Kansas Jayhawks Take Down Northern Illinois In a Shootout
by PenHawk on Sep 11, 2011 8:46 AM CDT
in Kansas Jayhawk Football 2011
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PrintKansas improved to 2-0 Saturday after winning a high scoring, back-and-forth battle with defending MAC West Champions Northern Illinois. The contest saw roughly 1100 yards of offense, 87 points and six lead changes, but Kansas ultimately settled at the top with a 45-42 victory.
In a frustrating first half, the Jayhawks had two holding penalties, both unnecessary and away from the play that called back long TD runs. The first was on DJ Beshears and negated a 32 yard scamper on 4th and 1 by James Sims. After the penalty, Alex Mueller attempted a 49 yard FG that went wide left. The second wiped out an electrifying 75+ yard run by true freshman Tony Pierson. Kansas was down 21-7 halfway through the second quarter, and things looked bleak until two touchdown drives and a huge overturned call on fourth down led to a 21-21 tie at halftime.
Kansas finally took back the lead late in the third quarter, only to watch NIU slash through the porous Kansas defense and tie it up less than two minutes later. The fourth quarter was a back-and-forth affair that found NIU up 42-38 with five minutes remaining. After a willful kick return by DJ Beshears set them up with great field position, the Kansas offense was able to push the ball to near the goal line and run down the clock. After setting themselves up with a 1st and goal at the 5 yard line, Kansas was stuffed on three consecutive plays and found themselves staring down the barrel with a 4th and goal from the six yard line. Webb then got the ball to DJ Beshears at the goal line for his second TD of the day with nine seconds left, and after a failed hail mary attempt, the party started in Lawrence.
The defense was dreadful for a second consecutive week, and certainly raised questions about their ability to compete once Kansas gets into their grueling conference schedule, but the offense was once again productive, operating behind a sturdy front line that controlled the line of scrimmage. Webb and Beshears had career games, and despite the defensive concerns, it was an incredible night that found the Jayhawks undefeated in the end.
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As someone who sees the Jayhawks play very rarely
This win seems very encouraging to me. The hope seemed to be that Kansas could be competitive and not only were they competitive, they won. It doesn’t seem flukey like last year’s Georgia Tech game. Before the season, I wasn’t thinking much about bowl games this year but now I’m starting to look and see if there are 4 more wins on the schedule.
It seems like having Tech and K-State at home are definitely winnable, and maybe at Ames depending on how the Steele Jantz situation plays out. Is there another winnable game?
Pecota, watch over us.
GT & the zoo
My guess is we’ll be ‘dogs in the rest of our games, even if we have and continue to exceed expectations for those outside the program. Those would seem to be the most winnable games. There have been crazier upsets, and there’s plenty of upside with such a young program and team.
Honest question...
In two years, do you think there’s a chance to play in another Orange Bowl? Webb, Sims, will both be seniors, I’m not totally sure what they will have receiving wise, Shepard, maybe one of Miller/Pierson ends up a receiver. The defense is very, very, young, and the offense could be so dynamic there may not even be a need for the defense to improve a lot. I’m honestly asking, because I have no clue.
feet firmly nailed to the floor of the Tyler Colvin bandwagon...
by wrigleyrocker12 on Sep 11, 2011 9:20 PM CDT up reply actions
OB in 2 yrs?
It’s possible, tho not probable, and the D would have to improve to get back to 1-3 losses per season, which seems necessary to get back to a BCS game.
Pierson in particular seems to me to be sort of a Kendall Wright type player that would seem so dangerous to get the ball in space. Marquis Jackson was also our highest rated WR recruit, so hopefully he has plenty to offer even if he isn’t seeing the field so far as a true freshman.
Must get better
Defense is abysmal. Secondary plays on their heels and gives 10 yd cushions. We must learn to challenge receivers or get pummeled. Our linebackers are talented but must read and recognize better. All things aside we have played against very good qbs and up tempo offenses. Hope to see improvement next week, must see improvement to know that defense understands the urgency of need to improve.
We play a freaking 10 yard cushion on all of the WRs and it's awful...
We should remember that this NIU team puts up major points and returns a crap-ton of starters, but our lack of CBs really gets annoying and soon it’s gonna lose us games. It looks like we have never attempted to jump a screen in all of our practices, and consistently being beaten by screens is the most frustrating aspect of watching these games…
What does a man have to do around here to get a championship?
Hit me up on twitter: @RockChalkChief
What's the logic?
What’s the logic in having the CBs play so far back? Praying they don’t give up the long ball?
by PDXJayhawk on Sep 11, 2011 10:33 AM CDT via mobile reply actions 1 recs
It gives
the CBs more time to read the play. Remember, the CBs job isn’t to just cover WRs. They’ve got run support responsibilities as well. Inexperienced kids, such as ours, will need an extra second to read the play and react. And it’s a helluva lot easier to run forward than it is to run backwards.
"No time for questions. No time for games. Start kickin' ass and takin' down the names." - Dave Mustaine.
by Rivethead on Sep 11, 2011 5:37 PM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
Inexperienced kids?
Barfield’s a senior and Brown is a junior. Patmon’s just a true sophomore, but he’s also one of the better DBs in run support.
I think the staff is just terrified of what would happen in the deep passing game if the CBs were on the line because: 1) they don’t have great straightline speed, and 2) they can’t make a play on a deep ball.
Barfield and Brown
despite being upper classmen, don’t have that much experience. In fact, prior to last year I don’t think Brown had any pt and Barfield only a little.
"No time for questions. No time for games. Start kickin' ass and takin' down the names." - Dave Mustaine.
Yes, I have to believe they're backed off because of run support.
Makes the secondary look bad, but they are just covering for a small D-line and inexperienced LB corps. NIU is a running team, so I understand the strategy to focus on stopping the run first. But, as many mentioned, never altering the strategy despite little to no success seems like a major problem.
Kila's slash for Apr 20 to May 4, 2011, right before he was sent down: .276 / .344 / .448
by SagehenMacGyver47 on Sep 12, 2011 12:51 PM CDT up reply actions
Can't wait until next week, a team with ranked votes, on the road, and I finally actually get to watch the game on ESPN3.
feet firmly nailed to the floor of the Tyler Colvin bandwagon...
by wrigleyrocker12 on Sep 11, 2011 11:06 AM CDT reply actions
On Fox Sports Net next week
ESPN3 doesn’t show their games
by jayhawk1996 on Sep 11, 2011 1:22 PM CDT via iPhone app up reply actions
It says it's on ESPN3 on ESPN.com.
feet firmly nailed to the floor of the Tyler Colvin bandwagon...
by wrigleyrocker12 on Sep 11, 2011 1:57 PM CDT up reply actions
Just saw that
Wondering how peace was brokered between those Cold War powers
by jayhawk1996 on Sep 11, 2011 4:38 PM CDT via iPhone app up reply actions
i would just like to say
The jayhawks are undefeated in games I attend football and basketball. Who wants to buy me tickets for the hs tech game?
by dester30 on Sep 11, 2011 11:32 AM CDT via mobile reply actions
I don't get it
80% of the comments on this and every board are about how bad the defense was. Abysmal and dreadful are common adjectives.
Guess what people? We won the game.
And for anyone who expected us to shut out the nation’s best offense (that’s what NIU was last season and now the same unit is one year smarter and better)……well you’re just not realistic.
Personally, I expected NIU to hang 60 on us. I did not expect a W. I did not expect our offense to look so leathal. Fix a few holding penalties and this game isn’t even close.
There is a lot to be excited about here and ragging on our young defense in the afterglow of a pretty significant win just doesn’t make sense to me……….and I’m the pessimist around here!
"No time for questions. No time for games. Start kickin' ass and takin' down the names." - Dave Mustaine.
by Rivethead on Sep 11, 2011 1:29 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
A couple things
First, it’s not like the defense yesterday was an aberration…this is just what they are. If it were just one individual bad performance against a great offense, that would be one thing. The fact is they did exactly the same thing they did against McNeese State last week, and what they did in every single blowout loss last year.
Second, I’m thrilled that we won, and it’s true that at the end of the day, the defense’s job is simply to allow fewer points than their offense scores. That being said, we can’t just trade blows like this once we start playing Big 12 teams. Even Iowa State would be able to do what NIU did to us yesterday, and they have more talent on defense. Our offense can’t put up 500 yards every week, and if our defense is going to force them to try, we won’t continue winning games.
I thought we had all agreed to just be happy with being competitive this year?
When did the expectations change?
they haven't
no one said that as long as we’re competitive, no one will ever have any right to criticize any element of the team. I was thrilled with the result of the game, but some of these defensive problems have been going on for a while and seem fixable. That’s frustrating.
So you are happy with being competitive?
Is the “fix” a switch to flip, or a process? It would seem to me that it is more like a car in the repair shop that the lights being out.
Yes, I'm happy with being competitive
I’m just not going to stop being frustrated with fixable things we struggle with (e.g. linebackers straying from their lanes, DBs not turning around to make a play on the ball, etc.)
As critical as I have been, I’m very happy with the overall progress I’m seeing from this football team.
Yes, we won the game
But will the offense be able to score 40-plus points against Ga Tech and our Big 12 opponents?
Will the defense be able to hold Ga Tech and our Big 12 opponents to less than 40 points?
Unless there are some things they haven’t shown yet, it’s no and no.
Things are better but this team will struggle to win three games.
by jayhawk1996 on Sep 11, 2011 4:41 PM CDT via iPhone app up reply actions
I guess
I expect our defense to improve throughout the season. Remember this is only their second game under Shealy and his 3-4. And only Terry’s 4th game ever. And McDougald’s 6th. And Opurum’s 9th(?). And Willis’ 2nd as a Jayhawk. And….we’ll you get the picture. Perhaps that’s an unreasonable expectation.
I still don’t get all of the focus on the “abysmal” and “dreadful” defense after such a good win……..
"No time for questions. No time for games. Start kickin' ass and takin' down the names." - Dave Mustaine.
by Rivethead on Sep 11, 2011 5:28 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
I hope you're right
the problem is that our defensive line has been bad since J-Mac left in ’07, and the secondary was playing this way last year as well. That makes it too hard to be optimistic about their improvement this season. That said, I do believe that as these coaches recruit to their system, the defense will improve.
I believe it was one of the Gridirons
where they talked about it being harder for new guys (new schemes?) on D than O, because while you can put an O player in for a certain package, the D player has to know all of the packages since they can change to any one of them depending on what the O does. It will just take longer for the D to come around.
And even if there were similar problems in years past, this is still just the 2nd game for this D.
And
Coach Long was the boss of the O last year. And he is again this year.
The D kids don’t have the same luxury. Although Shealy was on staff, he wasn’t and isn’t the same as Torbush.
"No time for questions. No time for games. Start kickin' ass and takin' down the names." - Dave Mustaine.
It true
we’ve struggled at the D line spot since 07. Compound that with the injury bug and a new 3-4 system and you get what we had this weekend. But those things are fixable. Injuries will heal. Youngsters like Kevin Young and Randall Dent will start to be comfortable with their assignments in the 3-4. That will let the LBs run free…..and that’ll help.
"No time for questions. No time for games. Start kickin' ass and takin' down the names." - Dave Mustaine.
And the LB's have run free to some extend already
Johnson had 15 T’s to go with Toben’s 11 in the first game (haven’t heard about yesterday), and Bakare had 9 in a half yesterday before going down. But you are absolutely right about there being plenty of upside as the DL heals and develops and gets your recruits for the system.
Last year's D held 6 of 12 teams to less than 40 pts
and I’d say we’re better than last year.
We shouldn’t be favored in any of the remaining games, but that’s fine. We’ve already exceeded expectations. “Let’s just be happy with being competitive.”
Exceeded who's expectations?
Most people thought 3 wins was the goal, not winning the first two would have made that damn near impossible.
Glad I came, just wish I hadn't stayed so long.
Rock Chalk Talk
+++++
The other positive you didn’t mention was that we essentially shut down the running game for the second week in a row with the (brand new!) 3-4 that was going to be totally vulnerable to the run. If we can continue to limit RB’s to 2 ypc, there is a lot of possibilities for this D.
And all that without our 1st string DT and 2nd for much of the game. This is still a really young team with a brand new D/DC.
Rock Chalk
That's a great point
and GTech isn’t a strong passing team. We’ve got more of a chance to go on the road and get an ACC victory than I expected at the beginning of this season.
"No time for questions. No time for games. Start kickin' ass and takin' down the names." - Dave Mustaine.
GT
They haven’t been strong passing in the past, but I think they have had a significant imrovement in that category this year. Couldn’t get much worse than last year. I still expect us to be competitive (wink).
GT's passing stats are severely inflated by their first game.
I watched them “throw” for 2 TDs and 160 yards in the 1st quarter of their 1st game this year. Their opponents were awful. They whipped the ball out to the WRs who stiff armed a corner and galloped to the end zone untouched.
That being said, we’re pretty awful on passes to the flat…
Wish I had an actual movie scene to mention
but I’m horrible that way.
Just have this sense of being back-back with you and 6-shooters blazing in each hand. Unfortunately, it’s probably closer to Martin Short and Steve Martin than something John Waynesque.
It's still a victory over a MAC team and the defense did get smoked.
Glad I came, just wish I hadn't stayed so long.
Rock Chalk Talk
Some thoughts...
The fact that the team didn’t quit competing, given our recent history, when the score got to 21-7, I felt an uneasiness about what to expect. We kept playing against a team that knows how to win and close out the opposition, not like the Colorado game last year, and found a way to win.
Second, I like Gill’s response in the post game. He acknowledges there are things that need to be addressed on defense. Everyone was aware of the likely deficiencies, but hoping they would be resolved, but haven’t. I hope in practice they’re up in these guys, but in public he was nothing but positive.
Third, the performance of Jordan Webb, with a whole season with this staff and the getting the game reps, he’s made the kind of progress you’d hope to get in a year from freshman to sophomore. He still holds on too long some times and takes bad sacks, but so do guys making millions of dollars. Granted we haven’t played OU, but he’s better.
Fourth, the impact and excitement some of these freshman have brought is great, need to keep recruiting (some DL please).
KU 2-0
Rock Chalk!
by Red Lion on Sep 11, 2011 2:14 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
Speaking of Mueller
I couldn’t tell too much since I was in the stands and drunk, but it looked like his 49 yard field goal didn’t miss by much.
Be really nice to finally have a reliable kicker and so far Mueller looks pretty solid. That should be expected though, given that he was one of the top kicking prospects in ’merica
Shit happens when you win championships
yeah
I have no problem with a Freshman missing his first career FG attempt (right?) from 49 yards. That’s a tough kick
I write everywhere. You're probably better off following me on twitter
I love the fact
that Gill let him try. Basically telling the freshman…..I have faith in you and that leg.
"No time for questions. No time for games. Start kickin' ass and takin' down the names." - Dave Mustaine.
he had plenty of distance
and that was on a slightly slippery field (been drizzling pregame a bit).
it was slightly outside. but he had the distance for a 55 yarder on that one.
"C.J.: They sent me two turkeys. The most photo-friendly of the two gets a Presidential pardon and a full life at a children's zoo. The runner-up gets eaten.
Bartlet: If the Oscars were like that, I'd watch." - The West Wing, 'Shibboleth'
Lost stat
We had as much punting yardage on 1, as they did on 2.
Sounds like we’re winning the kicking battle as well. Who are those guys? Reynolds (freshman!) had 2 of the tackles. ST looks to be a huge improvement this year. Beshears must be right up there nationally in return yardage wthout even breaking one all the way (padding the yardage total). Just good consistent returns.
I will retrace
In thinking about the fact the overwhelming majority of our players are freshmen and sophomores, we can allow for development. We have played 2 teams with outstanding offenses. The only thing I want to see out of the defense is to take away the wideout screens. It will require more man coverage but let’s see what they’ve got. And echo, no falloff in punting. That guy kicks boomers.
To me the biggest D frustration
is no take aways yet this season. And only a handful last season. Those things are kind of streaky and just like rain in central Texas…..we’re way, way, way overdue for some.
"No time for questions. No time for games. Start kickin' ass and takin' down the names." - Dave Mustaine.
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