clint Bowen said. “We didn’t rush them or cover them. It was a double-edged sword of negativity.”
More than any game to this point in the season, Texas Tech presents the ultimate challenge for Kansas’ rather inexperienced secondary that features two freshmen starters.
The Red Raiders have played three quarterbacks this season, a problem coach Mike Leach has rarely had to deal with. But Texas Tech’s production has hardly dipped.
Leach’s high-powered attack still ranks first nationally in passing yards, second in passes attempted and first in touchdown passes.
“It’s a quick-strike offense. In one play, points can be up on the board,” sophomore cornerback Daymond Patterson said. “We found that out last year.”
Yet the Jayhawks enter this season with fresh faces dotting the secondary: Freshmen safety Lubbock Smith and cornerback D.J. Beshears started last week against Oklahoma while also playing heavily against Colorado two weeks ago.
Patterson and some of the more seasoned Jayhawks attempted to verbalize the experience of defending Texas Tech’s offense to some of the younger players this week.
The message was rather simple. Every team in the Big 12 throws the ball at a high frequency. Texas Tech throws it even more than most.
“We just said on first down you’re going to see a lot more passes than you usually do,” Patterson said.
Much of the conversation surrounding Kansas’ football team the past two weeks has revolved around the changes in the secondary. And rightfully so, as coach Mark Mangino and his staff decided to insert new starters mid-season for the second consecutive year.
But the switches also reveal an underlying problem that has plagued Kansas since Aqib Talib turned his sights on the NFL after the 2007 season.
The Jayhawks simply don’t possess a natural playmaker at the cornerback position.
“In the past we had Aqib Talib who could mess everything up and return 100 yards for a touchdown,” Bowen said. “We don’t have that right now.”
When facing a team with a historically explosive offense, though, a popular question usually surfaces: Can a defense actually stop Texas Tech or are the Red Raiders a lock to amass large numbers in the passing game?
At least outwardly, the Jayhawks ripped that idea to pieces.
“I don’t believe that they deserve to get their yards because they’re Texas Tech and they’ve got that system,” Bowen said. “I ain’t buying into that. We’ve got to stop them. We can’t give up yards.”
Still, Kansas’ secondary will be faced with the Big 12’s most daunting test.
Texas Tech has built a reputation as a team that generally picks defenses apart with a relentless pass attack. Certainly, after last season’s debacle, the Jayhawks fully understand that concept.
“We will be tested this week,” Mangino said. “This will be a good test for our defense on how to play the ball and how to compete one-on-one with guys.”
— Edited by Tim Burgess
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