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Lukus Alderman gives you everything you need to know about the Kansas Jayhawks in his MATCHUP RATINGS.
The bye week that followed the heartbreaking loss to UCLA in Dallas gave Texas time to recover and look forward to the start of conference play. First up on the conference schedule is 2-1 Kansas. While Kansas dominates the Big 12 in basketball, their football team is consistently at or near the bottom of the league. Regardless, Texas has had its struggles when playing in Lawrence. For the Longhorns to show continued improvement, they need to make sure they don’t fall into the trap of looking ahead to Baylor and Oklahoma.
OFFENSE
Kansas returns dual-threat QB Montell Cozart in a quick-tempo hurry up offense. The Jayhawks run a shotgun, one back offense:
(4WR, 1 Back offensive set)
(3 WR, 1 TE, 1 back set)
Coach Charlie Weis seems to push the up-tempo to the point that the offense does not usually make substitutions during the same drive, therefore if the offense is running a one-back 3 WR set with a TE, chances are that the same personnel will be used that whole drive. The plays are relayed by the coaches from the sidelines prior to formation, but the Jayhawks will look back prior to the play to see if any audibles are called from the sidelines.
As Mike Roach mentions in Quick Takes, Cozart is a dangerous runner, but the Jayhawk offensive staff seems to be working with him on passing rather than running. Cozart has shown that he is an exceptional runner, but he rarely uses that option and even if he is successful, he hasn’t shown that he will return to that option.
The Jayhawk rushing attack will be no different than what Texas saw against UCLA and BYU in that Kansas employs a zone-read look where the QB reads the rushing DE/LB before deciding to keep or hand off to the running back.
The Kansas passing game is similar to the UCLA air attack (with Neuheisel). It consists of bubble screen passes to the WR’s behind the LOS and short routes (3 to 8 yards).
(Kansas’ passing game consists of quick passes on short routes between 3-8 yards of the LOS)
Other offensive notes:
- Cozart’s low arm-motion when passing allows for the DE’s/DT’s to alter passes by getting their hands up.
- Cozart will take chances and throw on the move, but his lack of arm strength will provide DB’s the opportunity to create turnovers.
- The Jayhawk offense has little exceptional speed or physicality, but will try to move the ball with short runs and passes throughout the course of the game.
- Kansas has a “Wildcat†package featuring #14 (Cummings) who looks to be a slower, but bigger QB than Cozart.
- Another wrinkle in Kansas’ offense includes handing the ball to a WR lined up in the backfield (which was successful on the first play from scrimmage last week for a 71 yard score).
DEFENSE
The Jayhawks run a 3-3-5 defensive alignment that allows the secondary to have an extra man while maintaining the three linebackers to enforce the run defense. As Matt Cotcher mentioned in his pre-season Kansas Preview, the strength of the defense lies in the secondary, specifically at safety with returning defensive newcomer of the year Isaiah Johnson along with senior Cassius Sendish.
Kansas’ 3-3-5 defense has shown the propensity to stand DE’s up at the line, leaving only two down linemen. Defensive backs will often blitz, but will give up space to WR’s as they provide a soft cushion that allows for short and intermediate passes.
(3-3-5, Linebacker standing close to the line)
(Two down linemen, 2 standup ends/LBs)
(CB showing blitz, DBs giving 7 yard cushion)
The linebackers are led by returning senior Ben Heeney, who was voted preseason All-Big 12 first team. Linebackers line up close to the LOS to give the look of a 4-man front, but may drop back into coverage. Intermediate routes in the middle of the field have been open due to the MLB’s difficulty in zone coverage.
The defense is full of upper-classmen who bring solid experience to the playing field. For Texas to have success against the secondary, they must continue to run a short passing game and attack the middle of the field when the opportunity presents itself. The running game will also have a chance to improve as Kansas often only rushes three (even though they give a look of a five or six man front prior to the snap of the football).
Other Notes:
- Kansas gives up 185 Rushing YPG (92nd nationally), which is a very high number considering the fact that they have played Southeast Missouri State, Duke, and Central Michigan.
- The defensive has difficulty with staying on assignments when opposing offenses run the zone-read. If the running back gets to the second level, the rest of the defense has difficulty recovering.
- The middle linebacker plays well against the run, but has been caught flat-footed against the pass.
- On 3rd downs and within the ten yard line (goal line defense), the defense has stayed with a 3-3-5 but brought the linebackers and secondary close to the line to have the look of a six man front.
(Six men in the box, leaving the middle of the field empty)
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kansas has had a mixed bag when it comes to special teams. The field goal kicking is a problem as their kicker, Nick Wyman, has only made 4/8 field goals on the season. On the other hand, the Jayhawks are 17th in the nation in punt returns, averaging 17.3 yards per return, but that number is aided by the fact that they have only returned 3 punts all season and one of the returns was for 30 yards.
Texas has had difficulty in the return department, but this week against Kansas may provide an opportunity to set up a big return. Kansas punter Trevor Pardula is inconsistent, but has the occasional big punt (long of 72 yards vs Duke). As the Longhorns know, this can be a problem if the punt outkicks the coverage.
In Kansas’ matchup against Duke, Pardula has a long punt, but the return man fields the ball ten yards in front of the first Kansas defender.
(three blockers on punt)
(return man fields punt 10 yards in front of the defense)
With this much room, the Jayhawk punt defense broke down early and allowed the Duke blockers to set up a wall for the return.
(punt defense breaks down, allowing a wall to be set up for a return)
MATCHUPS
Texas QB/WR/TE’s v. Kansas DB’s:
Kansas’ secondary is full of upper classmen and the Jayhawks are especially strong at safety. While the Jayhawks have experience in the defensive backfield, they have given up short passes and have holes in the middle of the field in zone coverage which have allowed opponents to pass for an average of 218 yards.
This is good news for Texas as the Longhorns passing game revolves around short and low-risk intermediate passes. Swoopes has an accurate arm and the receivers have been successful in finding ways to get open underneath coverage.
Advantage:
Texas RB’s v. Kansas LB’s:
Kansas has had difficulty throughout the early part of the season in stopping the run. Linebackers have been slow to attack the runner and have had difficulty maintaining assignments on zone-read.
Expect the Texas running game to show improvement against the Jayhawk defense as lanes will be available against the 3-3-5 alignment.
Advantage:
Texas OL v. Kansas DL:
While Kansas only has 3 down linemen (sometimes 2) in the 3-3-5 alignment, Texas’ offensive line could see up to five and six rushers at a time in the form of blitzes from linebackers and occasionally DB’s. Kansas, however, has not had much success in the first three games against opponent’s offensive lines as they have only recorded four total sacks and have given up 185 rushing yards per game.
Texas has a young and inexperience offensive line which will have the opportunity to show improvement against the inconsistent and somewhat ineffective front of Kansas.
Advantage: EVEN
Texas DB’s v. Kansas QB/WR/TE’s:
Kansas has been trying to push QB Cozart into becoming a more polished passer and to rely on his arm rather than his legs. The Jayhawk QB has had limited success through the air and his greatest asset, his rushing ability, has suffered as a result.
Texas’ secondary should be able to continue to limit the Kansas passing game and create opportunities for turnovers.
Advantage:
Texas LB’s v. Kansas RB’s:
The Jayhawk RB corps has been decimated by injury. Three preseason hopefuls at RB were hit with the injury bug during fall camp which has left a transfer and a freshman as the lead rushers.
Texas LB’s are bigger and faster than any group of LB’s that Kansas has seen so far, but the Longhorn trio has given up chunks of yards to their opponents rushing attack at intervals throughout the season.
Advantage:
Texas DL v. Kansas OL:
The Kansas OL is another group full of upperclassmen with solid playing experience. The line averages over 300lbs and averages over 200 rushing yards per game. The only negative from the Kansas OL is the six sacks given up.
The strength of the Texas Defense is their defensive line led by Malcom Brown. Even with the loss of Tank Jackson, Texas has strong depth with Ridgeway and Alex Norman to pick up the slack.
Texas has the advantage, but the Kansas OL hasn’t been pushed around this season.
Advantage:
Special Teams:
Kansas hasn’t blown anyone away on special teams. The Jayhawks have a below average FG kicking group along with an average punt team. There are indications that Kansas has a good punt return team, but with only 3 returns in three games, the data is too limited to be conclusive.
Texas is in the same boat as the FG unit has been far from spectacular and while Russ has had an excellent start this season punting, his big leg has outkicked the coverage too often allowing for big return opportunities.
While Kansas hasn’t been spectacular in any phase, the Longhorns have been underwhelming and have given the ball up and allowed big returns in key moments of big games.
Advantage:
The bye week that followed the heartbreaking loss to UCLA in Dallas gave Texas time to recover and look forward to the start of conference play. First up on the conference schedule is 2-1 Kansas. While Kansas dominates the Big 12 in basketball, their football team is consistently at or near the bottom of the league. Regardless, Texas has had its struggles when playing in Lawrence. For the Longhorns to show continued improvement, they need to make sure they don’t fall into the trap of looking ahead to Baylor and Oklahoma.
OFFENSE
Kansas returns dual-threat QB Montell Cozart in a quick-tempo hurry up offense. The Jayhawks run a shotgun, one back offense:
(4WR, 1 Back offensive set)
(3 WR, 1 TE, 1 back set)
Coach Charlie Weis seems to push the up-tempo to the point that the offense does not usually make substitutions during the same drive, therefore if the offense is running a one-back 3 WR set with a TE, chances are that the same personnel will be used that whole drive. The plays are relayed by the coaches from the sidelines prior to formation, but the Jayhawks will look back prior to the play to see if any audibles are called from the sidelines.
As Mike Roach mentions in Quick Takes, Cozart is a dangerous runner, but the Jayhawk offensive staff seems to be working with him on passing rather than running. Cozart has shown that he is an exceptional runner, but he rarely uses that option and even if he is successful, he hasn’t shown that he will return to that option.
The Jayhawk rushing attack will be no different than what Texas saw against UCLA and BYU in that Kansas employs a zone-read look where the QB reads the rushing DE/LB before deciding to keep or hand off to the running back.
The Kansas passing game is similar to the UCLA air attack (with Neuheisel). It consists of bubble screen passes to the WR’s behind the LOS and short routes (3 to 8 yards).
(Kansas’ passing game consists of quick passes on short routes between 3-8 yards of the LOS)
Other offensive notes:
- Cozart’s low arm-motion when passing allows for the DE’s/DT’s to alter passes by getting their hands up.
- Cozart will take chances and throw on the move, but his lack of arm strength will provide DB’s the opportunity to create turnovers.
- The Jayhawk offense has little exceptional speed or physicality, but will try to move the ball with short runs and passes throughout the course of the game.
- Kansas has a “Wildcat†package featuring #14 (Cummings) who looks to be a slower, but bigger QB than Cozart.
- Another wrinkle in Kansas’ offense includes handing the ball to a WR lined up in the backfield (which was successful on the first play from scrimmage last week for a 71 yard score).
DEFENSE
The Jayhawks run a 3-3-5 defensive alignment that allows the secondary to have an extra man while maintaining the three linebackers to enforce the run defense. As Matt Cotcher mentioned in his pre-season Kansas Preview, the strength of the defense lies in the secondary, specifically at safety with returning defensive newcomer of the year Isaiah Johnson along with senior Cassius Sendish.
Kansas’ 3-3-5 defense has shown the propensity to stand DE’s up at the line, leaving only two down linemen. Defensive backs will often blitz, but will give up space to WR’s as they provide a soft cushion that allows for short and intermediate passes.
(3-3-5, Linebacker standing close to the line)
(Two down linemen, 2 standup ends/LBs)
(CB showing blitz, DBs giving 7 yard cushion)
The linebackers are led by returning senior Ben Heeney, who was voted preseason All-Big 12 first team. Linebackers line up close to the LOS to give the look of a 4-man front, but may drop back into coverage. Intermediate routes in the middle of the field have been open due to the MLB’s difficulty in zone coverage.
The defense is full of upper-classmen who bring solid experience to the playing field. For Texas to have success against the secondary, they must continue to run a short passing game and attack the middle of the field when the opportunity presents itself. The running game will also have a chance to improve as Kansas often only rushes three (even though they give a look of a five or six man front prior to the snap of the football).
Other Notes:
- Kansas gives up 185 Rushing YPG (92nd nationally), which is a very high number considering the fact that they have played Southeast Missouri State, Duke, and Central Michigan.
- The defensive has difficulty with staying on assignments when opposing offenses run the zone-read. If the running back gets to the second level, the rest of the defense has difficulty recovering.
- The middle linebacker plays well against the run, but has been caught flat-footed against the pass.
- On 3rd downs and within the ten yard line (goal line defense), the defense has stayed with a 3-3-5 but brought the linebackers and secondary close to the line to have the look of a six man front.
(Six men in the box, leaving the middle of the field empty)
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kansas has had a mixed bag when it comes to special teams. The field goal kicking is a problem as their kicker, Nick Wyman, has only made 4/8 field goals on the season. On the other hand, the Jayhawks are 17th in the nation in punt returns, averaging 17.3 yards per return, but that number is aided by the fact that they have only returned 3 punts all season and one of the returns was for 30 yards.
Texas has had difficulty in the return department, but this week against Kansas may provide an opportunity to set up a big return. Kansas punter Trevor Pardula is inconsistent, but has the occasional big punt (long of 72 yards vs Duke). As the Longhorns know, this can be a problem if the punt outkicks the coverage.
In Kansas’ matchup against Duke, Pardula has a long punt, but the return man fields the ball ten yards in front of the first Kansas defender.
(three blockers on punt)
(return man fields punt 10 yards in front of the defense)
With this much room, the Jayhawk punt defense broke down early and allowed the Duke blockers to set up a wall for the return.
(punt defense breaks down, allowing a wall to be set up for a return)
MATCHUPS
Texas QB/WR/TE’s v. Kansas DB’s:
Kansas’ secondary is full of upper classmen and the Jayhawks are especially strong at safety. While the Jayhawks have experience in the defensive backfield, they have given up short passes and have holes in the middle of the field in zone coverage which have allowed opponents to pass for an average of 218 yards.
This is good news for Texas as the Longhorns passing game revolves around short and low-risk intermediate passes. Swoopes has an accurate arm and the receivers have been successful in finding ways to get open underneath coverage.
Advantage:
Texas RB’s v. Kansas LB’s:
Kansas has had difficulty throughout the early part of the season in stopping the run. Linebackers have been slow to attack the runner and have had difficulty maintaining assignments on zone-read.
Expect the Texas running game to show improvement against the Jayhawk defense as lanes will be available against the 3-3-5 alignment.
Advantage:
Texas OL v. Kansas DL:
While Kansas only has 3 down linemen (sometimes 2) in the 3-3-5 alignment, Texas’ offensive line could see up to five and six rushers at a time in the form of blitzes from linebackers and occasionally DB’s. Kansas, however, has not had much success in the first three games against opponent’s offensive lines as they have only recorded four total sacks and have given up 185 rushing yards per game.
Texas has a young and inexperience offensive line which will have the opportunity to show improvement against the inconsistent and somewhat ineffective front of Kansas.
Advantage: EVEN
Texas DB’s v. Kansas QB/WR/TE’s:
Kansas has been trying to push QB Cozart into becoming a more polished passer and to rely on his arm rather than his legs. The Jayhawk QB has had limited success through the air and his greatest asset, his rushing ability, has suffered as a result.
Texas’ secondary should be able to continue to limit the Kansas passing game and create opportunities for turnovers.
Advantage:
Texas LB’s v. Kansas RB’s:
The Jayhawk RB corps has been decimated by injury. Three preseason hopefuls at RB were hit with the injury bug during fall camp which has left a transfer and a freshman as the lead rushers.
Texas LB’s are bigger and faster than any group of LB’s that Kansas has seen so far, but the Longhorn trio has given up chunks of yards to their opponents rushing attack at intervals throughout the season.
Advantage:
Texas DL v. Kansas OL:
The Kansas OL is another group full of upperclassmen with solid playing experience. The line averages over 300lbs and averages over 200 rushing yards per game. The only negative from the Kansas OL is the six sacks given up.
The strength of the Texas Defense is their defensive line led by Malcom Brown. Even with the loss of Tank Jackson, Texas has strong depth with Ridgeway and Alex Norman to pick up the slack.
Texas has the advantage, but the Kansas OL hasn’t been pushed around this season.
Advantage:
Special Teams:
Kansas hasn’t blown anyone away on special teams. The Jayhawks have a below average FG kicking group along with an average punt team. There are indications that Kansas has a good punt return team, but with only 3 returns in three games, the data is too limited to be conclusive.
Texas is in the same boat as the FG unit has been far from spectacular and while Russ has had an excellent start this season punting, his big leg has outkicked the coverage too often allowing for big return opportunities.
While Kansas hasn’t been spectacular in any phase, the Longhorns have been underwhelming and have given the ball up and allowed big returns in key moments of big games.
Advantage:
