Kansas vs. Iowa State Team Analysis
by Owen on Oct 6, 2009 6:00 AM CDT
in Kansas Jayhawk Football
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| Why Kansas? | Edge | Scenario | Edge | Why Iowa State? |
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Through four games Kansas has the #6 total offense along with the #6 scoring offense. Jake Sharp is expected to return and provide another element to the running game to start conference play. Throw in a bye week against a mediocre defense and the Kansas offense should perform well enough to win this matchup fairly easily when it's all said and done. Plain and simple, too many athletes for the Cyclones to cover. |
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KU Offense vs. Iowa State Defense |
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It's hard to judge the Cyclone defense's true worth as they've struggled to stop anyone of consequence this season. There chances of winning lie in being able to play a bend but don't break style against the Jayhawks. Still, with their loss to Kansas State and early struggles against Iowa it's hard to believe they'll effectively stop a real offense. They'll have to find a way to offset an athletic deficit against Kansas which is tough but not impossible. |
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While Southern Mississippi didn't necessarily answer all the questions, it did show the Jayhawk defense can step up when called upon. The Jayhawk front seven was especially effective in stopping the Golden Eagles running game and doing the same against the Cyclones will be why Kansas wins this matchup. Basically, make them one dimensional and force Austen Arnaud to beat you through the air. Iowa State just hasn't executed well enough in the passing game so far to make me believe they can do so if forced to. |
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KU Defense vs. Iowa State Offense |
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If Iowa State can establish a ground game early there offense can be a very balanced attack that will keep Kansas off guard. Austen Arnaud and Alexander Robinson make the plays on the ground and that allows for Arnaud to be a much more effective in the air. From there it's a matter of execution which seems to be lacking thus far in the season. Control the Kansas front four, create running opportunities and mix it up, that's how the Cyclones win this. Not much room for error at all here though. |
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After the Southern Miss. game the Kansas staff wanted a big time improvement on the kick coverage units. I for one have been fairly happy with special teams this year and while it isn't a huge strength it isn't hurting us as it did last season. Again I think overall this is an area where Kansas' athletism and better overall talent wins out. I'm far from declaring the special teams a solid unit but it's servicable and should beat the Cyclones. |
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Special Teams |
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Iowa State has a fairly solid kicker and kick coverage units. They don't wow you in terms of their return game. Pick up that piece against a Kansas team that has had it's lapses at times and the Cyclones could take the advantage in field position. |
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The Kansas coaching staff all year has shown the ability to take what the other team gives them, control the clock and adjust defensively to make the stops when it matters. Time to take it to the next level though as each week things get a little bit tougher from here on out. Edge to Kansas though based purely on success over the past few seasons, especially at home. |
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Coaching |
Paul Rhoads comes to Ames from Auburn following Gene Chiziks departure for the same school. Rhoads has the challenges that always come with turnover and a lack of continuity but count me amongst those who like the hire at face value. He's been a solid coordinator at both Pittsburgh and Auburn but now it's time to prove his worth as a head coach in Ames. Sounds as if right now the coaching decisions have been good for the Cyclones this year, there just may have been a bit of a lag in development due to the turmoil. Not this year Coach Rhoads but in the future this is going to be a good staff for Iowa State. |
Time to kickoff conference play and much like non conference play Kansas get's a chance to ease into it. Still it's not out of the question that the Cyclones could sneak up on the Jayhawks. Need a reason, look to last year. A few notable differences though. Kansas has looked better through the non conference schedule, this game is in Lawrence and Iowa State is coming off a demoralizing loss to the Kansas State Wildcats. Kansas Should take the edge in most every major category in this one, but as they say the game isn't played on paper. One game at a time for the Jayhawks and that's all the further they need to look ahead.
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My hopes
I hope it all comes together and we whoop ISU. I think a good thrashing of a conference opponent would give our team a little bit of the swagger it seems to be missing this year.
Plus, I’d like to see Kale Pick and Rell Lewis (and some others) get a LOT of playing time – valuable PT against a conference foe.
Sawin' wood
agreed...
every week I’ve been wanting it to come together and it hasn’t quite happened. With a bye week and an opponent the team should be able to get moderately excited about I’m hoping the execution and emotion are where they need to be.
Some people are like Slinkies...not really good for anything but they make you smile when pushed down the stairs.
Reesing
Sparky’s Goals for the Week should be:
1. No interceptions
2. No intentional grounding penalties
3. Don’t hold onto the ball too long. Throw it away if need be.
He does that, and we win easily.
by KennyGregoryRockThaCradle on Oct 6, 2009 1:16 PM CDT reply actions
I'd agree with those three items
but maybe put them in reverse order. I think 3 has caused 2 in each grounding situation. Haven’t seen him be as indecisive in past seasons….but I guess I’d take indecision over bad decision, lest he become Josh Freeman.
Here are like, my thoughts
Having Sharp back should be nice, especially after what he did to ISU’s defense last year. I’d get sharp the ball in space a lot, a few screens, shovel here and there, etc. His speed killed ISU in the second half last year, doubt their D has improved that much from a year ago.
I think our D is going to have a pretty good day. I think we will be able to stuff their run (like we’ve done to everyone this year, and pretty much what we’ve done since I was 17). Last year they got big plays through the air, but I think our secondary will be up to the challenge this year. I see stuffing the run early, and as the game goes on and Arnaud has to chuck it, we get a pick or two. Three or four wouldn’t be bad either. Five? Mmmmmmmm.
Our O-Line needs to get their biz together for this game. Better job of blitz pickup for starters.
If our WR keep dropping passes I’m dropping bows (elbows for you older folks not aware of how us kids on the streets talk).
McDangerous is going to return a kick back for a touchdown. I guarantee it. Guarantee. Call me Broadway Joe.
KU 38 ISU 17.
Oh and one other thing
Is that the new look of ISU’s mascot? Or an older version? Its like a full bird now, not a cyclone with a bird head. Seems like they are sort of copying the University of Kansas, IMHO.
I'll be surprised
if Jake plays at all on Saturday.
got some info you'd like to share??
Some people are like Slinkies...not really good for anything but they make you smile when pushed down the stairs.
Sorry I was
away from the comp for awhile. No concrete info, but it just sounds like more of a nagging thing that can only get better the more he rests it. And I’m not convinced there’s ever been that strong of a chance he’d be ready by ISU. A slow Jake is no Jake at all.
yeah after you posted...
the press conference was held and sounds like you are right
Some people are like Slinkies...not really good for anything but they make you smile when pushed down the stairs.
yeah why is that???
whhyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy?!?
by I need more Esteban on Oct 6, 2009 4:45 PM CDT up reply actions
http://campuscorner.kansascity.com/node/306
Maybe he’s referring to this article. I wouldn’t mind sitting him out one more game- Marky M makes a great point that without his legs at full speed, it’s not like he can rely on power to still be effective out there.
by KennyGregoryRockThaCradle on Oct 6, 2009 4:50 PM CDT up reply actions
Sorry, html fail. Try again:
by KennyGregoryRockThaCradle on Oct 6, 2009 4:52 PM CDT up reply actions
just posted today's football presser highlights...
Coach Mangino says Sharp hasn’t hit the practice field at 100% and if there is any hint that he still isn’t ready by Thursday it’s probably a no go.
Some people are like Slinkies...not really good for anything but they make you smile when pushed down the stairs.
Jake Sharp brings a lot to the table
He is probably one of the best receiving running backs in the Big 12, maybe even the NCAA.
"That pitch wasn’t down and in, that pitch was down and up." Tim McCarver
by wrigleyrocker12 on Oct 6, 2009 4:48 PM CDT up reply actions
He's the white Reggie Bush.
Yeah, I said it.
by KennyGregoryRockThaCradle on Oct 6, 2009 4:51 PM CDT up reply actions
Some have expressed some concern with the ISU OL - they're massive
But they’re also not very fast or athletic. I think our DL is going to shine on Saturday!
Sawin' wood
agreed...
I think as a whole Iowa State just needs an upgrade in the quality of athletes on their team. They are certainly in a tough league to win if you can’t matchup in that area.
Some people are like Slinkies...not really good for anything but they make you smile when pushed down the stairs.
Well,
Ames is not all that far away from the IBP plant in Des Moines…or the John Morrell plant in Sioux City. Plus they’re surrounded by corn on all sides. Those boys should be well fed.
Wait. Sarah Palin's in Hong Kong? But who's watching Russia?
Read somewhere
that ISU has only allowed 1 sack this year. That may speak more to Arnaud’s mobility than the OL’s performance but still, 1 sack allowed in 5 games is pretty darn good. In fact, I believe they lead the nation in fewest sacks allowed thus far. Would love to see KU at least triple that total.
Things I want to see this week
In random order:
1) Continued outstanding run defense. ISU averages over 200 ypg on the ground but KU’s run defense is 3rd in the nation (~59 ypg). As denver said, make ISU one-dimensional. KU made a potent Southern Miss offense one-dimensional (and that almost wasn’t good enough). Do that against a weaker passing team like ISU and it could be lights out for the ISU offense.
2) Tighter pass coverage. Last year ISU was content to take the short 5 to 7 yard outs and hitches that KU was conceding. As a result they moved up and down the field the first half. If I was ISU, I’d do the same this year if KU continues to line their corners up 8 yards off the ball.
Arnaud has not been accurate. He’s completing only 50.7% of his passes. Let’s not give him a bunch of easy completions to boost his confidence and keep our offense off the field. Make the ISU receivers prove they deserve the respect of an 8-yard cushion. Don’t just give it to them.
3) Pass rush. As I commented above, ISU has only allowed 1 sack in 5 games. KU needs to put some heat on Arnaud and force a QB who is struggling a bit with his accuracy to be even more inaccurate. Perhaps as important as getting to Arnaud will be containing him.
4) Bradley McDougald in space. I tell my friends this each week. I want to see McDougald get the ball with some room to run (the kickoff return was a start). Most of the completions to him have been for relatively short yardage. I think he’s too explosive to be a possession receiver. I’d like to see at least 1 long ball thrown his way.
5) Rell Lewis. If Jake doesn’t play, I want to see Lewis on the field for more than the 1 series we saw against Southern Miss. Opurum was gassed towards the end of the Southern Miss game. While I wouldn’t mind seeing another 28 carries by Opurum, let’s see more Rell Lewis mixed in there. Ideally, KU plays to its ranking and we see very little of Opurum in the 4th quarter.
6) Kale Pick early. We’ve seen what he can do with his legs and we know he can hand the ball off. I want to see what he can do with his head and his arm. I would love to see him in some passing situations where he needs to read the defense and deliver an accurate pass.
7) Smarter football. KU shot themselves in the foot repeatedly with penalties in the Southern Miss game. Can’t afford to do that in conference play.
8) Improved pass coverage by LBs. KU’s LBs have been weak in pass coverage. This may not be the week that is critical, but down the road it probably will be.
9) Would like to see more students come back after half-time and quit yelling “rip his f’n head off” on each kickoff but neither one of those things is going to happen any time soon. I know. I’m old-fashioned but I still think the “rip his f’n head off” yell reflects poorly on KU. That said, I do appreciate the spirit the student section brings to the game. They are the most vocal section (often in a good way) of fans in the stadium.
Other things folks would like to see on Saturday?
by KU_Lew on Oct 7, 2009 1:27 PM CDT reply actions 3 recs
Colors
A pretty great list, AD. Although #6 may be a bit of a stretch, IMO- this is a Big 12 team that gave us a pretty stiff test last year (as Hawkins would say, “this ain’t intramurals, brother!”). Hoping to get the backup QB in early may be a bit of counting our chickens before they hatch.
by KennyGregoryRockThaCradle on Oct 7, 2009 1:43 PM CDT up reply actions
I guess #6 does come across a bit presumptuous but..
…I’d still like to see Pick in a stutation where he does a little more than simply run out the clock (assuming he’s not replacing an injured Reesing of course).
Correction
I sold Arnaud a little bit short. As a team, ISU is completing about 51% of its passes. Arnaud is a little better at around 53%. Still, that’s not very good.
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