Counting down the Big 12: #9 (article by Chris Flanagan)

[HornSports Staff]

 
submitted Today, 11:13 AM in Texas Longhorns Football By Chris Flanagan
 
In anticipation of the 2015 football season, Horn Sports will rank all ten teams in the Big 12 based on where the schools will finish the season.

#10 - Kansas Jayhawks

Location: Lawrence, KS

Stadium: Memorial Stadium (Capacity: 50,071)

2015 Recruiting Class rankings: 
73rd nationally and 10th Big 12 (247Sports)
67th nationally and 9th Big 12 (Rivals.com)

Returning Starters: 8 (4 offense - 4 defense)

Preview:
First year head coach David Beaty takes the reins over a depleted Kansas Jayhawks roster. In Lawrence almost every position is open to competition, but that certainly does not equate to KU being competitive in the Big 12. Winning in Kansas is not easy and very few of Beaty's predecessors have been successful. There is talent on the Jayhawks' roster but its inexperienced and undeveloped.

The biggest question is the status of Senior QB starter Michael Cummings. Cummings suffered a knee injury in the spring game and underwent surgery for the damage. At Big 12 media days Beaty said Cummings is throwing well in his rehab. Time and full contact will be Cummings' two biggest hurdles in order to lead KU.

The Big 12 should be very competitive this fall and while Kansas might scratch out a couple of Big 12 wins, I won't be holding my breath.

Predicted record: 2-10 (1-8 Big 12). 

 

[Aaron Carrara]

Beaty has that Art Briles feel to him.  It's tough to be successful consistently in Lawrence but Beaty will shake things up.  Looking forward to see what he can do with the program.

 

[echeese]

Beaty has that Art Briles feel to him.  It's tough to be successful consistently in Lawrence but Beaty will shake things up.  Looking forward to see what he can do with the program.

He's a good coach with strong Texas ties. . .if he's there 4-5 years, he'll start enjoying some success.

If I'm him, I sell my soul in year 1's recruiting (year 2???) to get some JUCO's to jump start the talent.

 

[Matt Cotcher]

"He's a good coach with strong Texas ties. . .if he's there 4-5 years, he'll start enjoying some success." 


I definitely agree...it's all about how patient KU is with Beaty.

 

[utisdabomb12]

They've lost quite a few other starters recently. Pretty sure they are down to 3 or 4 returning starters now. 

Like others have said, Kansas better be patient with Beaty. It will take years to turn around that dumpster fire. 

 

[HornSports Staff]

submitted Today, 10:04 AM in Texas Longhorns Football By Chris Flanagan
 
In anticipation of the 2015 football season, Horn Sports will rank all ten teams in the Big 12 based on where the schools will finish the season.

#9 - Texas Tech Red Raiders

Location: Lubbock, TX

Stadium: Jones AT&T Stadium (capacity 61,000)

2015 Recruiting class rankings:
32nd nationally and 3rd Big 12 (247Sports)
40th nationally and 6th Big 12 (Rivals.com)

Starters returning: 14 (8 offense, 6 defense)

Preview:
Seeing Tech ranked so low is startling, but a closer look at the details reveals justification. Under Kliff Kingsbury Texas Tech has recruited well but on-field success is lacking.

In 2014 the Red Raiders committed many turnovers on offense and created too few turnovers on defense. While the offense returns eight starters, they won't be able to do much if they keep turning over the ball. The quarterback situation is unsolved which doesn't make for a very successful team and since the Red Raiders' offense focuses heavily on the quarterback, that inconsistency will hurt them in the long run.

The Red Raiders' new defensive coordinator (David Gibbs) wants to focus on creating turnovers, but Tech lacks the talent on defense to match up with the Big 12 playmakers. If Gibbs expects his corners to jump routes and intercept the ball, wide receivers will have a clear path to the end zone. Even if Texas Tech figures out the quarterback situation, their defense will not put them in position to win many football games.

Kliff Kingsbury was a trendy name for two years and brought publicity to Lubbock. In Year 3, Kingsbury needs to prove he has the ability to coach players and run a program that could contend for a Big 12 title. I believe Tech's head coach will get one more year but that will be it.

Predicted finish: 4-8 (3-6 Big 12) 

 

[Matt Cotcher]

Compared to last year at Media Days, there was a noticeable lack of non-program questions to Kingsbury (about his celebrity). Seems like the media is tired of that angle which means he needs to at least be competitive in losses or coverage will be unfriendly.