Taking Notes | Kansas Jayhawks vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders

QUOTABLE | The only place that I could find quotes from from the good radio man, RP.com’s Scott Fitzgerald. Thank you sir.

Not like we liked. We didn't want to come out this way. We wanted to make sure that we were up. As I said, our goal was to come out undefeated this season. That was the most important thing for us, just to make sure we win each game and play each game. We weren't able to do that.
- S D.J. Johnson
On playing five ranked opponents.

If you are down in the dumps think if you were a player. I really do believe that the players are down after losing to Texas. This is not a team that lacks confidence and I do believe that this team believed that they were going to win every game this year. I am almost positive that they have had this game circled for a year and not to win it is disappointing.

It has been mentioned that the post-game presser was unusual in that there weren’t a lot of people there and Tuberville didn’t stay for long. I also understand that neither OC Neal Brown or DC Art Kaufman made an appearance. I really believe that they were pissed. Angry to the point that they didn’t want to try to make this sound okay. There is part of me that wants them to stay accountable, but they’ve been there for every other one. This one meant something and I hope that the team isn’t just down about losing to UT, but genuinely hacked and is going to do something about it the remainder of the season.

LINKS | These are links from around the interwebs this morning:

Back to school: Former Cowboys coach back in the college game | Red Raiders

Jayhawks seek win in Lubbock on senior day - The Daily Toreador: Sports

Kansas vs. Texas Tech: Previewing the Red Raider Offense - Rock Chalk Talk

Texas Tech Mourns The Passing Of Coach Darrell Royal - Texas Tech Red Raiders Official Athletic Site

Three & Out with Texas Tech... | Tale of the Tait | KUsports.com

FINDING THEIR WAY | I am admittedly in a slump. I think the team is in a slump too, but we all knew that this five game stretch in October and November was going to be brutal. There aren’t a lot of breaks in the Big 12 and this week may not be much of a break, but I don’t think that a lot of teams were playing 5 straight top 25 opponents in consecutive weeks. That’s a tall task. The key is that the coaches have to make sure and pick these guys up. They have to make sure that the players find their way. There is still work left to be done.

THE LIGHT BULB HAS GONE ON | I am so impressed with the work that WR Eric Ward has done. It’s really been a pleasure to watch him play and I’ll be disappointed when he leaves and/or graduates. He has quietly been one of the better receivers in the Big 12 and he’s doing it game after game. He did it last year and preseason folks had Darrin Moore as this team’s best receiver. I don’t know what else Ward can do to impress, but you should enjoy watching Ward while you can because you will miss his tenacious block, his catches where he inexplicably stays in bounds and his overall consistency.

KEY TO SUCCESS | DC Art Kaufman has to figure out what he has. Earlier this week, Tuberville acknowledged that Terrance Bullitt will need offseason surgery to repair his shoulder. Bullitt is playing okay, but he finished with one tackle on Saturday against a UT team that ran a ton. The same thing will happen this week. I appreciate Bullitt’s want-to, but if he can’t play then he can’t play. Get healthy, get better. Figure out how to make that shoulder not be injured and make it happen next year. I’m fine with someone like Micah Awe or Zach Winbush getting the call for an injured Bullitt. The linebackers are going to play as an integral part of this game than maybe any other game because Kansas is just going to line up and try to run right at you. For a bum shoulder, this is not a recipe for success.

WE HAVE QUESTIONS | At this time of the year, I can’t help but think of things for next year and one of my questions is how to get this pass rush going. It’s obviously something that I think the staff is concerned about, otherwise you wouldn’t have two JUCO defensive ends in Terrell Hartsfield and Jerrell Jordan committing to Texas Tech. There is an obvious deficiency in attacking the opposing quarterback. The line is going to remain relatively intact, but there should be reinforcements with Mike Starts, J.J. Loller and Anthony "Mo-Ped" Smith. This year, I don’t think that Kaufman has this option, but I would personally love to see Delvon Simmons and Starts get some snaps at defensive end when this team plays opponents like Texas, Kansas St. and Kansas. Where we know that the defensive end will be asked to take on the tackle and a tight end.

GOOD JOB GOOD EFFORT | RB Kenny Williams is a gifted runner and he’s going to be a staple of this team for two more years and I could not be more happy. That is not proper grammar, but I get a tad bit excited when thinking about what Kenny Williams and the somewhat forgotten DeAndre Washington along with Sadale Foster will be able to do to opposing defenses next year. Remember that Washington was better as a true freshman in comparison to Williams. Granted, Williams has matured significantly, but oh my.

BOOKMARK THIS | I will stop harping on the turnover issue after this week, but the needle really needs to move on the "total gained" column. Yes, the defense has been better, but part of a good defense is having the defense create additional opportunities for the offense. The defense hasn’t created a turnover since TCU.

FLAG THE PLAY | The offensive line was flagged for more than it’s share of penalties last week. I don’t think that this has been something that has been habitually problematic this year, so I wouldn’t expect this to continue. Actually, Texas Tech is averaging 6.4 penalties a game at home and 8.3 on the road, so that is good for this week, but might be something to really pay attention to next week as the Red Raiders travel to Stillwater. Also of note, this team hasn’t had less than 5 penalties since West Virginia.

CHART IT UP | Yards allowed each game:

INJURY REPORT | I removed RB Quinton White, WR Shawn Corker and OG Tony Morales as they are 3 weeks past being healthy, just don't have a firm date on them. They may not play, but they should be healthy.

Fall Practice: OL Matt Wilson (torn ACL - out for the year; ATH Shawn Corker (broken foot - out 4 to 6 weeks); DT Anthony Smith (rolled ankle from scooter mishap - out 2 weeks); RB Quinton White (broken foot).

Week 1 vs. Northwestern St.: OL Matt Wilson (torn ACL - out for the year); ATH Shawn Corker (broken foot - may be out 2 to 4 more weeks); RB Quinton White (broken foot - may be out 4 to 6 more weeks); WR Aaron Fisher (broken leg - out for the year); OG Tony Morales (knee injury - out 2 weeks).

Week 2 vs. Texas St.: OL Matt Wilson (torn ACL - out for the year); ATH Shawn Corker (broken foot - may be out 1 to 3 more weeks); RB Quinton White (broken foot - may be out 3 to 5 more weeks); WR Aaron Fisher (broken leg - out for the year); OG Tony Morales (knee injury - out 1 week); WR Eric Ward (concussion - out 1 game).

Week 3 vs. New Mexico: OL Matt Wilson (torn ACL - out for the year); WR Aaron Fisher (broken leg - out for the year); ATH Shawn Corker (broken foot - may be out 2 more weeks); RB Quinton White (broken foot - may be out 2 to 4 more weeks); OG Tony Morales (knee injury - should be available); WR Marcus Kennard (groin - day to day); CB Cornelius Douglas (pulled abdominal muscle - 1 week).

Week 4 Bye: OL Matt Wilson (torn ACL - out for the year); WR Aaron Fisher (broken leg - out for the year); CB Jeremy Reynolds (knee sprain - out for the year); ATH Shawn Corker (broken foot - may be out 1 more week); RB Quinton White (broken foot - may be out 1 to 3 more weeks).

Week 5 Iowa St.: OL Matt Wilson (torn ACL - out for the year); WR Aaron Fisher (broken leg - out for the year); CB Jeremy Reynolds (knee sprain - out for the year); ATH Shawn Corker (broken foot - practicing, but may be out 1 more week); RB Quinton White (broken foot - may be out 1 to 3 more weeks); OG Tony Morales (knee injury - may be out 1 more week).

Week 6 Oklahoma: OL Matt Wilson (torn ACL - out for the year); WR Aaron Fisher (broken leg - out for the year); CB Jeremy Reynolds (knee sprain - out for the year); ATH Shawn Corker (broken foot - should be practicing); RB Quinton White (broken foot - may be out 2 more weeks); OG Tony Morales (knee injury - should be practicing).

Week 7 West Virginia: OL Matt Wilson (torn ACL - out for the year); WR Aaron Fisher (broken leg - out for the year); CB Jeremy Reynolds (knee sprain - out for the year); ATH Shawn Corker (broken foot - should be practicing); RB Quinton White (broken foot - may be out 1 more week); OG Tony Morales (knee injury - should be practicing).

Week 8 TCU: OL Matt Wilson (torn ACL - out for the year); WR Aaron Fisher (broken leg - out for the year); CB Jeremy Reynolds (knee sprain - out for the year); ATH Shawn Corker (broken foot - should be practicing); RB Quinton White (broken foot - should be practicing); OG Tony Morales (knee injury - should be practicing); WR Bradley Marquez (knee injury - out for the year); WR Javon Bell (broken ankle - out for the year); TE Jace Amaro (bruised ribs - questionable); CB Cornelius Douglas (twisted knee - questionable).

Week 8 Kansas St.: OL Matt Wilson (torn ACL - out for the year); WR Aaron Fisher (broken leg - out for the year); CB Jeremy Reynolds (knee sprain - out for the year); WR Bradley Marquez (knee injury - out for the year); WR Javon Bell (broken ankle - out for the year); TE Jace Amaro (bruised ribs - questionable); CB Cornelius Douglas (twisted knee - questionable); NB Tre Porter (out).

Week 9 Texas: OL Matt Wilson (torn ACL - out for the year); WR Aaron Fisher (broken leg - out for the year); CB Jeremy Reynolds (knee sprain - out for the year); WR Bradley Marquez (knee injury - out for the year); WR Javon Bell (broken ankle - out for the year); TE Jace Amaro (bruised ribs - questionable); CB Cornelius Douglas (twisted knee - likely); NB Tre Porter (knee - out); NB Jarvis Phillips (ankle - out).

Week 9 Kansas: OL Matt Wilson (torn ACL - out for the year); WR Aaron Fisher (broken leg - out for the year); CB Jeremy Reynolds (knee sprain - out for the year); WR Bradley Marquez (knee injury - out for the year); WR Javon Bell (broken ankle - out for the year); TE Jace Amaro (bruised ribs - questionable); CB Cornelius Douglas (twisted knee - likely); NB Tre Porter (knee - likely); NB Jarvis Phillips (ankle - likely).