RCT Preseason Picks: Offensive MVP
by Owen on Aug 2, 2010 8:21 AM CDT
in Kansas Jayhawk Football
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PrintAt the end of every season here at Rock Chalk Talk we go through and let you the reader select the readers choice award recipients for a variety of categories.
Using those awards as our starting point, let's get some preseason pick predictions going and look at what players are expected to make the impact going into the 2010 season.
Kicking things off will be the 2010 preseason offensive MVP. Sounds pretty ridiculous to name a preseason MVP, but how else are we going to gain enough material for the Rock Chalk Talk Time Machine if we don't have a few outrageous statements.
With that, the nominees and selections for 2010 preseason offensive MVP:
- Replacing Todd Reesing might be one of the most difficult positions to be in on the field, Kale Pick appears to be the frontrunner. Yes Jordan Webb's name is still in the conversations, but all indications are that Kale Pick will earn the nod come Sept 4th and the opening Kickoff. Predicting him as an MVP isn't a stretch because if Kansas is to have a solid season, he'll need to perform.
Jordan Webb
- If he wins the job, Kansas might be throwing the football more. Again all signs out of the program seem to indicate that Pick will ultimately win the job, but is anyone willing to count out Webb just yet?
- Out of spring ball Quigley is listed first on the running back depth chart. Can he finally put together a season in a position he's been given more than a few opportunities at?
Johnathan Wilson
- Wilson returns for his senior season as the top returning receiver from a year ago. Wilson struggled at times during the 2009 campaign, can he return to his early form and live up to the potential that he showed while playing in the shadow of Dezmon Briscoe and Kerry Meier?
- For an offensive lineman to win this award something pretty remarkable would have to happen. The big guys up front just don't get noticed when things are going well. Not to mention, if they are going well the stats at the other positions would likely overshadow the performance. Still Hawk is viewed as an NFL prospect at the position and has seen plenty of recognition early.
- The leading rusher from a year ago will look to comeback from injury and regain his starting position. The previous staff was a big fan of Opurum, will the new staff see the same potential.
- Like Hawkinson it would be a bit of a surprise to see a tight end snag MVP honors, but Biere is expected to play a more noticeable role in 2010. With that in mind, he very well could be a darkhorse nominee by the end of the season.
Preaseason Pick: Kale Pick
There really isn't another option. The Kansas backfield looks like a by committee approach with no known superstars prepared to carry the load.
At receiver it's the same story and that's not a bad thing. Most of last season Kansas sent an offense out with four or five wideouts and everyone knew it was going to one of two. That shouldn't be the case again.
As to a darkhorse like Biere or Hawkinson, again, if one of them is truly deserving it likely means that Kale Pick has put up the numbers to make him a noticeable enough quarterback that he would snag the prize.
At the end of the day, if Kansas has any hopes of going 6-6 or 7-5 and making a bowl game in Turner Gill's first season, both Chuck Long and Turner Gill will need to find a way to mold a young quarterback into a successful option in year one.
What's your prediction RCT?
Darkhorse Picks: Bradley Mcdougald, Brandon Bourbon
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I like the thought....
and I honestly think he could have been a much bigger asset to our team a year ago if he had been used more.
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Lots of guys should have been used more . . .
McDougald, Opurum, Biere. Another reason I’m glad we have a new offensive coordinator.
Omigie
I have a feeling he’ll be much more reliable than wilson
by Walshdollar on Aug 2, 2010 8:39 AM CDT via mobile reply actions
Tim Biere
With a new QB and a new scheme, I think we see a lot of Shanahan-style QB roll outs and dump offs to the flat. I think we’re going to see our TE’s become a huge part of the game plan.
Is anyone else having issues the formatting on SB Nations sites today?
The Kansas City Royals; Successfully failing since 1986
I definitely share in your optimism about the TE position, but I’m curious…what type of number do you think a TE would have to put up to be noticed enough for a MVP nod?
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realistically,
He’d have to have maybe 700+ yards and 10 touchdowns, I think a dominant TE in college can get that. And if he’s the outlet for the offense and becomes the saving grace whenever Pick gets in trouble it should be enough to at least grab some votes.
The Kansas City Royals; Successfully failing since 1986
Formatting's been fine for me but the buttons on the reply box are all screwed up.
Is anyone else having issues the formatting on SB Nations sites today?
Glad I came, just wish I hadn't stayed so long.
People ask me what I do in winter when there’s no baseball...Rock Chalk Talk
yeah same here...
no major issues but the reply box looks slightly different.
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Follow me on Twitter, Owen_Kemp
The little icons in the reply section
are all bad .tifs. Also the fanpost and fanshot section doesn’t have a header for recommended fanposts and recent fanposts….
The Kansas City Royals; Successfully failing since 1986
As far as offensive mvp:
Opurum. Gotta believe the offensive is going to be focused on the ground attack.
Glad I came, just wish I hadn't stayed so long.
People ask me what I do in winter when there’s no baseball...Rock Chalk Talk
what if it was...
Orlando Pace-esque dominance?
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That would be great
But, that would mean no one else on the O stood out. As great and important as the OL is to a successful team, they need to be the unsung heroes. Protecting the blind side means nothing if the QB cannot complete a pass.
Ohio State...
averaged 31 points per game during the Big 10 conference schedule with a two quarterback system during the 96 season when Pace received all the Heisman hype.
Pepe Pearson, Joe Germaine, Stanley Jackson….not really anybody deserving of offensive MVP honors in the group. You could pick Pearson if you wanted to, but Pace was a bulldozer and a stonewall.
The team relied on defense but the offense never really let them down.
I guess what I’m saying is no one really stood out offensively on that team and they were still successful offensively and as a team that year. Granted that is Ohio State and we are Kansas, but it can happen : )
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and I do realize...
that Pace is definitely an extreme case. There are several first round left tackles every year that are great prospects and players but weren’t the impact that he was.
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I gotta go Kale Pick
I believe Pick will be named the starter, and will be named the MVP. The QB position will be the most looked at position on the field after replacing Todd Reesing, who holds almost every QB record at KU. Because of that Pick (or Webb) will be the most popular guy on the team or the most hated guy on the team. If we get to a Bowl Game it will be because our QB led us there, hence my choice in Pick.
However, I think our RBs will be the true MVP for the year. They are the ones that are going to have to truly carry this team. Either Pick or Webb will be a first time starter and will need to rely on the running game, so all of the pressure isn’t on them. For that reason I like Opurum, Sands, and/or Bourbon to have a great year and truly carry this team.
Gotta go with Pick
…I think he’ll pull it together and provide the on-field leadership skills that Gill wants. I’m thinking he impresses us with his throwing ability and his timely running will give defenses trouble as well. But, our running game has to be solid to open up the passing this year!
so to piggy back on Labba's..
Shanahan style offense comment above, would you say you see that similar style with a run focus and a moving pocket creating and opening up opportunities for Pick to do well?
In case you missed it...I used to go by Denverjhawk : )
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the more I think about it, there more I like it.
The Shanahan offense that is – at least for this year’s team. We have somewhat undersized (for the Big XII) O-Linemen but are athletic and used to blocking in space and pass blocking. We have a mix of speed and power in the back filed which lends it self to the toss sweep with a pulling guard and a lead FB.
A strong “I” formation would mean that the D would have to respect the middle of the field which would lead to lots of play action roll out screens or roll out fly patterns. Our line is agile enough to do a lot of pulling which should mitigate some of the very athletic D Line’s we’ll be facing. With Pick’s obvious comfort outside the pocket this could be a really interesting offense to watch. Very old school in that it may make use of the “I” and Wishbone formations but very new school in that it has the potential to spread out a defense and create openings for big plays.
Someone get Chuck Long on the phone stat!
The Kansas City Royals; Successfully failing since 1986
Yes!
I really do think we’ll see something like that. I think our OL will be required to do much more pulling and trap-blocking than in several years, so moving the pocket is probably a strong possiblity. Having the opposing DL running around and watching for trap blocks also slows them down a bit.
Wilson
I could see him developing into a very good receiver this year. Opurum is gonna be an absolute stud too.
"Get up or GET OUT THE WAY!"
~Stacy King
I think
it may very well be Patterson or DJ Beshears out of the slot receiver position. Maybe early on we stick with a quick hit passing game with those 2 and we have all seen Patterson take it to the house when he gets a small opening. I do like Operum as well as the running game will be more of a emphasis the whole year not just the first few games.
I've voting Opurum
As long as he stays healthy, I think he’s going to have a monster year. It doesn’t even matter if no one blocks for him. He still falls forward for about 5 yards every time he’s tackled.
Pick PICK!
If it isn’t the QB, we’re going to need a 1500yd runner. The quarterback’s decisions and performance will dictate the success of the rest. It all starts there.
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