KU’s running game still can’t break free from offensive line miscues
The play appeared to be opening up for the Kansas offense.
KU’s Mesa Ribordy and Hakeem Adeniji double-teamed a Texas Tech defensive lineman, then Ribordy fired quickly ahead to get to a linebacker. Center Joe Gibson locked onto a defensive tackle, while receiver Shakiem Barbel moved forward to get his hands on a defensive back.
The first-quarter run play to Ke’aun Kinner appeared to be blocked beautifully … except that KU forgot to get a hand on a backside Texas Tech linebacker. D’Vonta Hinton sprinted to bring Kinner down for a two-yard gain, stopping a run that looked like it could have gone for 20 yards or more.
KU offensive line coach Zach Yenser admits he’s seen a lot of plays like this recently while replaying his team’s games.
“We’re close. Guys saw the Texas Tech film,” Yenser said. “When you sit down and watch it, it just always seems like we’re one guy away on a lot of the runs and some of the protection.”
The reality as KU prepares to host TCU at 11 a.m. Saturday is that the front five remains one of the team’s biggest issues as coaches try to rebuild an offense that can be competitive in the high-scoring Big 12.
The Jayhawks are last in the conference in points per game (25.5), and one reason for that has been an inability to establish a running game. Not only are the Jayhawks in the bottom 15 nationally with a 3.3-yard-per-carry, but they also have been hesitant to commit themselves to that area with the second-fewest running plays of any FBS team.
“We can run the football effectively. I really believe that,” KU coach David Beaty said. “I think we’ve got to start faster and we’ve got to be more effective with what we’re doing schematically up front, because the plays, they are there.
“It’s not the calls. It’s not what we’re calling. We’ve got to execute better.”
To be fair, KU’s offensive line was expected to go through growing pains based on inherited roster issues. Following Jordan Shelley-Smith’s retirement from football earlier this week, only two of Yenser’s 16 offensive linemen have been with the program for more than two seasons. One of those players, center Joe Gibson, began his career as a walk-on.
Improvement is still expected, and the Jayhawks could get a boost with better health. The team should be able to play the same five linemen in consecutive games for the first time since Week 2.
“We know we’ve got to get better up front,” Yenser said. “I thought we played more physical in the Tech game, and a little more confident, and I think that keeps coming with playing together.”
No matter the circumstances, KU’s rushing numbers have to be considered disappointing. The Jayhawks had 28 carries for 46 yards against Texas Tech, and they’ve failed to surpass 200 rushing yards in the last three weeks combined.
“It doesn’t matter what offense you run — if you’re under center, gun — running the football is the key to I believe winning football games,” Yenser said. “Whether you run it 30 times a game or you’re running it 15 times a game, that defense has to know you can run the football, because it opens up everything else.”
Jesse Newell: @jessenewell
TCU at Kansas
- When: 11 a.m. Saturday
- Where: Memorial Stadium, Lawrence
- Records: TCU 3-2, 1-1 Big 12; KU 0-1, 1-3
- Radio: KFH, 1240-AM, 98.7-FM
- TV: ESPNU
Three things about TCU
1. Running back Kyle Hicks is the only player nationally with more than 300 yards rushing and receiving.
2. Quarterback Kenny Hill played for Texas A&M in 2013-14 when Beaty was receivers coach there. Hill ranks second in the Big 12 and third nationally with 387 passing yards per game.
3. TCU leads the Big 12 with 16 sacks and also has at least one sack in 35 consecutive games.
Key matchup
KU offensive line vs. TCU’s defensive line: Though KU’s quarterback shuffle has been the biggest talking point, the Jayhawks’ struggles up front have been just as big of a reason for the team’s offensive sluggishness. In fact, the last few weeks, KU has almost completely abandoned the running game because of a lack of success. Offensive line coach Zach Yenser says the Jayhawks should be able to start the same five linemen in consecutive weeks for the first time since Week 2, and the hope is that continuity could result in better production Saturday.
Jesse Newell’s pick: TCU 45-20
KU’s defense is good enough to keep this competitive. Defensive line standouts Dorance Armstrong and Daniel Wise are expected to return from injury, and Fish Smithson has quietly become one of the nation’s top coverage safeties according to Pro Football Focus. KU’s offense is still a mess, though, and it’s hard to predict a drastic turnaround after such miserable performances the last three weeks.
This story was originally published October 6, 2016 at 4:34 PM with the headline "KU’s running game still can’t break free from offensive line miscues."