University of Kansas - Jayhawker Yearbook (Lawrence, KS)

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- 62 SELA - 0 September 8, 2007 Sophomore quarterback Todd Reesing KST stiff arms his way through Southeastern l.ouisiana's defense. Kansas vs Southeastern Louisiana Defensive line ansvvers coach !Vlar1g1'no's call ansas coach Mark Mangino said he was looking for improved play from the defensive line in the week leading up to his team's game against Southeastern Louisiana. After the Jayhawks pounded the Lions 62-0, players from South- eastern Louisiana were wondering how the line could get any better. Number 93, that guy is a great playerf' said Lions quarterback Brian Babin. We've got a great offensive line but they out- athleted us. Babin was talk- ing about senior defensive tackle and team captain Iames McClin- ton. Babin would know better than anyone just how good of a night McClinton had, because most of the linemanxs success was at the quarterbacks expense. On the first play from the line of scrimmage, McClinton exploded through the middle of the offen- sive line for a quarterback hurry. The next play he drove freshman guard Caleb Simmons back sev- eral yards. Not much would change for the rest of the night. McClinton and his defensive line cohorts found a home in the Southeastern Louisi- ana backfield, disrupting anything its offense tried to do. DI thought our defensive line wasn't so much just overpowering themf Mangino said. McClinton and sophomore de- fensive tackle Caleb Blakesleyls penetration early in the game made it clear that the Lions rush- ing attack was not going to be a factor. At halftime, Southeastern Louisiana running backs had 14 carries for 22 yards. But the Lions kept trying to get the ball into junior running back Tay Lucas' hands through screen passes. That strategy didnlt work so well, either. Lucas finished the game with eight receptions but only 20 receiving yards. Led by the defensive linemen, Kansas tallied 20 tackles for losses and four sacks in the game. 'Kansas is very good in the front four, said Southeastern Louisiana coach Mike Lucas. uThey are very sound defensively? Story by CASE KEEFER Photo by JEFF JACOBSEN! KANSAS ATHLETICS 5 L -L -aaa -s. I

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- from the stale ten- CM - 7 September 7, 2007 Jayhawks aggressive mentality help win first game of season t didnit take long. Three min- utes into the season-opener, Kansas coach Mark Mangino made one quick decision - to go for a Hrst down on fourth-and- one. His choice set the tone for the Iayhawks, 52-7 victory against Central Michigan and helped to reinforce the confident mindset he said the team had carried over from preseason camp. The Kansas offense had seem- ingly stalled on its second posses- sion. After a five yard run, a short pass and a failed third-down con- version, the Memorial Stadium air seemed as lifeless as it had for most of 2006. But Mangino strayed dencies of Kansas teams in the past. lnstead of bring- ing out the punt team on fourth down, Mangino left his offense in the hands of sophomore quarterback Todd Re- esing, who connected with senior tight end Derek Fine for a seven yard gain and a first down. We've taken on a whole new mentality here on offensef' Mang- ino said. Kansas overmatched Central Michigan in every aspect of the game during the hrst quarter. ln the first 15 minutes of play, the Chippewas mustered only one first down, committed three pen- alties and punted three times. Kansas, on the other hand, flour- ished. Brandon McAnderson pun- ished the Chippewa defense early Kansas vs. Central Michigan All I If.. A fa an Q 4' wif mga . r 5- A 'wwni -. ' 1'- ':p.f7f? , :mira -Q :ini 51:2 11112, fff ggifii c I- an S Atta' I ,L ..4 receiver and often with 66 yards in the Hrst quarter and 100 in the game. By halftime the Iayhawks had raced to a 35-0 lead. They did not pull any punches early in the second half. The Kansas de- fense brought heavier blitzes and ensured that Central Michigan would not inch any closer. 'cl tell our players all the time, M I' HXPQEVT- '1 asa 5x .bg iras es uEverybody's got a weight room, everyb0dy's big and strongf' Mangino said. The teams that win are the guys that have the mental edge? Story by ASHER rusco Photo by JEFF JACOBSENI KANSAS ATHLETICS 'O I I I I I 4 S' ' T'?LX5 .x I I I I I I l I . I I I I I I I 1 xi

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- 45 T - I3 September 75, 2007 Kansas vs. Toledo Quarterback fights through adversity against Toledo odd Reesing did it again. The sophomore quar- terback, ranked 10th in the nation in passing efficiency, put on another memo- rable performance in a 45-13 vic- tory against Toledo, finishing with 313 yards and four touchdowns. But achieving those numbers wasnit as easy as it was in the first two games. Reesing had to endure eight dropped balls from his receivers, pressure from Toledds defense and additional hits taken during his career-high eleven carries. i'The inconsistency we showed on offense just shows we still have work to dof Reesing said. We need to be sharper as a wholef' Toledo ranked last in the na- tion with no sacks coming into the game. It was clear from the Jayhawks' first possession, though, that the Rockets were not leaving Memorial Stadium without a sack. On the third play from scrim- mage, Toledo defensive end Ber- nard Faithful came off of the edge and put a punish- ing hit on Rees- ing. Kansas coach Mark Mangino said he was sur- prised by Toledo's pass rush early in the game. We got a lot of pressure in the first half, Mangi- no said, aObviously you can pre- pare for a lot of different blitzes, but they're always going to try to get one in on you that you haven't seen beforef' Reesing decided to keep the ball himself on an option play from the 12-yard line in the first half. He raced down to the one- yard line before being smashed I I I Junior cornerback Aqib Talib I3I struggles to obstruct a Toledo pass. like sandwich meat between two Rocket defenders. It was a hit the quarterback could have avoided if he would have realized he stepped out of bounds five yards before. Not all of Reesingis problems can be solved with rest and ice. Mangino said he was most con- cerned with the receivers not catching Reesing's passes. There are no excuses for the dropped passesfi Mangino said. i'Welre not going to make any, and none will be accepted. Story by CASE KEEEER Photo by JEFF JACOBSENI KANSAS ATHLETICS 1 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I im-A L