Jayhawks searching for running game

By John Hillman  |   Tuesday, September 02, 2008  |  Comments( 0 )

Kansas Jayhawks
Got something to say?

Sign Up and be the first to comment on this article!

Replacing a 1,000-yard rusher doesn’t happen overnight. One game into the 2008 season, Kansas is still seeking a successor for the departed Brandon McAnderson.

Commentary: In 2007, the Jayhawks employed a balanced offensive attack. Quarterback Todd Reesing threw for 3,486 yards and 33 touchdowns. McAnderson and Jake Sharp complemented the aerial attack by rushing for over 2,000 yards. McAnderson led the team with 1,125, while Sharp contributed 821.

In its 40-10 season-opening win over Florida International, Kansas struggled on the ground. The Jayhawks inserted Sharp, Angus Quigley and Jocques Crawford at running back, but none put up impressive numbers.

Quigley performed the best of the three, carrying six times for 47 yards. Crawford gained only 32 yards on 11 carries and Sharp, who started the game, rushed nine times for 29 yards. As a team, the Jayhawks totaled only 128 yards on the ground.

Reesing’s arm shouldered the offensive load. The quarterback threw 52 times, completing 37 passes for 256 yards and three touchdowns. Despite leading 40-10 at the end of the third quarter, head coach Mark Mangino never substituted backup signal-caller Kerry Meier for Reesing.

Without a strong rushing attack, Kansas probably won’t repeat its 2007 success. The Jayhawks face a much stronger challenge this week when they engage Louisiana Tech in Lawrence.

Fan Pulse: The Jayhawk faithful want to see more of Quigley at running back. They like his size and power, especially in red-zone situations. Check out this link to read their thoughts: http://boards.kusports.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=1129284&an=0&page=0#1129284

Injury watch: Wide receiver Dexton Fields injured an ankle in Saturday’s game and will probably miss the Louisiana Tech contest as well.
Got something to say?

Sign Up and be the first to comment on this article! (0)

About John Hillman

John Hillman graduated from Baylor University in 1974 with a BBA in accounting and earned an MBA from Baylor in 1987. He worked for accounting firms until 1982 when he became the chief financial officer for an independent insurance claims adjusting service, a position he still holds today. ...
read more
Article Tools Share!   |  RSS  |  Bleacher Report About Bleacher Report