{"id":6692,"date":"2019-07-17T18:54:40","date_gmt":"2019-07-17T23:54:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/?p=6692"},"modified":"2019-07-17T19:01:21","modified_gmt":"2019-07-18T00:01:21","slug":"les-miles-new-head-man-at-ku-jayhawks-still-a-bottom-bird-feeder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/?p=6692","title":{"rendered":"Les Miles new head man at KU….Jayhawks still a bottom bird feeder….."},"content":{"rendered":"
(First of ten Big Twelve football previews for 2019)<\/em><\/h6>\n

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Kansas Jayhawks<\/span><\/h2>\n

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Head Coach:\u00a0 Les Miles\u00a0 142-55 (18 years) \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\n

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Last year’s record: 3-9; 2-7 conference<\/span><\/strong><\/h6>\n

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Kansas broke through in 2019 with three victories, including a conference win (TCU at home), to highlight the final season of the David Beaty years.\u00a0 With the hiring of former Oklahoma State and LSU head coach Les Miles, expectations in Lawrence might be higher ever since the Mark Mangino years a decade past. \u00a0 The Jayhawks have a hired the 65 year old Miles, a reputable coach who has won a National title (LSU) to lead the lowly team of the conference.\u00a0 The issue is not that Kansas will or will not be well coached under Miles and his staff, but if the work and effort will translate into wins, not only\u00a0 this year but in the future. \u00a0 I can see an improvement in the program if not in the win column for 2019.\u00a0 Kansas has a long way to go but with better facilities promised, that will bring in better players.\u00a0 Miles can recruit\u00a0 some players that might not have thought about KU as of his name and past accomplishments.\u00a0 Kansas fans might have hope, but what is new? \u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h6>\n

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Offense:\u00a0 JC Transfer Thomas MacVittie (Mesa) has all the abilities of a fine pro-style quarterback that should give KU a boost to go along with Pooka Williams, the conference’s best young back.\u00a0 Williams will serve a one game suspension (domestic incident).\u00a0 The sophomore that averaged over 150 all-purpose yards in 2019 will have to do it on his own as the Jayhawks will have one of the worst offensive lines not only in the Big Twelve but in a Power Five league.\u00a0 The pass protection for long yardage situations will again be a bug-a-boo for KU.\u00a0 Look for Takulvie Williams to be the best receiver with the unproved group of pass catchers.\u00a0 Kansas under Miles will be conservative on offense.\u00a0 A horrendously bad o-Line will be the culprit of many three-and-outs.\u00a0 Look for KU to go into the halftime break already a beaten team.\u00a0 Grade D<\/span><\/strong><\/h6>\n

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Kansas running back Pooka Williams Jr. jumps over a teammate to gain more yards. Photo by: Mike Gunnoe<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Defense:\u00a0 An experienced secondary will not save this group from getting ass-kicked on any given Saturdays.\u00a0 The defensive line and backers are mediocre at best. \u00a0 A second best (nationally) turnover-margin will not be repeated and the Jayhawks will not be better on this side of the ball in 2019. \u00a0 Give Miles a few years and the KU defense will improve exponentially.\u00a0 Grade D<\/span><\/h6>\n

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A contingent of Kansas football defensive players \u2014 from left, Elmore Hempstead Jr., Elijah Jones, Najee Stevens-McKenzie, Ricky Thomas, Mike Lee and Julian Chandler \u2014 pose on the sideline as the Jayhawks wrap up a road win at Central Michigan. Photo: kusports.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Special Teams:\u00a0 The Jayhawks will get plenty of punt practice and kickoff returns. They should be ok if Pooka is in the mix to return for them.\u00a0 Otherwise, KU is like many teams.\u00a0 Let us see what happens game to game and if anyone shines in any aspect of the kicking game.\u00a0 Grade:\u00a0 C<\/span><\/h6>\n

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Game outlook:<\/span><\/h6>\n

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Games KU could win:\u00a0 Indiana State (H); Coastal Carolina (H); West Virginia (H); Kansas State (H)<\/span><\/h6>\n

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Games KU should not win:\u00a0 Boston College (A); TCU (A); Oklahoma (A); Texas (A); Texas Tech (H); Oklahoma State (A); Iowa State (A); Baylor (A)<\/span><\/h6>\n

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Final Big Twelve Prediction:\u00a0 3-9 and 1-8 in conference play-Last in the league<\/span><\/strong><\/h6>\n

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The future look of KU’s Memorial Stadium below: \u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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(First of ten Big Twelve football previews for 2019)     Kansas Jayhawks    …<\/p>\n

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