Kansas vs. Duke Tale of the Tape

			VS.
Conf	National	Actual	Category	Actual	National	Conf
Rank	Rank				Rank	Rank
	7	291.5	Rushing Offense	44.5	115
	24	270	Passing Offense	258	30
	6	561.5	Total Offense	302.5	96
	18	41.5	Scoring Offense	25.5	T-70
	8	39	Rushing Defense	195.5	99
	55	116.51	Pass Effic. Defense	94.74	23
	26	227	Total Defense	333.5	64
	6	5	Scoring Defense	21.5	64
	114	25.75	Net Punting	26.08	114
	40	10.13	Punt Returns	9.67	44
	117	12.5	Kickoff Return	23.5	48
	T-42	.5	Turnover Margin	1	T-28
	50	188	Pass Defense	138	17
	41	146.54	Passing Efficiency	133.95	59
	6	4.5	Sacks	.5	T-108
	21	8	Tackles for a Loss	3.5	T-96
	T-13	0.5	Sacks Allowed	1	T-26

Still a little early for me to get to excited when looking at this but there are certainly some areas where the Jayhawks look very strong versus last season.  7th in the nation in terms of rushing yards per game has led to a 6th overall offensive rating for the Jayhawks.  Balance and the ability to control the clock are two huge advantages in football and at first glance it appears the Jayhawks may be developing that. 

On the defensive side of the ball the Jayhawks front 4 has stepped up through 2 games averaging 4.5 sacks per game.  Obviously I think that takes a drop off as we play more spread teams in the Big 12 but nonetheless when you combine that with a total defensive effort that is borderline top 25 at this point, you have to be a little happy.

As far as this game goes, Duke has been inept in running the ball so Kansas can really tee off and focus on the pass which I think only helps the claim that Kansas is an improved defensive team.  Combine that with Duke's poor rushing defense and the recipe doesn't add up to anything but a win for Kansas.  Duke has two choices here, first overload on the run and try to plug that weakness in which case Todd Reesing will pick them apart.  The second is to do what everyone else has done so far and decide you are going to stop Todd Reesing, in which case the Kansas backs and offensive line could be in for a fun day.  Look for Trevor Marrongelli to be flying over some piles in this one laying some haymakers as Jake Sharp and Toben Opurum rack up the yards on our way to a route. 

I'm excited for Saturday, only problem is Comcast pulling versus off of DirecTV.  That mean's I'll likely be headed to Choppers in Denver on Saturday morning for some beers and breakfast burritos and an early kickoff against Duke.  I think I'll have a good laugh as I look up at the Mark Randall poster over the door as you walk in and think of this as just another payback opportunity for that 1991 basketball team that didn't quite make it.  Anyway, if anyone's in the vicinity and thinking about going...say hey and let's grab a beer.  Rock Chalk.