I really like this approach. As much as I liked Reesing and everything he did for KU football, I think a big part of the problem last year was that Mangino refused to sit him when it really appeared that it needed to be done.

IIRC, Mangino got a lot of crap for benching Reesing at the end of a game, I believe Texas Tech.

I completely agree. We should have seen what Kale Pick could do with his arm. Not just his legs.

Climbing the chart: Freshman Webb playing his way into thick of QB battle

By Matt Tait


http://media.lawrence.com/img/croppe...6f48523261b548
Photo by Nick Krug
Kansas quarterback Jordan Webb pulls back to pass during football practice Monday at the practice fields. In the foreground is quarterback Kale Pick.

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The Kansas University quarterback listed last in alphabetical order on the roster might have played his way into first on the field.

Though no official depth chart was released, KU coach Turner Gill spoke glowingly about red-shirt freshman Jordan Webb at Monday’s practice.
“He’s been consistent,” Gill said of Webb. “He has great command in the huddle. I like his demeanor. He’s played smart, thrown the ball fairly well.

He’s got a good grasp of what we’re doing.”

Webb’s was the first name out of Gill’s mouth when the coach rattled off a short list of players who stood out during the first week of spring ball.

Considering Webb is competing for the starting quarterback job with five other guys, that’s no small feat.

Asked what he thought might have caught Gill’s eye, Webb hardly sounded like a player who believed the job was done.

“Everything’s moving kind of fast, learning this new offense,” Webb said.

“But it’s fun. We’re all out here having fun. We all have our strengths, and whoever wins the job is going to give us a good chance to win a lot of ballgames.”

Webb, 6-foot, 200 pounds, from Union, Mo., listed throwing and play-making as his strengths.

“I’m definitely a pass-first-type quarterback,” he said. “But if I have to tuck the ball and run, I will. There’s a lot of stuff (the coaches are watching). But I think one thing they’re really looking for is a leader.”

Although Gill did not come right out and say it, it seems as if the race to replace Todd Reesing — the player many have compared Webb to — is a battle between Webb and sophomore Kale Pick. At least for now.

Monday, Gill barely mentioned red-shirt junior Jacob Morse and basketball-player-turned-football-hopeful Conner Teahan. He didn’t mention junior-college transfer Quinn Mecham at all, and threw Webb, Pick and freshman Christian Matthews into the category of QBs soon to get more reps.

“Things could change,” Gill said. “But all three of those guys bring something a little different. They all have talent, and we feel like they’re guys who could do some good things for us. (They) would be the three guys who get more reps than the other guys at this particular time.”

As for Pick, it’s not the number of reps that he’s worried about.

“You can’t,” he said. “You can’t count the reps, you gotta make each rep count.”

For now, that seems to be the focus of all of KU’s quarterbacks. They don’t appear worried about who’s ahead or who’s behind. They’re not so much concerned with what will happen this fall as they are with what’s happening on the field today.

“It’s tough to say I don’t want to know (who will win the job),” Webb said. “But going through, learning all this stuff is definitely going to help. Whoever wins it is going to win it, and I think that’s going to be the guy who works the hardest and is the best leader.”

Added Pick about the battle: “We have fun with it. We don’t take it off the field. We’re all competitive, but we’re all still pretty talkative to each other. It’s going good.”

Asked for his take on what the coaches might be looking for from the future starter, Pick did not hesitate to answer.

“Win ballgames,” he said. “I don’t think (Gill) cares how we play as long as we get the W on the board.”

Moving pieces

Gill announced Monday that AJ Steward (wide receiver to tight end), Christian Matthews (quarterback to splitting time at wide receiver and QB) and Justin Puthoff (tight end to fullback) were in new positions.

“We’re going to continue to move around guys,” Gill said. “We’re trying to evaluate people in all different situations, in different parts of the game, (to) see how they respond.”

Who looks good?

The following players were cited by Gill for strong, consistent play during the first week: Webb, running back Angus Quigley, tight end Tim Biere, safety Olaitan Oguntodu, linebacker Justin Springer, linebacker Steven Johnson and defensive tackle Jamal Greene.

“There were some other guys,” Gill said. “But over a five-day period, those are the guys who have really improved each and every day.”

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Long: KU offense won’t be strictly shotgun

By Matt Tait


http://media.lawrence.com/img/croppe...6f48523261b548
Photo by Jon Goering

With each spring practice, Kansas University football coach Turner Gill and his staff slowly have revealed what the offense will look like in 2010. Monday, on the fifth day of drills, the coaches shared a little more.

“We’re going to be half and half, half under center, half in the (shotgun),” offensive coordinator Chuck Long said. “We want to be able to go under center for some of our run game and play-action game.”

The top two candidates to win the starting quarterback job have next to no experience under center, but Long doesn’t seem worried.

“It’s really not that difficult,” he said. “Like anything, if you work at it and practice it, you’ll get it down. That’s what we’re doing.”

Through one week, red-shirt freshman Jordan Webb and red-shirt sophomore Kale Pick have emerged as the front-runners to replace Todd Reesing at QB. To some degree, freshman Christian Matthews also remains in the mix, but Gill announced Monday that Matthews would split time between quarterback and wide receiver.

So, for now, that leaves Webb and Pick, two players who worked in spread offenses in high school and came to Kansas largely because the old staff ran a similar system.

“I didn’t take a snap under center in high school,” Webb said. “We ran all spread, and I definitely wanted to stay in that. But with this new offense, I’m really happy.”

Surprisingly, Webb said the transition under center has not bothered him. While at Union (Mo.) High, Webb recorded astonishing numbers. As a junior, he threw for 3,832 yards and 46 touchdowns. A year later, he nearly matched those totals — 3,100 yards and 31 TDs — and added 1,024 yards and 24 touchdowns on the ground.

Though he realized those wild numbers likely won’t be available in KU’s new offense, Webb said he liked the style.

“Actually it hasn’t been as hard as I thought,” he said. “I like going under center so far, going through reads and taking longer drops. In the gun you take a three-step (drop) or you catch and throw. But under center you gotta be able to take a five-step (drop) and do play-action.”

The last time Pick was under center he was a junior at Dodge City High, where he was an all-state selection and threw for 1,779 yards and 19 touchdowns. Pick suffered a hand injury during the first game of his senior season and didn’t get back onto the field until he came to KU.

“I’ve been in the old system for two years so I haven’t taken a snap under center for a while,” he said. “But it’s coming around. Coach Long says I’m improving my under-center footwork so that’s good.”

The biggest challenge for Pick is not so much juggling offensive styles as it is shedding the label that’s been placed on him.

“In high school I was a throwing quarterback,” he said. “I was never a running quarterback. But I got a few good runs here, and now everyone thinks I’m a running quarterback. Now I just have to show I can throw it, too.”

Experienced line returns to anchor offense

By Jayson Jenks
Thursday, April 8, 2010


After finishing practice Monday, junior offensive lineman Brad Thorson stood outside Kansas’ practice fields and waited.

With quarterbacks available for the first time this spring, most media members walked their way around the 6-foot-5, 310-pound Thorson. They wanted to find the guys in red — the quarterbacks.
http://media.kansan.com/img/photos/2...30eb3e6a451be5
Photo by Ryan Waggoner
Sophomore offensive lineman Jeremiah Hatch opens a hole for freshman running back Toben Opurum against the Iowa State defensive line during the first half. Hatch returns alongside an experienced offensive line for the 2010 season.

But if the Jayhawks are to win games in coach Turner Gill’s first season, Thorson and the rest of the offensive line will be equally important.
One of Kansas’ most experienced units, the offensive line will be charged with protecting a first-year starting quarterback while also opening lanes for a more emphasized running game.

“It’s a good start,” offensive coordinator and quarterback coach Chuck Long said. “Having the offensive line back with experience does help, especially with young quarterbacks. Protection is a lot better when they know what they’re doing. It makes it a lot better for young quarterbacks breaking in.”

With the departures of quarterback Todd Reesing, running back Jake Sharp and wide receivers Kerry Meier and Dezmon Briscoe, Long estimated that Kansas lost 80 percent of its offensive production from last season.
That leaves the offensive line — a position of uncertainty a year ago — as the experienced centerpiece of the offense.

Offensive linemen Jeremiah Hatch, Jeff Spikes, Trevor Marrongelli, Sal Capra, Tanner Hawkinson and Thorson each started in at least two games last season.


“Because they have a lot of experience, they react quicker to stress situations,” offensive line coach J.B. Grimes said. “They’re able to step up and take on a little more of a leadership role. When you’re out there and your mind is spinning, it’s hard to be a leader.”

Thorson insisted that wasn’t the case last season, when the offensive line entered the year as a question mark. Though, at times, it appeared that way.

Only Spikes and Hatch had significant playing time entering last season and, in turn, the inexperienced offensive line occasionally struggled.
Plus, the Jayhawks never settled on a consistent starting lineup.
Hatch and Hawkinson were the only players to remain at the same position. Everyone else changed positions – and did so rather frequently – as former coach Mark Mangino searched for a suitable combination.
“We let Todd down a little bit in the middle of the season,” Thorson said.

“Sacks kind of crept up on us, but we got things under control in the end. As an offensive line, we finished the season on a better note at the end of the season than in the middle of the season.”

Kansas has offensive linemen returning at every position, including center and left tackle — the two positions generally regarded as the most important spots along the offensive line.

Hawkinson entered Kansas as a 243-pound tight end two years ago, but he bulked up and switched to offensive line before last season. He earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention.

Hatch played offensive tackle as a freshman before moving back to center, his natural position, last season. He returns to anchor Kansas’ offensive line this year.

“On any football team I’ve ever had an opportunity to coach on, that position is so very important to be the quarterback of the offensive line,” Grimes said. “It’s so pleasing to us to have someone with some experience.”

Grimes explained the weaknesses of the offensive line and said that, besides the returning players from last year, the Jayhawks lack experience.

But as Grimes said, the only way to gain experience is to actually play. Many of Kansas’ offensive linemen did just that last season — a fact Thorson said should only help the Jayhawks this season.

“We sit in the same room for, gosh, I can’t even count how many hours,” Thorson said. “We got really used to how each of us sees stuff and how we’re calling stuff.”

KU quarterback question unanswered


Pretty cool news story about the QB situation.

Photo Release -- University of Kansas to Upgrade Football Facility With Integrated Scoring, Video and Sound System From Daktronics
http://i.cdn.turner.com/money/.eleme...s/gnw_logo.gif
April 08, 2010: 11:00 AM ET
<!--Start Body--><LINK href="http://www.globenewswire.com/styles/gnw_nitf.css" type=text/css rel=stylesheet>BROOKINGS, S.D., April 8, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Daktronics Inc (Nasdaq:DAKT) of Brookings, S.D., announced today that the University of Kansas has chosen the company to design and manufacture a new light emitting diode (LED) video display for Kivisto Field at Memorial Stadium, home of Jayhawk football, in Lawrence, Kan. The video display system will utilize Daktronics newest HD-15 LED technology, featuring a tighter resolution and improved image quality.
<TABLE border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE class=gnw_news_media_box cellSpacing=6 cellPadding=1 width=280 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=gnw_media_bgcolor><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=2>http://media.primezone.com/cache/10684/int/8071.jpg</TD></TR><TR><TD class=gnw_media_caption width=5></TD><TD class=gnw_media_caption align=left>Artist's rendering of the new Daktronics football scoreboard at Memorial Stadium at the University of Kansas. Installation of the large display is nearing completion.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>A photo accompanying this release is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=7311
Installation has begun at the stadium and should be ready for use at Kansas Athletics' two upcoming events – the Kansas Relays (April 14-17) and the KU Spring Football Game (April 24).
Funding for the integrated system is included in a five-year extension to Kansas Athletics' 10-year multi-media rights agreement with IMG College.
"Kansas Athletics enjoys a great relationship with IMG," Lew Perkins, University of Kansas Director of Athletics. "This agreement – and the new video board – will ensure that we are able to provide the best experience possible for our student-athletes, coaches and fans."
"The University of Kansas has done an excellent job creating a premier athletics program, and we are honored by the extension," said Tom Stultz, Senior Vice President and Managing Director for IMG College. "We look forward to our continued partnership with the University as we aim to grow its multi-media rights program."
The video display will feature Daktronics proven LED video display technology and will measure approximately 28 feet high by 85 feet wide. This technology and its control system allow for complete flexibility in programming. The video board can operate as single giant display or be divided into multiple zones (windows) to show a wide variety of statistics, information, graphics, animation and live and recorded video.
The active area on the stadium's former video display, installed in 1999, was approximately 740 square feet. The new display has an active video area three times that size – a total of approximately 2,380 square feet. Despite its size, the new board fits within the structural footprint of the old unit in a conscious effort to preserve the tradition and integrity of the hill behind the scoreboard.
"Daktronics is pleased to continue its partnership with the University of Kansas athletic programs," said Tony Mulder, Daktronics Regional Manager. "This addition to historic Memorial Stadium will help generate more excitement from the fans and will be another great enhancement for the Kansas football program."
A custom numeric scoring section will also be part of the scoreboard structure and the sound system in the stadium will be updated and reconfigured to fit within the new footprint of the structure. The new scoring section and video display system will be completely integrated with the existing scoring and messaging system installed on the opposite end of the stadium by Daktronics in 2005. Daktronics previously installed video displays at KU's Allen Field house and Hoglund ballpark, as well as digital signage at the Fieldhouse.
About Kivisto Field at Memorial Stadium
Recognized as the first stadium built on a college campus west of the Mississippi River, Memorial Stadium is the seventh oldest collegiate stadium in the nation. It has a capacity of 50,071.
In recent years, the stadium complex has been the focus of major renovations with more than $30 million in improvements completed. Construction projects at the stadium have touched on improvements for fans, players and coaches in all areas of the complex.
Memorial Stadium has also been host to a number of community, musical and athletic activities. It is the home of the prestigious Kansas Relays. The eight lane all-weather track was built in 1969, replacing the old cinder surface. In 1984, the track was resurfaced and new jumping pits were constructed. Memorial Stadium hosted the Big Eight Conference track and field championships in the spring of 1994.
About Jayhawk Sports Marketing
As the multi-media rights partner for the University of Kansas, Jayhawk Sports Marketing has teamed up with Kansas Athletics to conquer a single, unifying goal: Unparalleled Excellence. Jayhawk Sports Marketing offers business and corporations one-stop shopping for advertising and marketing needs associated with the Kansas Athletics program.
About Daktronics
Daktronics is recognized as the world's leading provider of full-color LED video displays. Daktronics began manufacturing large screen, full-color, LED video displays in 1997. Since then, over 6,000 large screen video displays have been sold and installed in sporting and commercial facilities around the world. Since 2001, independent market research conducted by iSuppli Corp. lists Daktronics as the world's leading provider of large screen LED video displays. Daktronics designs, manufactures, markets and services display systems for customers around the world, in sports, business and transportation applications. For more information, visit the company's World Wide Web site at: http://www.daktronics.com, e-mail the company at sales@daktronics.com, call (605) 692-0200 or toll-free (800) 325-8766 in the United States or write to the company at 331 32nd Ave. PO Box 5128 Brookings, S.D. 57006-5128.
The Daktronics logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=5476

I wouldn't mind seeing Patmon step up and start.

http://www.kansas.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1073857

By: Bryan Cisler

Question: As fast as you can name all the players who have started at cornerback for Kansas in the last two years? Go.

Waiting.


Answer: Chris Harris, Anthony Davis, Daymond Patterson, D.J. Beshears, Justin Thornton, Kendrick Harper, Corrigan Powell and Isiah Barfield. So yeah, you can say the previous regime had a quick hook at that position. If a player made a costly mistake on the field, sometimes he wouldn't be seen again for several games, or in several cases, the rest of the season.

This trend wasn't lost on the cornerbacks. They adjusted their style of play accordingly and played it safe trying to minimize risk. The result was usually not favorable. In 2008 Kansas ranked 114th in pass defense and 96th in 2009.

"That was a big problem because it made people not want to make a play," said cornerback Greg Brown. "Sometimes it is a guessing game and you have to jump routes even when it might be a double move. It was just a bad atmosphere."

Now, things are a bit different. New coaching staff. New schemes. New attitude. Cornerbacks coach Vic Shealy is trying to change the mindset of his corners this spring.

"If you never push guys into taking a chance, then they will never know where their comfort level is," Shealy said. "If you are afraid to make a mistake because you think you will be sitting on the sideline then you will play slow because you want to reduce the risk that is out there."

While changing the attitude is an ongoing process, the new scheme will free the cornerbacks up to make plays on short throws. The corners will play closer to the line of scrimmage and get more help from the safeties than they did in the past.

"Last season, we played seven yards deep so the cornerbacks had to be on top of every route," Brown said. "We were so scared to jump routes that we would get beat with slants and outs. We would get beat with the short stuff instead of the deep route. Now we are improving on jumping the short routes."

As for who you will see on the field next season is anyone's guess. Players and coaches say the competition for playing time is so close that they can't name any clear-cut favorites to start. Every corner is getting the same amount of reps on the practice field. Shealy said the competition will go into fall practice and don't be surprised to see a secondary by committee.

"We will package our personnel with our schemes so we can put guys in position and ask them to do things that they can do best," Shealy said. "I think we can have a committee secondary that we roll out. It might be based on the different attacks we will see and the schemes that we are trying to attack our opponent with."

When pressed for an answer though, Shealy said seniors Chris Harris and Calvin Rubles have been leading drills, and the surprise player of the group has been redshirt freshman Tyler Patmon.

"He is a real football smart guy," Shealy said of Patmon. "Anytime you have a guy who plays fast mentally and plays with good instincts, then they will be a faster player physically."

"He has been a surprise to us in many ways because of the maturity that he has been playing at. I think the upperclassman have been taking notice of him."

So far, the early returns in spring practice have the cornerbacks winning the advantage over the wide receivers. At the end of several practices, head coach Turner Gill will give out "Toasts" or "Handcuffs". If he gives out a toast, then the receivers won the day's battle, and vice versa with the secondary and handcuffs. The current score:

Handcuffs: 2

Toasts: 1

"We are killing them," Brown said. "I think by the end of spring practice we are going to get a couple more handcuffs and no more toasts."

"We are much more relaxed because our position coach tells us, 'Just go out there and make plays, sometimes you are going to get beat.' He isn't going to yell at us or embarrass us. It's way different than last year."

Still, the corners know they have a long way to go, and Shealy hopes the rest of the spring will be spent increasing the group's confidence.

"I want guys to feel that freedom while practicing," Shealy said. "We will begin to narrow that understanding of what that appropriate level of taking risks and shots to the ball by the time we get to September. Right now you put guys in positions that you tell them that you want to see that cushion shrink a little bit and if you get burnt on a deep ball, blame it on me, but I want them to see what it feels like to let a receiver pressure them a little bit. If they are a little stressed, then we need to find a way to coach them out of that stress instead of them playing timid and back off the ball."

"Allowing guys to fail is sometimes the best tool to help them be successful."

I'm getting excited for the spring game. One more weekend to get through and then it's here.

I like the new attitude of the secondary and the coaching philosophy. Good Lord, I didn't realize how bad the atmosphere had gotten. That was no way to run a defense. No wonder they sucked.

BTW, I noticed that piece about the QBs mentioned Christian Matthews as a candidate for the starting QB. I believe they have been trying him out at WR. Another Kerry Meier in the making?

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2010/ap...against-drugs/

YES!!

I'm guessing Ol' Snyder is pro-prescription painkillers right now...

http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/wp-co...ne-7208671.gifHis hips hurt.