No. 5 Texas Christian Horned Frogs (8-1 overall, 5-1 Big 12) at Kansas Jayhawks (3-6 overall, 1-5 Big 12)
2 p.m. Memorial Stadium Game-time forecast: 31 degrees, 45 percent chance of snow, 10 mph winds out of the southeast TV: FOX Sports 1
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Keys for Kansas
Associated Press
TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin (2) eludes Kansas State defensive end Jordan Willis on Saturday in Fort Worth, Texas. Saturday, Boykin and the Frogs will face Kansas at Memorial Stadium.
1. Keep QB Trevone Boykin in check
The TCU junior leads the Big 12 and ranks fourth nationally at 360 yards of offense per game. He is averaging 299 passing yards and 61 rushing yards per game and is vying to become just the third quarterback since 2009 to average 300 yards passing and 50 yards rushing in a single season. Heisman Trophy winners Robert Griffin III and Johnny Manziel were the other two. The guy truly is gifted with his athletic ability, speed, change of direction, all of that, interim KU coach Clint Bowen said. He has a cannon for an arm. He plays with a spark about him. He has the appearance of one of those guys thats having fun playing the game. The best way to make Boykins day less fun is to try to contain and confuse him while playing sound coverage in the secondary so he has nowhere to go with the ball when the rush closes in on him.
2. Match physicality
The Jayhawks saw it firsthand against Baylor and paid for it. So it remains to be seen if theyll be ready for the physical nature of the TCU offense, which greatly resembles that of the Bears. I tell anyone that will listen, that is the most underrated thing about both of (those) teams, Bowen said. Both of them physically beat you up. People get confused with open style of offense and the tempo and automatically think that this is a gimmick-type offense or a pass-first offense, when in reality theyre a run-first offense and a very physical run team. TCUs line plays very well. Theyre a knock-you-off-the-ball-type mentality. If they can do that the whole game, thats actually their preference.
3. Take advantage of the weather
Its supposed to be cold, and theres a strong chance for snow during todays game. That can only help Kansas, which has practiced in frigid temperatures all week and is more used to those types of conditions than the TCU roster, which includes 79 Texans. Bad weather almost always benefits the underdog because it levels the playing field and eliminates clear advantages in skill, speed and scheme. Instead of relying as heavily on those assets, teams often try to focus more on survival, and the game slows down and becomes a slugfest, which would give KU a much better shot at hanging in there.
Mega Matchup: TCU rush offense vs. KU front seven
The Horned Frogs are 71-4 when rushing for at least 200 yards in a game under Gary Patterson and are averaging 227 yards per game on the ground. TCU features four players who have rushed for 100 yards in a game this season, including junior Aaron Green (5-11, 202) who has topped the 100-yard mark in two of the past three games. B.J. Catalon is the better-known name in the TCU backfield, but Green has been a breakout star this season. He leads the team with 549 yards and an impressive 8.7 yards-per-carry average. Boykin and Trevorris Johnson are the other two TCU ball-carriers who have cracked the 100-yard mark in a game this season, and that kind of depth figures to make linebackers Ben Heeney, Jake Love and Courtney Arnick, along with the entire KU defensive line, even more critical for KUs chances.
Kansas receiver Nick Harwell raises his arms as he and his teammates stretch out during practice on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2014.
5 Questions with Senior WR Nick Harwell:
1 . It has been a long two years, with a lot of losses and one a year of sitting out, but are you glad you came to Kansas?
I am. Oh, yeah. Ive grown to love all these guys. They took me in as if I was family since the first day I got here, and theyve shown me nothing but love and supported me in everything I did.
2 . You hear a lot of guys whove played here say theyre a Jayhawk for life, but does that feeling hold up for a guy whos only been here a couple of years?
Yeah, thats definitely real. This place has taken care of me, and I just feel like Im right at home, and Im really comfortable here so I feel like I am a Jayhawk for life.
3 . What has been the toughest part about being at Kansas and with this program?
Probably still being away from home (Missouri City, Texas). Whether youre 19 hours away or 12 hours like now, being away from home is always the toughest part. But I dont complain too much.
4 . Youve talked about coming here because it was a bigger stage, and now youre about to play the No. 5 team in the country today. Is that feeling everything you thought it would be?
These are just experiences that a lot of football players cant say they got. Not everyone can say, I played the No. 4 team in the nation, I played the No. 5 team in the nation, and for you to play Baylor one week and TCU two weeks later, both Top-10 teams, its just unbelievable. Its that big stage. The lights are on, and it just gives you a chance to show everyone what you can do.
5 . The offense finally got going a little more against Iowa State, throwing up a season-high for yards (514) and points (34). Can this offense be like that the rest of the way?
I feel like we can. We put up 17 points in the first quarter against a Big 12 team, and that just shows, if we play with confidence, we can score points. I feel like we have turned that corner, and this just gives us something to build on the next games and next seasons.
Jayhawk Pulse
Many believed last weeks Iowa State game was the Jayhawks last true chance at a victory this season, and they made it count by dominating the Cyclones. But todays machup with No. 5 TCU, which just this week jumped into the top four in the college football playoff standings, begins a nasty stretch of games to close the season against three of the best teams in the Big 12 Conference. Despite the daunting task ahead, the Jayhawks remain focused on themselves and the little things they believe will help them compete and not the big picture or overwhelming stretch. Right now, its about the first quarter against TCU, getting first downs on offense and continuing to perform at a high level on defense. Thats the approach this team has had since Clint Bowen took over as the interim coach, and it led to the programs third Big 12 victory since the departure of Mark Mangino following the 2009 season. The big question now: How much is left in the tank against significantly better competition?
Tale of the Tape
KU run game vs. TCU run D advantage TCU
KU pass game vs. TCU pass D advantage TCU
TCU run game vs. KU run D advantage TCU
TCU pass game vs. KU pass D advantage TCU
Special teams advantage TCU
Source: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2014/nov/15/gameday-breakdown-look-saturdays-kansas-tcu-footba/
