Kansas Football 2021 Season

[UnholyLivingDead]

Kotelnicki is a fun guy to listen to. I think it's great when you're two main coaches on offense are both high energy and enthusiastic. Kotelnicki and Zebrowski both are exactly that. I've always said energetic guys get the most out of players. Obviously they have to be good coaches too, and I think both have proven that.

Also, seems like Gardner at RB is not necessarily away from the team for good, but he's not involved in much of what is going on and nobody outside of the program really knows why. The RB group is still deep, but that's an annoying development for sure.

Garrett Jones, 3rd string Center, is stepping away from football. He is a recruit that the previous OL coach, Meadows was high on. Mentioned in his statement that he knows this program will shock many in a few years and he hate he is not going to be a part of it. But he needed to step away.

Rumor I have heard with Gardner is he has Covid.

[NewtonHawk11]

Would make sense.

Coaches seemed happy with first few days. It absolutely helps that they didn't lose as much as they could have with coaching chance.

[InfiniteJ]

Kotelnicki is a fun guy to listen to. I think it's great when you're two main coaches on offense are both high energy and enthusiastic. Kotelnicki and Zebrowski both are exactly that. I've always said energetic guys get the most out of players. Obviously they have to be good coaches too, and I think both have proven that.

Also, seems like Gardner at RB is not necessarily away from the team for good, but he's not involved in much of what is going on and nobody outside of the program really knows why. The RB group is still deep, but that's an annoying development for sure.

Garrett Jones, 3rd string Center, is stepping away from football. He is a recruit that the previous OL coach, Meadows was high on. Mentioned in his statement that he knows this program will shock many in a few years and he hate he is not going to be a part of it. But he needed to step away.

Rumor I have heard with Gardner is he has Covid.

I heard it was a protocol-type situation and that he initially tested negative.

[holidaysmore]

Seems like we have a ton of depth at RB but our WR play is, uh, lacking. Can Neal play in the slot? Really need that Arnold kid to step up. Would have been nice to have Robinson or AP come back but understand why both of them bounced. Would also have been nice if Quay wasn't a huge dirt bag as he would have been easily the most talented dude in the room.

[UnholyLivingDead]

Sounds like that combination of strong RBs/weak WRs is going to lead to a lot of two tight end offensive sets. Listening to the coaches' interviews the last couple of days and it sounds they like really like our tight end group. That would be a way to get better blocking for the run game on the field along with players that sound like they are a better receiving threat than our wideouts.

[Sparko]

Sounds like that combination of strong RBs/weak WRs is going to lead to a lot of two tight end offensive sets. Listening to the coaches' interviews the last couple of days and it sounds they like really like our tight end group. That would be a way to get better blocking for the run game on the field along with players that sound like they are a better receiving threat than our wideouts.

Quick strikes need to be the way of things. Horne is intriguing though

[CrimsonNBlue]

I have to say, given our young and not over-the-top talented roster during this roster replenishment, I get the appeal of running 6 core plays, mostly on the ground, keeping the clock running and the score within striking distance. The KU offense has basically been the 2nd and 13 offense for a decade+.

[NewtonHawk11]

Yeah expect a lot of 12 personnel. 1 RB, 2 TE and an H back who might be in the backfield or might be a TE. 2 WR and a lot of movement on every play. Rely on misdirection.

[holidaysmore]

If this team expects to win any games, hell be even in games they are going to have to do the simple things really, really good. Don't have dumb penalties, don't turn the ball over. Stuff that traditionally this program has struggled with. You eliminate those mistakes, including special teams miscues and bend but don't break on defense this team could win two games and be competitive in most.

Given what we have we are expecting this coaching staff to make, 'chicken salad outta chicken shit' and that is what separates the good staffs from the bad ones. I hope this staff is as flexible and open to game plan adjustments as they have been pegged as unlike the previous 10 staffs who consistently tried to fit a square peg in a round hole.

[UnholyLivingDead]

Today is the first practice in full pads. Live stream show will be up around 8:20 for anyone who wants to check that out.

[NewtonHawk11]

I enjoy these watches.. Energy, energy, energy. I like Kotelnicki a ton. Personable, fun, energetic, teacher and all that. A slight thing that I noticed, Leipold was around Kotelnicki and Gildersleeve when they were joking about something, Leipold made a quick wisecrack at K and then walked off. Leipold can joke and have fun, but he seems so focused.

https://kuathletics.com/micd-up-with-of ... otelnicki/

[CrimsonNBlue]

When I was reading up on Leipold during the search, I wasn't completely on board with the hire unless Kotelnicki came with him.

[UnholyLivingDead]

One thing I like is that energy extends to Leipold as well. He's constantly moving around the field between position groups and drills, taking in all the details of what's going on. I like the fact that it seems like he's the type who is going to trust his coaches and let them do their jobs. On gameday, we won't see him meddling with play calling and things the way Miles and Beaty did. That is a big benefit of this staff being together for so long at what is now their third job together. That has me excited.

[NewtonHawk11]

Leipold and Monken were as CEO as you could find in college coaching. Focus on the culture, playing through the whistle, focus on all aspects of the game. Miles was focused on offense more than defense, Beaty was all about offense, as was Weis. Gill tried to be CEO, he just didn't have it in him to lead a P5 program.

[UnholyLivingDead]

Leipold is supposed to have a media availability today. Can't wait to see what he has to say after the first week of practice.

[NewtonHawk11]

Leipold talked today. Some key points.

Feels good where they are at. Plenty still to clean up.

Doesn't like to single out a group, hardly ever publicly. Just the way he goes about things.

Really happy with Mike Novitsky the C transfer from Buffalo.

Likes the wide zone. Gets the defense moving side to side and not straight down. But opens up lanes with that offense and Kotelnicki and Fuchs can teach it well.

Vaccination rate "happy with our progress there" doesn't know exact number, that's up to administration to release.

[UnholyLivingDead]

Long shot, but is anyone planning on going to the open practice on Saturday? Curious is that's the first hint we get at who is atop the depth chart at various positions, especially if they do a little bit of scrimmaging. Wouldn't be surprised if all that is kept pretty secret though still just because at this point it's still very fluid and doesn't matter a ton, just more for fan speculation.

[NewtonHawk11]

Bryson Stricker posted a blurb yesterday that said that they did a live drill where the offense started at the 30. 5 reps all together. Goal was to score a touchdown.

Kendrick got 2 reps, Daniels got 2 reps, Bean got 1 rep.

One QB led a TD drive. It was Bean. KU is tracking speed of players when running during camp. The highest speed so far hit in practice has been Devin Neal (RB) and Rich Miller (LB) who have both hit about 21.5 mph. Bean hit about 22 mph apparently and if not for the typical quick whistle with QBs, would have scored on a long option run.

Bean is going to start at some point. It's just dependent on him getting the offense down more. I would imagine he is the first QB on the field on September 3rd. His talent is too good to keep him off the field.

[UnholyLivingDead]

I still believe Bean is going to wind up the starter, but the first week's reps have been a little surprising to see. Ultimately I think his combination of speed, athleticism, and the most live arm are going to win him the job. That's what we hope for anyway. Unless Daniels took a huge step forward. Because we know Kendrick didn't.

[holidaysmore]

So what say we on who starts and ultimately plays the most snaps for this coming year?

I hate to say this but my guess for starter on game 1 would be Kendrick with Bean eventually playing the most snaps by the end of the year. Not having him here in the summer set him back along with not having a natural ability to pick up a play book.