Not 'Suh' Tough; Kansas Offensive Line Looking Okay

It's getting harder and harder to pick the positives out of Kansas football.

Especially after a game like yesterday's when the Jayhawks had every opportunity to be victorious, yet they were squandered. 

It's amazing to realize that had either of two specific penalties been avoided by Mark Mangino's defense, the result would have been a fourth down, a punt, and one more opportunity for the steadying Jayhawk offense to win the game.

However, things didn't work out, and Kansas will move on. They'd better do so quickly, too, because Texas will try to extend the Jayhawks' losing streak to six next Saturday.

If there's one positive that can be taken away from yesterday's contest with the Nebraska Cornhuskers, though, it has to be the play of the offensive line.

Sure, one could argue that Nebraska rarely sent added pressure and that offensive coordinator Ed Warriner got the ball out of Reesing's hands quicker this week.

Well, duh. Nebraska rarely sends more than four, as the Cornhusker defensive line is one of the best in the nation and needs little additional help. 

Plus, Reesing had been getting smoked by defenses for four consecutive weeks; Reesing should've been taking five-step drops or less a month ago, and Nebraska should have expected it.

What really impressed me, though, was that the offensive line even managed to help produce a little run game. Jake Sharp at least found his way back to the line of scrimmage this week, and Toben Opurum had himself a nice game before suffering a small injury after his first drive though.

Kansas is probably near the bottom of the charts in terms of rushing yards on first downs, but on third and fourth down, the Jayhawk offense looked positive at worst. In fact, Opurum converted on one huge third and two even-larger fourth downs all on the same drive.

Coming against such a stout defensive line, this gives me some real confidence in the Kansas offensive line led by do-it-all-junior Brad Thorson, and should give Warriner a little more faith, too.

I, for one, would certainly like to see Opurum get a few more chances to follow the big fella's up front and try to wear out the Texas defense, just like Nebraska did to us (Did you see how well their front five pulled and led? Those guys book with the best of them.). What have we got to lose?

Lamarr Houston and Sergio Kindle are mean, but I think Nebraska's front four are tougher. 

Let Opurum start and hit that front four early. Maybe Reesing's air attack will have a little more mustard late in the game, if it matters by then.

I would also like to point out that if nothing else, running eats up a lot more time than a dropped pass does. Even if Kansas still suffers from repeated three-and-outs, at least the defense wouldn't be on the field quite as long.

Bowen's defense has been picked on recently for being gashed, big time, by running backs late in close games. I know the defense needs to pick it up, and I'm certainly not defending Clint Bowen, but part of the rushing defense woes are due to the passing offense.

I'm not saying the Kansas offense has to lose it's identity; I just want Warriner to adjust his priorities.

Give the offensive line a chance to control the game next week, give the defense a break or two, and give Opurum the ball.

This is no longer the high-powered Big 12 to which Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Texas Tech set the curve those few years ago. This is Texas and Nebraska's games now, and Kansas needs to adjust accordingly.

The key to the all-terrain vehicle that is tough, grind-it-out football is the offensive line. Let's hope Kansas' can get the Jayhawks started up again.