A new era dawns with Kansas Jayhawk football in 2010. The Jayhawks are not getting a lot of love - or respect - in that endeaver as Big- 12 media representatives picked them to finish fourth in the North division, behind top pick Nebraska, Missouri and Kansas State.
Turner Gill era begins
Gone is record-setting passer Todd Reesing and their top receivers.
There are eight starters back on offense and seven on defense, but still, it seems that new coach Turner Gill will be in rebuilding mode.
Jayhawk schedule
The schedule is not overly difficult though, and that could help as new players get some experience. The opener with North Dakota State should help in that regard. The second week could be rough though, as the team hosts Georgia Tech, a team that was ranked in the top 10 for part of last season and should be good again this year. The Jayhawks do not have Oklahoma or Texas, which should also help.
The Jayhawks have their offensive line returning. Gill - a former star option quarterback at Nebraska - likes the run, so look for the Jayhawks to be a running team this year.
Jayhawks rebuilding
At the Big-12 Media Days Gill said there is no clear leader in the battle for the starting quarterback spot and none have any meaningful experience. Kale Pick and Jordan Webb were the top two signal callers after spring football. He expects team leadership to come from the offensive line especially early on.
Strengths: Veteran linemen. The offensive line returns and should give some stability to a new run-oriented offense and running backs with experience will help. The Jayhawks could also be a bit better on defense this year with a lot of experience coming back.
Weaknesses:A lack of experience in the skill positions. Kansas started out strong last year, but faltered down the stretch. The defense needs to improve to give the offense a chance to develop.
Outlook:The non-conference schedule is a bit tougher than usual, North Dakota State notwithstanding. Kansas could be 4-1 by the time they host Kansas State in early October, a game that will go a long way in determining what type of season the Jayhawks have in 2010. The schedule has some hurdles, but it is not has hard as it has been in the past. Kansas should at the very least break even, and with some breaks, could surprise some people.
Best case: A sound running game is easier to develop than a complicated passing attack, and that is the goal this year. If the team can catch some breaks early and develop confidence it could surprise some people and contend for the Big-12 North. A 6-6 season is easily within the team's grasp, but with a few breaks, 8-4 or even better, is possible.
Worst case:If the running game does not come together as hoped, and if there are some bad breaks early, it could shatter the team's confidence. How new coach Turner Gill handles the team early on will be big. A few injuries and a couple bad breaks, or bad losses, could make for a long season at 5-7 or worse.
James Jordan - I have been in the newspaper business for more than 25 years, as a writer, editor and photographer. I have worked in four states. I have ...
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