Tilting at Windmills

Our Kansas blog friend Hiphopopotamus from Oread Boom Kings comes in swinging with a preview of the 2009 Kansas defense.

Much like the offense, our defense can be segregated into the three tiers of strength, solid and question mark.  Unlike the offense, we’re rather lacking in the star power.  I see it breaking down like this:

Strength: Safety

Solid: DT, DE, Corner

Question mark: LB

And really, calling safety a strength is due to one guy.  In reality, the secondary as a whole has proven no better than solid, but Stuckey his spot over the hump due to his game-changing ability.  The upside here is that despite having relatively little star power, nearly every spot on the defense should be dependable, have penty of depth and have the potential to take a big step forward.

Strength: Safety

Yes, Pass Interference was called on this play.

As mentioned, this is due to Darrell Stuckey.  There are few better against the run and as the year went on, he proved his worth from sideline to sideline in the secondary as well.  On occasion, he’s had a tendency to overrun a few plays, but more often than not, he’s stopping a play before it gets going.   He’s the unquestioned leader of the defense and I expect nothing less than Big XII first team.  Alongside him will be Philip Strozier, who doesn’t have near the game changing ability of Stuckey, but did show that he’s a guy that can play a little centerfield.  He did seem to look faster in the spring game, so hopefully that wasn’t just my April optimism.  Someone I’ll throw in with the safeties is Chris Harris as he looks to be entrenched at the nickel in our 4-2-5 scheme.  As someone that’s not especially fast, not willing to take many chances, but always in position and never missing a tackle, he’s got safety written all over him.  Unfortunately, the size wasn’t quite there.  Which is why he works well as a nickel and after an off-season of working here, I like this fit a lot.  I don’t ever see Strozier as a star; I’m hopeful Harris can be.

Solid: DT, DE, Corner

In keeping with the secondary, we’ll start with the corners.  As you saw at the end of last year, Patterson has shut down corner ability.  What he doesn’t have is size.  Love his instincts, love his turn and love his make up speed.  I still question trying to move him from O to D in a week of practice (Tech week no less), but if he makes a typical freshman to sophomore leap, we’re in for a treat.  Opposite Daymond is still up in the air.  Anthony Davis started the spring game, but I have to imagine that was simply because Thornton was working his way out of the doghouse.  The problem with both of them (and Greg brown) is that they just don’t have the speed to stay with guys.  They’re usually right there to make the tackle, but a step behind in hopes of preventing a completion.  I have to think JT is the opening game starter, but I’ll be curious to see what true freshman Prinz Kande has in store.  Long story short, we’ve got enough experience and depth here that it’s a known quantity, but unless the pass rush improves, it could end up looking like a weakness.

Speaking of, here’s to hoping all the hype about Quinton Woods comes to fruition.  The ex-Michigan recruit has apparently been turning some heads throughout the summer and, needless to say, we’ll need that to continue.  There are plenty of other needs on this defense, but a good pass rush is at the top of my list.  The best returning guy we have is Jake Laptad and his seven sacks from a year ago.  Laptad was the only guy to consistently generate pressure and against better tackles, he would pretty much disappear. Starting alongside him in the spring game was Max Onyegbule (who will interestingly be attending media day), he of unlimited potential.  Max looks the part and has had his moments, but until I can see him get in the backfield while still being in position against the run, I’ll remain skeptical.  We pretty much know what we’re getting in Laptad, but to truly compete this year, one of these other guys will have to step up. 

More, please.

Inside is probably our deepest position on the field, with the DTs being led by Richard Johnson, Jr.  Prior to his injury a year ago, RJJ was the class of the position for us and certainly has it in him to command and even beat a double team on occasion.  Alongside of him is a whole slew of guys that will see the field.  Blakesly is our greybeard and we know what we’re getting out of him.  While his dependability is admirable, what we really need is for Patrick Dorsey, Darius Parish and Jamaal Greene to make the leap.  All three have undeniable physical advantages over Blakesly and will be needed not only against the elite teams, but throughout the year as well.  Especially as we switch to a 4-2-5, we’ll need our line to be stout against their blocks and in the backfield as much as possible.  Linebacker is our biggest question mark on experience, and nothing would help out a new set of LBs like a d-line that occupies blockers.

Question mark: Linebacker

When you lose all three starters, it can’t be anything but a question mark.  And with us, it’s really an unknown with Arist Wright the only guy guaranteed to be in there.  With Arist, I like what we’re getting.  He’s not the brightest bulb in the box, but he’s a sure tackler and fast enough to drop into coverage.  As for the other spot…I’ve got no clue.  Even before tearing his knee up, Justin Springer was the heir apparent to Mortensen.  But as a weight room fanatic, he’s much more suited to play MLB in the ilk of JoMo.  And we all saw how that worked out a year ago.  So I’m in wait and see mode with him.  Behind him there’s Jake Schermer – a guy who will know his assignments up and down, but has certain physical limitations that are undeniable.  And then there’s Angus Quigley, who has no physical limitations, but has never played a down of defense before and may not have what it takes between the ears.  If he can grasp it, we may have stumbled upon something great.  If not, I’d at least expect to see him in a Brandon Perkins type role, edge rushing on 3rd downs.  Given what I know now, I have no reason to think this is a group that can come out and dominate games.  But I also have to think that there’s enough ability that if we can let them run free, they’re plenty capable of meeting a ball-carrier in the hole.  I’m not especially confident about their pass coverage either, but that’s why we’ll typically have 5 DBs out there with them.

We’re gonna score some points this year.  In fact, I’d guess we’re plenty capable of putting up 35 on just about everyone.  What I don’t know is how many of the big boys we can keep below 35.  I really do like what we’ve got in the secondary.  Unfortunately, there isn’t a secondary out there that can stop a spread on their own.  We absolutely have to generate a pass rush this year.  If we do, we’re going to damn good.  If we can’t, winning the north becomes not only our absolute ceiling, but a whole lot less likely as well.