No longer the ‘weak link,’ here’s how Kansas football’s defense turned the page
Kansas defensive coordinator Brian Borland issued a bold proclamation during the Jayhawks’ fall camp.
“We’ve talked a lot about being the strong link in the chain and not the weak link in the chain,” Borland said in August. “So that week-in and week-out, we give ourselves a chance to win regardless of whatever else happens.
“... Everybody has pride. We are done being the weak link. We are going to be the strong link in the chain this year.”
Well, so far, so good.
The Jayhawks rank No. 20 in total defense through the first three weeks. Kansas also ranks No. 10 in passing yards allowed (152.7) and tied for 27th in team sacks (9). It’s a massive improvement from a defense that, well...
“It’s a lot better than 125th or whatever it was last year,” Borland said. “I know it’s three weeks… I just attribute that to, I think, that guys are bought in and they’re hungry for success. I think the quality of our practice shows that. We’ve had inexperience in the past. We’ve got more experienced players right now. ... Our execution of things is a lot better.”
Borland said he hasn’t been fixated on where KU ranks defensively this season, but one particular statistic caught his eye: Havoc.
The Action Network’s Havoc rating is “a team’s total tackles for loss, passes defensed and forced fumbles, divided by total plays.” Kansas ranks first in the country in Havoc.
“There’s a number of things you can attribute it to and I don’t attribute it to great coaching or better coaching,” Borland said. “It’s attributed to our players buying into things and just growing up in our program.”
Still, KU’s defense hasn’t been perfect. They’ve struggled to keep opposing quarterbacks from scrambling, with QBs averaging 53 yards per game rushing against the Jayhawks.
“We just need to focus on discipline, knowing where we are on the field,” linebacker Craig Young said. “Just knowing where we are, knowing our job, knowing where our gaps are, things like that.”
Still, KU’s defense has taken a massive step forward compared to last year. That isn’t exactly a surprise to anybody inside the locker room.
“It was … our goal throughout the offseason,” Young said. “All the defensive staff coaches, they preached that. They forced on us that we are not the weak link.
“So we just bought into it and we believed in ourselves. We’re not the weak link.”
The mindset shift isn’t the only thing that has helped KU’s defense. Young credits the Jayhawks playing faster. It’s been a big emphasis at practice.
“Running to the ball, pursuit drills — all things like that,” Young said. “That’s how you cause havoc. ... We just run to the ball, ... wherever the ball is. Just run a hundred (miles per hour) and good things will happen.”
As Kansas (3-0) begins conference play against BYU this Saturday, Young remains confident in the defense.
“Having a big chip on our shoulder — like I said, we just don’t feel like we’re the weak link out of this whole conference or out of our team,” Young said. “We feel like our defense should be the one that wins the games and closes out the games, honestly.”
This story was originally published September 21, 2023 at 6:00 AM with the headline "No longer the ‘weak link,’ here’s how Kansas football’s defense turned the page."
