KU Wednesday Walkthrough: West Virginia

After a Week 1 demolition of Tennessee Tech, there’s loads of momentum behind the Kansas Jayhawks as their Huge 12 opener looms in Week 2. That features a journey to Morgantown, West Virginia and a date with the Mountaineers this weekend, a workforce that KU hasn’t knocked off since a shocking 2013 upset.

However this can be a totally different, extra gifted, general higher Kansas roster than has taken the sphere in any season over the previous decade. A robust exhibiting in opposition to a convention foe might go a great distance towards proving these Jayhawks are a legitimately formidable program this yr and never only a preseason hype service provider. 

LISTENING IN ON LANCE

“It’s totally humbling and appreciated. Travis Goff and chancellor Girod, they’ve seen among the progress we have made in this system as a workers … To announce it earlier than we kicked off is sweet as a result of it ends a bit little bit of hypothesis that a few of you all might have and issues like that, and we get to return and do what we have to do.”

Final week, coach Lance Leipold and KU agreed to a one-year contract extension, which retains him with this system by means of 2027. He addressed the extension on Tuesday, each his appreciation and the “informal conversations” which led to the deal.

“In true teaching vogue, we noticed loads of issues which have to enhance, and people are being addressed already and we’ll proceed to do this.”

Leipold was complimentary this week about the way in which the Jayhawks carried out general within the opener, being comparatively well mannered towards Tennessee Tech as he described the way in which KU emphatically dealt with its enterprise. Nonetheless, whereas he did not expose something particularly (the tip of his reply was even interrupted by a rogue cellphone name), he additionally indicated that the subsequent step towards cleansing up miscues from Week 1 is already underway.

“Do you need to go on the street Week 2 to a convention sport? … That is not superb, however we now have to do it and we’ll deal with it after which we have simply obtained to discover a solution to exit and play effectively.”

KU has a giant swing between Weeks 1 and a pair of when it comes to stage of competitors, going from a lesser FCS program to a convention opponent on the street. Leipold stated that whereas dealing with West Virginia this week is not a perfect scenario, he does favor taking part in a Huge 12 opponent at this level to having a bye this early within the yr.

“They discover a solution to preserve you off steadiness, they’ll take their pictures downfield, they’ll get the ball out to the perimeter, and now they have a pair backs however one large, bodily again that was in a position to hit some creases as effectively, so you have obtained to have the ability to defend the entire area.”

Defensively, Kansas was glorious in opposition to Tennessee Tech, however West Virginia poses a far totally different sort of problem. Leipold was requested particularly about what kind of problem the KU entrance seven will face this Saturday, however took the time to say the entire protection must deal with effectively and rally to the ball in opposition to the Mountaineers.

KNOW YOUR ENEMY

When: Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. CT

The place: Milan Puskar Stadium, Morgantown, West Virginia

Unfold: West Virginia -13.5

West Virginia opened the 2022 season with a valiant albeit fruitless exhibiting in opposition to its archrival, Pitt, within the renewal of the Yard Brawl. Coach Neal Brown’s Mountaineers even led 17-10 early within the third quarter earlier than the Panthers scored 28 of the sport’s closing 42 factors. It was a crushing blow for WVU, one which included some controversial teaching selections.

The season opener was additionally the West Virginia debut for J.T. Daniels, the well-traveled former elite quarterback recruit who’s on the lookout for a contemporary begin after shedding the beginning job at Georgia final season (and at USC earlier than that).

WVU’s protection flashed loads of potential and physicality up entrance final Thursday as effectively, which included tallying three sacks and eight tackles for loss.

In Invoice Connelly’s newest S&P+ rankings replace at ESPN, West Virginia checks in at 62nd within the nation.

JAYHAWK TO WATCH

Defensive finish Lonnie Phelps is the straightforward selection this week as he appears to observe up a sensational KU debut final Friday night time.

Phelps was totally dominant in opposition to Tennessee Tech, recording seven tackles, 4 tackles for loss and three sacks in his first sport since transferring from Miami (Ohio). That was sufficient to earn him Huge 12 Defensive Participant of the Week honors, the primary Jayhawk to get that recognition since Joe Dineen in 2018.

Now, the query is that if he can repeat that efficiency, or something near it, in opposition to far superior competitors than what the Golden Eagles offered. If he can, Phelps may very well be one in every of this weekend’s largest game-changing items.

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