Sun. Sep 29th, 2024

Preview: KU looks to get on track in Arrowhead debut

ByJasper

Sep 28, 2024

Preview: KU looks to get on track in Arrowhead debut

Kansas Athletics

Kansas running back Devin Neal carries the ball against West Virginia on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Morgantown, W.Va.

The Kansas football team’s three-game losing streak has the Jayhawks entering GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in a much different place than when they began their season at Children’s Mercy Park.

But KU still has eight regular-season games left and a lot can still be accomplished.

Ahead of Saturday’s clash with TCU, the first game KU has played at Arrowhead since 2011, head coach Lance Leipold said Monday that he appreciates the continued support of the fan base, “and they’re still needed for something.” to effect.”

“If they weren’t disappointed or frustrated, they wouldn’t be a fan,” he added. “Don’t underestimate that this is part of what’s happening here. But hopefully they will come and be energetic and can help us when we need them. They can continue to make an impact, hopefully for the same reason that they believe in this university and this program, and if they’re new starters, maybe they still see that this team has a lot of season left in it.”

Leipold wants to change the course of the season in a way that rewards those who stick with it.

“It’s like reading books or watching movies,” he said. “Some books and films start very slowly but end up being quite a story. I plan for this team to be one.”

The biggest obstacle KU currently faces on the path to a fairytale ending is Leipold’s biggest concern for the team right now: “We didn’t play our best football at the right time.”

In all three losses, the Jayhawks held a fourth-quarter lead and watched it fade. Most recently, they held a 28-17 lead on the road at West Virginia before allowing the Mountaineers to execute back-to-back touchdown drives with a KU three-and-out in between.

“There are moments when we played good football,” he said, “and then there are times, especially towards the end of the game, when we have to give our best, but we can’t do that.” That has to change .”

The Jayhawks’ latest test is a TCU team that has an inconsistent record in its final games this year. The Frogs came back in the fourth quarter to beat Stanford in their opener, but blew a three-touchdown lead against UCF later in the second half. Most recently they gave up 66 points and their head coach Sonny Dykes was eliminated by rival SMU.

Both teams are in a much different situation than the last time they met, as undefeated, ranked opponents that earned Lawrence ESPN’s “College GameDay.”

“This is a team that is still a year and a half away from playing for a national championship,” Leipold said. “It’s a good football team. I know last season didn’t go the way they had hoped and I’m sure there’s as much disappointment in their meeting room as there is in ours today.”

Leipold noted that TCU “as a group has the best receiving corps and quarterback I think we’ve ever faced.” The Frogs’ sophomore starter Josh Hoover leads the Big 12 in passing and has thrown 11 touchdowns, while receiver Jack Bech ranks first with 516 receiving yards. Savion Williams and Boise State transfer Eric McAlister were also productive.

“Honestly, at the end of the day you just have to compete in good matches,” KU defensive coordinator Brian Borland said. “I have a good feeling about whoever is covering the guys back there. But they’re good in themselves, they’re a good size, they look like strong, mature guys who run well. There will be a handful.”

KU’s pass defense is coming off a game in which it allowed a flurry of explosive plays to WVU’s Garrett Greene and 150 yards to Hudson Clement despite its veteran talent throughout the secondary.

“I don’t know that all of us together just played our best,” Borland said of the secondary. “Our A players have to get A’s when it’s test time.”

On the other hand, TCU’s run defense could have trouble holding up against Devin Neal and Daniel Hishaw Jr. Dykes said he expects KU to run the ball 75% of the time or more.

“I would do the same thing,” he said. “I would run the ball until they stop it.”

The Horned Frogs are allowing 176.8 yards per game, which is 99th in the nation; KU’s running game increases to 238.8.

“You can run a million different schemes,” Dykes said, “and then all of a sudden you start putting in the option stuff, the speed, the triple and all that stuff they do, and that’s some guys’ entire offense.”

Neal has rushed for 100 yards in all four games and is quickly approaching the Jayhawks record. Hishaw returned from a one-game absence to average eight yards per carry at West Virginia, quietly turning in one of his best performances since mid-2023.

“They’re good coaches (at TCU), and I’m sure they’re trying to make corrections just like we are,” KU offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes said. “Maybe they’ll come out and play a different style and do whatever they can to stop the run with numbers. And if so, then we have to make decisions.”

Kansas Jayhawks (1-3, 0-1 Big 12) vs. TCU Horned Frogs (2-2, 0-1 Big 12)

• GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri, 2:30 p.m

• Transmitted: ESPN+

• radio: Jayhawk Radio Network (in Lawrence, KLWN AM 1320 / K269GB FM 101.7 / KKSW FM 105.9)

• Betting line: KU -2.5; over/under 59

• Series story: TCU leads 26-9-4

What you should pay attention to

1. Don’t rush: Leipold said the Jayhawks need to do a better job of attacking the passer, especially with just their front four. Some preseason concerns about KU’s pass rush have come true in the first few weeks. So far, the two best defensive players on KU’s weak team, Dean Miller and true freshman DJ Warner, have pass-rush win rates of 6.3% and 4.0%, respectively. For comparison: You replace Austin Booker, whose success rate was 14.3%. Given Hoover’s success so far this season and relative lack of mobility, KU needs to push him out of his spots. It doesn’t have to be about getting sacks, Borland said, but rather about “keeping the quarterback in the pocket, condensing the pocket, making him uncomfortable and making him throw before he’s ready to throw.” .”

2. Select locations: KU made a notable change to its gameday protocol before the game against West Virginia, moving Grimes to the box and co-offensive coordinator Jim Zebrowski back to the sideline, but Leipold hasn’t necessarily endorsed or committed to the practice going forward to implement. While he suggested Monday that it might have been “more comfortable” for Zebrowski and quarterback Jalon Daniels to be together during the game, and Grimes later said he thought it was a positive move, Leipold also said, “We will too.” “Continue to do.” Analyze all things, including this.”

3. Fan support: The Jayhawks drew an average of about 46,000 fans to their home games in 2023. Even if they got the same amount of spectators to Arrowhead, it would fill about 60% of the Chiefs’ spacious home stadium. And while KU has used a free busing program for students and various marketing incentives to lure fans to Kansas City, it’s not clear how many spectators the Jayhawks can draw, especially without building on-field momentum in the early stages of the season . Perhaps Leipold’s call for support from the Jayhawk faithful on Monday, which KU shared prominently on social media, will help offset any negative impact from recent losses.

Spotlight on…

Bai Jobe: The redshirt freshman defensive end from Michigan State was slowed during fall camp by a hand injury that made it difficult for him to perform at his full potential. But KU’s coaches are starting to push him into action, and on one of his three pass-rush snaps at West Virginia, he made a good play that resulted in a sack. With KU looking for more pressure on the edge, it could be a high-performance athlete who Borland said, “Right, wrong or not, he’s going to be fast.” Borland added that he’ll be doing extra work after practice invested that will pay off over time.

Within the numbers

1,418: Hoover’s total passing performance this season, which is third nationally.

83.8: The average of KU’s highest win probabilities over the last three games, according to ESPN Analytics. Everything ended in defeats, most recently the game against West Virginia, in which KU had a 91% win probability late in the fourth quarter.

10-1: TCU’s record against KU since joining the Big 12.

forecast

KU wins 34-27. The Jayhawks’ secondary will emerge highly motivated after the unusual struggles against West Virginia and will do enough to limit TCU’s high-powered passing game. In the meantime, it’s hard to imagine the Horned Frogs finding a way to stop Neal. If the Jayhawks can avoid turnovers and play defense for a full 60 minutes, this could be the game that gets them back on track with some manageable opponents up front.