As one of my friends pointed out this weekend down in Norman, I’m probably one of only 100-200 people that saw KU play vs. OSU and @ OU. I always enjoy seeing KU play regardless of the results and I wanted to pass along my thoughts.
Start with a few positives:
Start with a few positives:
- The defensive line has been pretty impressive to me. The least impressive guys don’t come back so I’m very optimistic about the future there.
- Kenny Perry has done a nice job w/ the secondary. They have played quite well. Mike Lee is very valuable—he could play corner or safety for us next year. Fish has played very well too of late.
- The OLine pass protection has been pretty solid.
- The linebacker play has been pretty average in my opinion. They aren’t the reason we’re losing, but I think they’ve often been the weakest unit for us on defense this year. Arnick and Roberts are solid players, but with Dineen back next year along with growth from a pretty talented younger group, I feel that we will upgrade this group next year.
- The receiving corps will take a big step up next year when Daylon Charlot is our clear #1 option. Sims, Quiv, and others are all okay, but none are a #1 type receiver. I’d actually like to see Sims moved inside (no idea why he’s on the outside as an X) and Quiv play less (he’s a threat, but also an unwilling blocker and his two deep pass drops have been killers).
- The RB position is probably fine. Kind of hard to evaluate just cause the OLine rarely creates big running lanes to the 2nd level.
- OLine will improve next year. They pass pro well but just aren’t able to move people yet on a consistent basis. Adeniji is going to be a very good 4 year started.
- Last year, the Special Teams units were largely just bad… this year it has been more of a “box of chocolates” type of performance. As overall depth improves, these units will get better.
- The Offense in general. This has been beat to death this week and I posted about it several weeks ago, but I just have a hard time seeing this style of offense ever working at KU in an above average capacity without a NFL caliber talent at QB. OU’s offense has more talent than us but they are more effective than us on offense due to their scheme/playcalling than their talent advantages. Their frequent use of play action roll outs, reverses, true zone reads where Baker would keep the ball, variety with their run game etc., is all stuff that we should be conceivably doing in year 2 of Beaty’s system (it is year 2 for OU as well w/ Lincoln Riley).
- The OLine is not great but we could help them by doing more misdirection and by actually having a QB in the game who can read the defense on whether to give or keep. Cozart has such little feel for this that he buries the offensive run game cause teams only respect his running ability on scramble downs.
- The passing attack is so basic and yet when they are running a “special” play, our QB is incapable of reading the field. For instance, on the first failed 3rd down of the night, we ran a slip screen that was incomplete… Shak Barbiel was WIDE OPEN down the middle of the field (same side as the slip screen—should have been a pre-snap read).
- The Offense needs a real Offensive Coordinator in the worst way. It is clear that Beaty is doing a poor job in his two “sub-duties,” QB Coach and OC. He’s doing an okay job at the HC position. I’d like to see our style of offense be a slower, power running version of the spread/air raid that is becoming back in vogue, but regardless, a new OC must com in.
- The QB situation is abysmal. Cozart was so bad against OU. He played his best possible game against OSU. He’s just not going to win us a road game, ever. Look at our effort against Memphis this year… then look and see what Tulsa did to them this week at Memphis.
- The part about this that concerns me is that Beaty was so adamant that he’s got several guys that can start for P5 teams in the offseason. He really built them up… it makes me wonder if he knows how to accurately evaluate that position (or was he just doing a total sales job)?
- Just the overall coaching in general. I know that we were buried as a program when Beaty took over, but look at how much the score consistently is way worse than the box score would typically indicate. This is a clear sign that we are not being coached very well on gameday. Good coaches typically exceed what the box score would indicate, we very rarely do. You’ll be hard pressed to find an example this season where we exceeded the expected score.
- Recent Examples
- Outgained by 84 yards by OU at the half, but down by 25 points. Even on turnovers in the 1st half.
- Only outgained by OSU by 28 yards, but lose by 24 points. -2 on turnovers.
- Outgain TCU by 104 yards, but lose by 1 point. Even on turnovers.
- Recent Examples
