Let's start off with just the way too early look at my thoughts just three days in.....
There is a long way to go but I believe every KU football fan that spends time following the team knows that. There are a lot of question marks on the OL, QB, DT, LB, DB, ST. I talked with Yenser and they are doing a lot of rotating (will have more from Yenser later). I still think they are a ways off on finding the final group who will start and a handful of guys who will be in the rotation.
They have a deep combination of guys who can fill in at guard and play center. Guys like Jacob Bragg are getting in time at both. Yenser said as many as six players are taking snaps. Tackles is set with Shelley-Smith and Mazyck but the two deep is a question mark.
Likens said close to the same they are filtering through quarterbacks to see who the guys will be. So far Cozart still holds the inside track.
I think they can get through with the running backs they have in the mix but they are very inexperienced in terms of game action. Mitchell always finds a way to blend a group together. I thought it was interesting they are still watching Cox because he isn't fully healthy.
I'm liking what I am seeing from the WR and TE. Ben Johnson and Kent Taylor are solid. And the new additions at wide receiver has totally changed that group around. There are some kids in the wide receiver position who I think will make plays this year and down the road.
I like the defensive ends and believe they can get a pass rush and have some athleticism. The defensive tackle spot does worry me. Not that the kids can't play but the fact in the Big 12 you get worn down with the fast pace and you have to have two units fresh at all times or you can't survive. When the pads go on tomorrow that starts pushing the chances up for the bumps and bruises.
I am curious to see how the linebackers play out. I think Marcquis Roberts and Courtney Arnick are two starters. There are capable players to help there. I like Schyler Miles and I think they will do things to keep his knees fresh and keep him available for a set number of series. Watson, Dineen, Duckworth will all have to play.
Had a great sit down with Kenny Perry. He said the cornerback position and development will be a process. He said some kids are going to have to learn by being thrown into the fire. They really have no choice there. They are going to have play a lot of bodies and there will be growing pains. I'm a little less concerned about safety because there are some players who have been in the program.
After talking to Gary Hyman the battle for special teams is wide open. He said they might not know who the starting punter and kicker is until the week of the game.
Overall there are some reasons for concern just with inexperience and depth. Again, we all knew that would be the case.
Now the biggest reason for optimism from what I can tell talking to all of the coaches and being around the players is the attitude in the program. These coaches have a blend of discipline and personality I haven't seen in a while. They are the right type of coaches to help build kids up while breaking them down and keeping them on board. That isn't an easy job. A lot of times you get coaches who are just bulldogs and there is no other side. Other times you get coaches who are soft and can't turn up the heat.
This staff has a little of both. They will chew kids out but then slap them on the helmet and encourage them. The players have had a good work ethic and attitude. These players have been through a lot. I was talking with Bryan Peters who was talking about going through Gill, Weis, and Beaty. These kids although college football players are still 18-22 years old (this is me being soft). So they need to be coached, pushed, but also encouraged. I really like what I see from the overall attitude and demeanor from everyone in the program. I think this is trending up and something that will pay off in the future.
I'm able to watch the interaction with the coaches and players. This might be the biggest thing. These players will play hard for them. There is a good bond with each group.
It will take time. Some players are going to learn by experience. There will be some games they have trouble hanging in there. But I think there are going to be some games they compete better than we believed after the spring. Keep giving this staff and players time because there are a lot of good things developing that don't always show on a roster or depth chart. It isn't going to change overnight.
There is a long way to go but I believe every KU football fan that spends time following the team knows that. There are a lot of question marks on the OL, QB, DT, LB, DB, ST. I talked with Yenser and they are doing a lot of rotating (will have more from Yenser later). I still think they are a ways off on finding the final group who will start and a handful of guys who will be in the rotation.
They have a deep combination of guys who can fill in at guard and play center. Guys like Jacob Bragg are getting in time at both. Yenser said as many as six players are taking snaps. Tackles is set with Shelley-Smith and Mazyck but the two deep is a question mark.
Likens said close to the same they are filtering through quarterbacks to see who the guys will be. So far Cozart still holds the inside track.
I think they can get through with the running backs they have in the mix but they are very inexperienced in terms of game action. Mitchell always finds a way to blend a group together. I thought it was interesting they are still watching Cox because he isn't fully healthy.
I'm liking what I am seeing from the WR and TE. Ben Johnson and Kent Taylor are solid. And the new additions at wide receiver has totally changed that group around. There are some kids in the wide receiver position who I think will make plays this year and down the road.
I like the defensive ends and believe they can get a pass rush and have some athleticism. The defensive tackle spot does worry me. Not that the kids can't play but the fact in the Big 12 you get worn down with the fast pace and you have to have two units fresh at all times or you can't survive. When the pads go on tomorrow that starts pushing the chances up for the bumps and bruises.
I am curious to see how the linebackers play out. I think Marcquis Roberts and Courtney Arnick are two starters. There are capable players to help there. I like Schyler Miles and I think they will do things to keep his knees fresh and keep him available for a set number of series. Watson, Dineen, Duckworth will all have to play.
Had a great sit down with Kenny Perry. He said the cornerback position and development will be a process. He said some kids are going to have to learn by being thrown into the fire. They really have no choice there. They are going to have play a lot of bodies and there will be growing pains. I'm a little less concerned about safety because there are some players who have been in the program.
After talking to Gary Hyman the battle for special teams is wide open. He said they might not know who the starting punter and kicker is until the week of the game.
Overall there are some reasons for concern just with inexperience and depth. Again, we all knew that would be the case.
Now the biggest reason for optimism from what I can tell talking to all of the coaches and being around the players is the attitude in the program. These coaches have a blend of discipline and personality I haven't seen in a while. They are the right type of coaches to help build kids up while breaking them down and keeping them on board. That isn't an easy job. A lot of times you get coaches who are just bulldogs and there is no other side. Other times you get coaches who are soft and can't turn up the heat.
This staff has a little of both. They will chew kids out but then slap them on the helmet and encourage them. The players have had a good work ethic and attitude. These players have been through a lot. I was talking with Bryan Peters who was talking about going through Gill, Weis, and Beaty. These kids although college football players are still 18-22 years old (this is me being soft). So they need to be coached, pushed, but also encouraged. I really like what I see from the overall attitude and demeanor from everyone in the program. I think this is trending up and something that will pay off in the future.
I'm able to watch the interaction with the coaches and players. This might be the biggest thing. These players will play hard for them. There is a good bond with each group.
It will take time. Some players are going to learn by experience. There will be some games they have trouble hanging in there. But I think there are going to be some games they compete better than we believed after the spring. Keep giving this staff and players time because there are a lot of good things developing that don't always show on a roster or depth chart. It isn't going to change overnight.
