Wednesday Walkthrough: UCF Week
The Kansas Jayhawks have a lot on the line this Saturday when they host the UCF Knights. Obviously, that includes improving their record to 5-1 or seeing it drop to 4-2, but fresh off a loss to the third-ranked Texas Longhorns it would bring momentum back to KU if it could knock off another likely bowl-bound team.
There are major injury-related concerns this week, pertaining specifically to quarterback Jalon Daniels and his availability. While we likely won’t know what his status will be until near game time, let’s check in on what coach Lance Leipold had to say about his star quarterback, his backup option and more this week.
LISTENING IN ON LANCE
We need to turn the page and I think they did, I thought they went out and practiced well today...They're ready to get better.”
KU has been tested in various ways through the first five games of the season, but this week’s game is a different kind of test: showing how this version of the program can respond to a disappointing loss. Leipold said that from what he could see the team’s body language has looked good in practice and team meetings have gone well, so for now there shouldn’t be any reason to expect an emotional hangover in Week 6.
“Of course when your starting quarterback wasn't available it's concerning, and he's not practicing on the first day of prep but it's a day-to-day situation right now according to our training staff and we'll see where that goes."
This was Leipold’s response to which quarterback took reps with the first-team offense on Monday at practice, so you can read between the lines and figure out that for now, Jason Bean is working with the ones. But, as he pointed out, it’s a day-to-day process. Leipold also made sure to say that Daniels is working through the issue and trying to make it back, so we can put any weird consternation and conspiracy theories on the back burner.
"Jason's not happy with the way he played, so he gets a chance to get more reps and get him some work and prepare for whatever happens."
This is the back half of Leipold’s quarterbacks quote, and it’s important to bring up the standards for Bean and what he can do for this Kansas offense. He’s not as good of a player as Daniels, but he’s still one of the best backup quarterbacks that a Big 12 team could have. Both of those things are true. There’s also no use sugarcoating a below-average showing, but don’t forget that he didn’t get any preparation as the starter all week leading up to the Texas game. If he gets the call against UCF, a full week of running with the ones should have a major, positive impact on what he can do come kickoff.
“Excellent play caller, not just play caller but schematically does a lot of things to stress you. I believe they scored 21 points in eight plays Saturday to start the game. I'm sure they're not happy with the way they finished...They've shown the ability to be dynamic and explosive and go toe to toe with a lot of people."
Saturday’s game won’t just be the first-ever meeting between KU and UCF, it will also be the first time in Knights coach Gus Malzahn’s career that he’s faced the Jayhawks, either as a head coach or an assistant. Even in the wake of a massive meltdown in its loss to Baylor last week, Leipold made sure to point out how dangerous this UCF team is, largely thanks to its coach and play caller and his well-deserved reputation.
KNOW YOUR ENEMY
When: Saturday, Oct. 7 at 3:00 p.m. CT
Where: David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, Lawrence, Kansas
Spread: Kansas -2.5
The Knights have a quarterback situation of their own on their hands, with usual starter John Rhys Plumlee missing the last three UCF games due to a knee injury. Standing in for him has been Timmy McClain, a transfer from the USF Bulls who is completing 61% of his passes this year for 872 yards, seven touchdowns and just two interceptions. While Plumlee is arguably the better all-around athlete, both UCF options are capable of making plays with their legs. Malzahn said this week that he’ll likely decide on his starting quarterback sometime Wednesday, but also left the door open to playing both.
That UCF rushing attack has been dangerous this season, racking up 1,276 yards on 6.1 yards per carry. According to Stats Perform, UCF has the 29th most-efficient rushing offense in the country this year, which is fifth among Big 12 teams. One of the teams above the Knights is the Jayhawks, who are second in the league and 11th in the nation in that metric. Bill Connelly’s SP+ metric at ESPN ranks UCF 30th in the country while KU is 45th this week.
Kansas is a slight favorite in this game, but you can reasonably chalk up a 2.5-point spread to built-in home-field advantage. Neither team has been a sure thing on the betting markets this year; both KU and UCF are 2-3 against the spread through five games.
JAYHAWK TO WATCH
Knowing how potent UCF’s quarterbacks are and their propensity for big plays, keeping the Knights behind the sticks will be imperative this week. Their offense is especially potent on early downs; only eight teams have more yards per play on first down than the Knights this season.
The KU defensive line will have its hands full, needing to either force incompletions or short runs to avoid allowing UCF to get into manageable downs and distances. Austin Booker, in particular, should be a Jayhawk to focus on this week. While a number of players have stepped up and carried this improving defensive front (Jereme Robinson and Devin Phillips come to mind), Booker brings a different level of athleticism and versatility with his ability to run and defend from multiple spots along the line.
UCF has plenty of team speed, which will make Saturday a challenging day for the Kansas offense. Forcing it into inconvenient downs as much as possible would go a long way toward stunting their dynamic playmaking, though, and Booker should play a major role in that plan.
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