Alright I'll do the best I can with my take on what you need to watch out for with the Jayhawks.
Offensively, the Jayhawks tend to throw the ball more than run. In years past KU has had some really reliable RB's that would go for over 1,000+ in Jon Cornish and Brandon McAnderson. This year KU has ran out there three different backs in Jake Sharp, Jacque Crawford, and Angus Quigley. Sharp will be the starting back and will give the Jayhawks the most dynamic weapon in the backfield. Sharp isn't a big guy, but he's got good speed and he's definitely one of those warrior type kids that leave it all out there on the field. Crawford was the National Juco POY last year and was counted on to be the primary back, but it's taken some adjustment for him at the BCS level. He's probably the most explosive RB KU has in its arsenal. Lastly, Angus Quigley is the most powerful. He has Brandon McAnderson type power, but with a lot more speed. Only downfall with Quigley is that he's not the strongest blocker and he tends to put the ball on the ground at times, but don't for a second come up timid when tackling him or you can fully expect the defender to be laid out flat on the ground with a major headache. Non of these guys are going to give you a consistent 100-yard game, but they do just enough to keep the other team off balance.
Wide receiver and Quarterback are the name of the game for the Jayhawks. KU has three legitimate stars in QB Todd Reesing (302-460 for a 65.7%, 3,575-yards passing, and 32 TD's to 12-INT's for a QB rating of 145.8), WR Dezmon Briscoe (78 receptions, 1,206-yards, and 12 TD's), and WR Kerry Meier (87 receptions, 932-yards, and 7 TD's).
KU has two other receivers that catch a ton of balls in Jonathan Wilson (41-receptions, 556-yards, and 2 TD's) and Dexton Fields (19-receptions, 209-yards, and 3-TD's). Jake Sharp also is a threat to catch the ball out of the backfield (25-receptions, 283-yards, and 1 TD). KU doesn't go to it's TE as much as years past, but Meier is an oversize wideout and gives KU the possession receiver you see with most TE's. Meier is also the backup QB and doesn't practice at WR during the week yet is one of the best WR's in the country.
The offensive line is young and inexperienced outside of C Ryan Cantrell and Adrien Mayes. The two Tackles are manned by freshman Jeremiah Hatch and Jeff Spikes. Both have really progressed as the season has gone on and really gave Missouri a lot of trouble in their pass rush. The interior of the line is more experienced with Cantrell, Mayes, and Chet Hartley. Cantrell is super smart, Mayes is more of a big bruiser, and Hartley is kind of a cross between both. KU has some depth at OL, but not a ton of experience up until this year. Don't be surprised to see Sal Capra and Ben Lueken get plenty of field time as well. Not a dominating OL, but they do a good job of giving Todd Reesing just enough time to do his magic and allow the running game to keep other team honest.
Defensively, KU has a good blend of experience and youth. Too much of the Jayhawk nations chagrin, the LB's have not lived up to the preseason hype where they were labeled one of the best units in the whole country. Joe Mortensen and Mike Rivera got all the pub going into the season, but it's been Justin Holt whose emerged as the teams leading tackler and best pass rusher. He's nowhere near the size of Mortensen or Rivera, but Holt brings an element of speed to the linebacking core that would otherwise be lacking. Holt's a converted safety that can play both on the outside and down in a 3-pt. stance rushing the passer. The Gophers have got to keep an eye on Holt or he could make life miserable for them.
I've already touched on the defensive line earlier in this thread, but it's important to note they are a tough bunch to run on, but don't expect to be blown away with there ability to rush the passer, especially when Brorsen and Larson are in the game together at DE. KU has done a better job of putting pressure on the QB in the 2nd half of the season, but it's still an area of weakness.
Lastly, the secondary is comprised of a potential AA in Darrell Stuckey at SS, FS Phillip Strozier, CB Justin Thornton, and CB Daymond Patterson. Patterson is only a true freshman and the teams PR, but he's a elite level athlete that was a converted WR earlier in the season. Since moving over to the defensive side of the ball and the emergence of Holt rushing the passer, it's really help improve the Jayhawk secondary. Thornton use to be a safety, but KU likes a big corner on one side of the field, ala Aqib Talib, thus the move. Look for Chris Harris Anthony Davis, Patrick Resby, and Corrigan Powell to see action in the secondary as well. Going against spread offenses in the BIG XII it's always best to have a ton of DB's at your disposal. Lastly, I want to point out the Gophers may see the best safety they have faced all year in Darrell Stuckey. The kid is an incredible tackler, fierce competitor, and does a fine job in pass defense. He was a nightmare for Missouri last week and probably single handily kept Chase Daniel and Mizzou off the scoreboard in the 1st-quarter.
Special teams isn't a strength, but not a weakness either. Kicking game could be better on kick-offs, but KU doesn't kick a ton of FG's as they don't settle for many. The coverage units aren't as good as they were a year ago, but last game KU might have found a true difference maker in kick off return in Dezmon Briscoe. He gave KU wonderful field position all game long vs. Mizzou. Marcus Herford had been the return man and was a All-American last year doing so, but has been a huge disappointment this year. Look for Briscoe and hope the Gopher kickoff unit can tackle well or they could be in a world of hurt.
This is my general breakdown of the Jayhawks. On offense look for a wide-open, no huddle attack led by Reesing and defensively look for a tough-nosed bunch whose getting better and better every week. It's tough to gauge the defense because the BIG XII runs so many excellent spread offenses, but there's plenty of talent on that side of the ball and it's just not all about Reesing and the offense.
You can find him holding court on our "off-topic board."
