There have been varying pieces of info on the Jayhawks playing away from DBKMS next season and what they can bring in financially. I did hear they will get all ticket sales money from both venues. Both CMP and Arrowhead will take their cut with parking and some of the concessions. If KU can pocket all the ticket money, that is a big factor. Someone told me a month ago the pro stadiums will cut into the the ticker revenues but I don't think that is true.
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I heard the players have done some workouts in front of the coaches, which is now allowed by the NCAA. A few players to bring some info on. I think Shane Bumgardner is going to get every chance to win the job at center this spring. I think Ford had his ups and downs over fall camp and practice last year and they weren't sure they could go into the spring counting on him and Doiron as the main two players at center.
I expect the OL to be similar to last season in that Fuchs will have a puzzle to put together. Losing Novitsky and Puni are big losses. Novitsky was the leader on the OL and made all the calls. He knew the offense inside and out and how Fuchs wanted things done. Puni was simply the best OL on the team. And he did good things all season at LT, a position I would have never bet on him having success. I thought he was a guard all the way and when I heard he was playing LT I questioned the move in my head. Goes to show Fuchs knows a lot more than I do.
Fuchs will have to do more of the same this season. He will have to mix and match players on the OL. One player who I heard showed some strides when he was healthy was Logan Brown. Was also told he is someone who could play tackle or guard. I think we are going to see the same philosophy with 7-8 players making the cut to be the main guys in the rotation. I was told picking up Darrell Simmons is a big addition. He has started over 20 games in the Big 12 and he will be in the mix. He also allows Fuchs to do some tinkering with the lineup especially if Ford has to move to center.
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Jalon Daniels has been active. He's been running around and throwing so that is a good sign. Let's cut to the chase and call it what it is.... the season hinges on the health of Daniels. A healthy Daniels makes this team a contender to be in the Big 12 title race. A team without Daniels is an entirely different story. There is no Jason Bean waiting to save the team. In 2024 there will be a drop-off going to the backup QB. Marshall has a lot to learn in a complicated offense and Ballard can manage a game. But Daniels wins you games. Bean wins you games.
The good news is that Daniels is progressing.
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Something that could help is moving the start of spring football back. Last year it started at the end of February and this year I believe practice will begin second week of March. A couple extra weeks for players to recover after a season that just ended seven weeks ago. Also gives Daniels time to get more rest.
It will be a challenging spring as the coaches moved out of their office after the bowl game and set up at Rock Chalk Park. That makes logistics difficult but they have a well-laid out plan from what I am told to manage. The plan is they can get back in their offices for the start of fall camp.
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There are two positions I am looking at the most on defense in spring football. The first is defensive end. I have heard the one guy who had the most potential last year is Dylan Brooks. But he was just spinning his wheels last year. By the time fall camp was over he was the fourth-string pass rusher. I have been told he has all the tools. He's got the size and will play close to 250 this year with speed and long arms. He has all the things they look for. If he can elevate his game that would be a plus in what is the biggest question mark on defense.
Brooks played in nine games as a freshman at Auburn. He was rated the 8th best DE in the nation and played in the UA All-American game. Now, he needs to develop into the player he has the potential to be.
The other is the HAWK position. Losing Craig Young is going to be hard to replace. I heard Gilliom will likely get moved back to HAWK after playing other LB positions and will compete against Logan Brantley and Alex Raich. I heard last fall camp Raich had a slight edge on Gilliom until the very end.
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I heard the players have done some workouts in front of the coaches, which is now allowed by the NCAA. A few players to bring some info on. I think Shane Bumgardner is going to get every chance to win the job at center this spring. I think Ford had his ups and downs over fall camp and practice last year and they weren't sure they could go into the spring counting on him and Doiron as the main two players at center.
I expect the OL to be similar to last season in that Fuchs will have a puzzle to put together. Losing Novitsky and Puni are big losses. Novitsky was the leader on the OL and made all the calls. He knew the offense inside and out and how Fuchs wanted things done. Puni was simply the best OL on the team. And he did good things all season at LT, a position I would have never bet on him having success. I thought he was a guard all the way and when I heard he was playing LT I questioned the move in my head. Goes to show Fuchs knows a lot more than I do.
Fuchs will have to do more of the same this season. He will have to mix and match players on the OL. One player who I heard showed some strides when he was healthy was Logan Brown. Was also told he is someone who could play tackle or guard. I think we are going to see the same philosophy with 7-8 players making the cut to be the main guys in the rotation. I was told picking up Darrell Simmons is a big addition. He has started over 20 games in the Big 12 and he will be in the mix. He also allows Fuchs to do some tinkering with the lineup especially if Ford has to move to center.
----------
Jalon Daniels has been active. He's been running around and throwing so that is a good sign. Let's cut to the chase and call it what it is.... the season hinges on the health of Daniels. A healthy Daniels makes this team a contender to be in the Big 12 title race. A team without Daniels is an entirely different story. There is no Jason Bean waiting to save the team. In 2024 there will be a drop-off going to the backup QB. Marshall has a lot to learn in a complicated offense and Ballard can manage a game. But Daniels wins you games. Bean wins you games.
The good news is that Daniels is progressing.
----------
Something that could help is moving the start of spring football back. Last year it started at the end of February and this year I believe practice will begin second week of March. A couple extra weeks for players to recover after a season that just ended seven weeks ago. Also gives Daniels time to get more rest.
It will be a challenging spring as the coaches moved out of their office after the bowl game and set up at Rock Chalk Park. That makes logistics difficult but they have a well-laid out plan from what I am told to manage. The plan is they can get back in their offices for the start of fall camp.
----------
There are two positions I am looking at the most on defense in spring football. The first is defensive end. I have heard the one guy who had the most potential last year is Dylan Brooks. But he was just spinning his wheels last year. By the time fall camp was over he was the fourth-string pass rusher. I have been told he has all the tools. He's got the size and will play close to 250 this year with speed and long arms. He has all the things they look for. If he can elevate his game that would be a plus in what is the biggest question mark on defense.
Brooks played in nine games as a freshman at Auburn. He was rated the 8th best DE in the nation and played in the UA All-American game. Now, he needs to develop into the player he has the potential to be.
The other is the HAWK position. Losing Craig Young is going to be hard to replace. I heard Gilliom will likely get moved back to HAWK after playing other LB positions and will compete against Logan Brantley and Alex Raich. I heard last fall camp Raich had a slight edge on Gilliom until the very end.
