KU’s Montell Cozart, Michael Cummings in QB battle

When Clint Bowen looks at his top two quarterbacks, he sees more similarities than distinguishing traits. Sophomore starter Montell Cozart might be a little more accurate; junior backup Michael Cummings could be a little more seasoned.

But on the whole, Bowen says, they are similar quarterbacks with similar playing styles. So as the Kansas staff evaluates the quarterback position in the days before facing Oklahoma State on Saturday, the newly opened competition could come down to this:

“The guy doing it the best is the guy that’s going to play,” Bowen said Monday during the Big 12 coaches teleconference.

That message comes two days after Kansas’ 33-14 loss at West Virginia in Bowen’s first game as interim coach. The offensive struggles persisted, Cozart completed four of his first 10 pass attempts, and Cummings replaced Cozart for the second half. Cummings, though, wasn’t much better, throwing for 65 yards on 8-of-17 passing.

“They are different guys,” Bowen explained. “Montell, in terms of throwing the ball, probably has a little bit more accuracy in that part of it. On the flip side, Michael Cummings, right now, probably has a little bit more ability to pull the trigger and make decisions faster.”

For now, though, Bowen makes it clear. Every position on the field is open to competition, and that includes quarterback. So offensive coordinator John Reagan will spend the week gauging the candidates, with sophomore T.J. Millweard, a transfer from UCLA, perhaps having an opportunity to make his case as well.

“I told our guys on our team, that at every position, you’re going to earn the right to play,” Bowen said. “And if the guy behind you earns it more than you, that guy is going to play. You got to go out and do your job.”

After a 2-3 start, including two straight losses in the Big 12, it’s easy to diagnose the problems. It’s harder to find solutions.

Kansas ranks 113th among 128 FBS teams in passing yards, averaging 154.6 yards. They also rank 120th among FBS teams in passing efficiency. More problematic, Bowen notes, the Jayhawks rank 117th in the country in first downs. It’s one thing to struggle to score points. It’s another to put your defense in precarious positions all game with shorts drives and three-and-outs.

“We need to get first downs,” Bowen said. “Obviously, hopefully that’ll lead to points, but quite simply with where we are right now, we’re toward the bottom of the nation in just gaining first downs.

“We’re going out getting too many three-and-outs, short drives, not taking any time off the clock, and not flipping the field position whatsoever.”

Kansas could stick with Cozart, who perhaps shows more long-term potential but is completing 49.6 percent of his passes. Or they could go with Cummings, who started five games in place of a struggling Dayne Crist in 2012. Millweard, meanwhile, is a wild card after spending most of the year as the third-string quarterback.

“We need to go out and move the chains,” Bowen said, “and be a lot more efficient on the offensive side of the ball.”

This story was originally published October 6, 2014 at 4:46 PM with the headline "KU’s Montell Cozart, Michael Cummings in QB battle."