SB Nation - Mike Rivera

SB Nation Big 12 Roundtable: Week One

rockchalk — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 21:36:07 -0000

This is the first installment of this year's version of the Big 12 Roundtable. As the kickass logo shows, all ten blogs should be participating, making it worth your while. This week, Rock M Nation is hosting, so head over there sometime tomorrow for a recap post which will take the best from all of the individual posts. The goal for me is to get at least one quote up there. Even if it is for sympathy. Beggars can't be choosers.

1. Everyone knows the national talking points for each Big 12 team by now (Oklahoma has new linemen! Bill Snyder's back at Kansas State! Baylor might upset somebody!). Give us a storyline for your team that isn't quite getting the attention it should.

The defense returns nearly everybody. Whenever anybody talks about Kansas' defense, it always centers around the loss of Joe Mortensen, Mike Rivera and James Holt. All three present big losses, particularly the latter, but nearly every other contributor from 2008's defense will be back in a Jayhawk uniform this season.

More specifically, the secondary gets a bad rap. And deservedly so -- we gave up a ridiculous amount of points and yards and all of that last season. However, it should be much better this season -- everyone is back, for one, and it's the deepest group in Kansas history. Darrell Stuckey is a legitimate All-American candidate, Daymond Patterson should be All-Big 12, while Anthony Davis, Justin Thornton and Chris Harris have all shined for stretches -- Thornton and Harris in 2007, Davis in fall practice. People should be surprised about how much better our secondary is.

2. The Big 12 continues to be derided by other conferences as a pass-happy, no defense, made-for-TV free-for-all. The question must be asked, how accurate is this description, and is the perception something of which the conference should be ashamed?

It's partly the truth, partly exaggeration, as most extreme claims are. Obviously, offense reigns supreme in the Big 12, but it isn't like there aren't good defenses, either. Oklahoma held the vaunted Florida offense, which ripped ESSS EEEE SEEEE defenses to shreds all season long, to only 24 points. Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy, both Big 12ers, are probably the tw

o best interior defensive linemen in the entire country.

So, the perception is far greater than the reality. As to whether the perception matters at all -- I don't really care, no. It isn't like the Big 12's offense-first perception hurt them in bowl placement last year, and it shouldn't anytime in the future, either. Sam Bradford still won the Heisman, so that didn't have much of an impact (if one at all).

Football, as a whole, follows trends. Right now, the trendy offense is the spread, and no conference has adapted as quickly to this newest wrinkle of fabric than the Big 12. Basically, that is what the Big 12 is being punished for -- adapting quicker than the SEC (of course, a spread offense would never work in the SEC) and all of the other conferences to this new age of college football.

In 15 years, or whatever it is, when defenses have learned how to severely limit the spread, and the en vogue style becomes to run the ball 45 times a game, will the Big 12 be made fun of if they adapt quicker there, too?

3. Over the summer, ESPN's Tim Griffin compiled a list of the Top 25 moments of the Big 12 era that stirred up a bit of internal debate. Which moments for your program were either overrated or underrated?

Happy memory or not, Armageddon at Arrowhead should have been a Top 10 moment in league history. Probably even Top 5. I mean, compare it to Tim Griffin's Number 2 item on the list, Texas Tech's win over Texas last season.

Kansas (#2) and Missouri (#4) had a combined ranking of 6. Texas (#1) and Texas Tech (#7) had a combined ranking of 8. According to the rankings, at least, Kansas and Missouri were better teams relative to that year's competition. ADVANTAGE: ARMAGEDDON at ARROWHEAD (AA)
Kansas vs. Missouri took place the Saturday after Thanksgiving. TT-UT took place on November 1st, a full 4 weeks prior to the Saturday after Thanksgiving. A DVANTAGE: AA.
None of the four teams ended up playing in the MNC game, so no bonus points added there.
KU vs. MU was the biggest game in school history for BOTH schools; it was only the biggest game in Texas Tech history, diminishing the impact.

The only things that would lead you to believe the Red Raiders' win is superior is that (a) it ended on a last-second play and (b) it was at Texas Tech, prompting a rushing of the field and such. Fine. Maybe put it a spot-or-two ahead of Armageddon. But a Texas man like Tim Griffin, or anybody that grew up/lived in the Kansas or Missouri area, doesn't really understand what that game meant. It's one of my favorite Kansas football memories/moments of all time -- just because of what it meant, and all of the pregame hype.

The game was huge. The atmosphere was ele

ctric. It's a joke, an absolute joke and a travesty, to have it ranked at #23. I couldn't tell you anything else about the list, because I stopped reading it after that.

But, what is particularly irksome is, for example, #15 was Texas' 66-3 loss. How the hell is that a top moment in Big 12 history. I mean, what the eff (David Blaine)?

I'm done.

4. We've seen no less than 30-40 "Best Big 12 Coaches" power rankings in the offseason, but rarely is there the same press for the coordinators. If you had to replace your offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator with coordinators from within the conference, who are you poaching and why?

Offensive Coordinator isn't as easy for me now that Larry Fedora is out of the conference. I think he's just aces (just for you, Labba), which is why I'm already panicking about the Southern Miss game. Anyways, with him disqualified, I suppose I'll go with Mike Leach. That counts, right? No? Shoot. Um, I don't really...know...any...coordinators. So, I'll just copy RMN's answer and go with Oklahoma State's offensive coordinator. If I like Fedora so much, and their offense seemed to have stayed the same, that means the new guy is like a clone of Fedora! Yeah! That's it. What's his name?

Defensive Coordinator is awfully easy, though. Give me Will Muschamp and you take whoever you want, and we'll have a defensive coordinator battle off. Oh, we weren't talking actual fistifights? No matter -- Muschamp can coach up some defense as well. And it's always fun to watch over-30 white men jump up and down and act like they are hip. Or whatever. Anyways, that's my choice. And no, it's not because he's the only defensive coordinator I can name.

5. Time to start our weekly Big 12 Power Poll. Rank the Big 12 teams from 1 to 12. (Note: This IS a power poll and isn't intended to account for schedule)

1) Texas

2) Oklahoma

3) Oklahoma State

4) Kansas

5) Missouri

6) Nebraska

7) Texas Tech

8) Baylor

9) Colorado

10) Texas A&M

11) Kansas State

12) Iowa State

---

Yay.

Texas Tech Opponent Prospectus // Kansas Jayhawks

Seth C — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:00:11 -0000

2009 Texas Tech Opponent Prospectus

Game 1: North Dakota Fighting Sioux // Game 2: Rice Owls // Game 3: Texas Longhorns // Game 4: Houston Cougars // Game 5: New Mexico Lobos // Game 6: Kansas State Wildcats // Game 7: Nebraska Cornhuskers // Game 8: Texas A&M Aggies // Game 9: Kansas Jayhawks

Head coach Mark Mangino and his Kansas Jayhawks are predicted to battle for the Big 12 North. With so many returning offensive stars (Reesing, Mier and Briscoe) the Jayhawks should be fine offensively, but it's the defense (like almost every Big 12 team) that's going to have to improve in order to take the next step.

Join me after the jump for a closer look at Kansas.

General Information

Opponent	University of Kansas
Nickname	Jayhawks
Location	Lawrence, KS
Enrollment	20,298 (Undergraduates)
Conference	Big 12
Head Coach	Mark Mangino
2008 Record	7-5 (4-4)
Starters Returning/Lost	15/7
Blogs	Rock Chalk Talk Oread Boom Kings
Links	2009 Media Guide (pdf) 2009 Spring Prospectus (pdf)

Statistics


Statistic	Kansas	Texas Tech
Pass Offense	305.62 (8)	413.15 (1)
Rush Offense	126.77 (83)	117.84 (94)
Total Offense	432.38 (21)	531.00 (4)
Scoring Offense	33.38 (22)	43.77 (3)
Pass Efficiency	149.93 (17)	158.76 (9)
Sacks Allowed	2.38 (97)	1.00 (4)
Pass Defense	273.62 (114)	242.23 (94)
Rush Defense	123.08 (28)	140.38 (61)
Total Defense	369.69 (89)	382.62 (79)
Scoring Defense	28.85 (82)	27.85 (74)
Pass Efficiency Defense	129.69 (69)	130.56 (72)
Sacks	2.23 (40)	2.62 (18)
Tackles For Loss	6.31 (40)	4.85 (95)
Turnover Margin	0.23 (45)	0.62 (22)

Top Returners

Category	Player
Rushing	Jake Sharp (186 / 860 yds / 12 TD)
Passing	Todd Reesing (329-495 / 3,888 yds / 32 TD / 21 Int)
Receiving	Dezmon Briscoe (92 rec. / 1,407 yds / 15 TD)
Tackles	Darrell Stuckey (98)
Sacks	Jake Laptad (7.0)
Interceptions	Darrell Stuckey (5)

A Few Things

Replacing the Offensive Line: Texas Tech and Kansas are somewhat in the same boat in that each team needs to replace three-fifths of their starters from last year, plus Kansas must replace their tight end from last year. I think this means that much like Texas Tech, the Jayhawks are replacing the entire left side of their line and I believe that means that former tight end Tanner Hawkinson will be your left tackle. The Jayhawks have also done some shuffling, where last years left tackle, Jeremiah Hatch, will be moving to center and the lone returning starter is Jeff Spikes. We'll get into this below, but the nice thing about the Kansas line is that Reesing is a mobile quarterback and he can avoid quite a bit of pressure by himself, but this is obviously a situation to watch.
Who Picks Up the Rush: Again, much like Texas Tech, the Jayhawks must replace their first, third and fourth leading sacker from 2008. Defensive end Jake Laptad does return with seven sacks from last year, but the Jayhawks lose 16.5 of the 29 sacks from last year. I believe that Kansas is hoping that Maxwell Onyegbule steps up in a full time role. I should also mention that James Holt, a linebacker, was the leading sacker from last year. I can't say that I watched enough Kansas football last season to know how the Jayhawk defense works, but that's a lot of production to replace (and Texas Tech fans can empathize) in 2009.
Tremendous Offensive Skill Positions: You can't help but love the offensive triumvirate at Kansas. Todd Reesing is the Wes Welker of quarterbacks, and I mean that as a tremendous compliment. He's a guy that's not to be as successful as he is because of his stature, but he gets the job done and he does it with excellent efficiency. RB Jake Sharp is an effective runner, gaining 4.62 yards a carry and catching 25 passes out of the backfield. Had it not been for Michael Crabtree and Dez Bryant, the entire league would be talking about Dezmon Briscoe, which could be both good and bad. Bad in the sense that he ran into some issues during the spring, probably school related, that kept him out of some of the spring practices. With that being said, there's no denying Briscoe's talent as he caught 92 passes for 1,402 yards and 15 touchdowns. Just for comparison purposes, Michael Crabtree had 97 catches for 1,165 yards and 19 touchdowns. Briscoe had a relatively quiet game against Texas Tech, but make no mistake that Briscoe has the potential to be a game-changer for Kansas.
New Linebackers: As mentioned above, Kansas replaces all three linebackers from last year, including the leader pass rusher in James Holt, who was also KU's leading tackler, third leading tackler in Mike Rivera and fourth leading tackler in Joe Mortenson. Like I said, that's a ton of production to produce. Much like any school, hope springs eternal, and there's always the thought that there's depth to replace those three players. Where the former linebackers seemed to be more traditional, there's the thought that KU could move towards a faster and more fleet linebacking group.
Secondary Returns: We've talked about some of the weaknesses of the Kansas defense, but the strength of the defense is the secondary, where the Jayhawks return Darrell Stuckey, an All-American candidate. Stuckey was very good last year, which included being the leading returning tackler, and leading the team in interceptions last year. Cornerbacks Justin Thornton and Daymond Patterson also return, as well as free safety Phillip Strozier. As you could imagine, with entire secondary returning, there are some issues in that the Jayhawks were 114th in the nation last year in pass defense. Yeesh. I think this group will improve, but with the lack of pass rush and the fact that over the middle may be incredibly vulnerable. Again, we're talking about the experience factor here, and it's also the Big 12 where offenses fly high.

Poll

On a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the most worried and 1 being the least worried, how worried are you about the Kansas Jayhawks?

1

26 votes

2

51 votes

3

94 votes

4

28 votes

5

17 votes

216 votes | Poll has closed

Kansas Positional Preview: Linebackers

Denverjhawk — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 10:00:13 -0000

Arist Wright might be one piece to the puzzle at linebacker in 2009.

View full size photo »

2004 was the last year we really had to even think about the linebacker situation in Lawrence. A lot has changed in the time being. In '04 linebackers were recruited to be big physical guys that could stuff the running lanes and maybe pick up your run of the mill tight end or running back out of the backfield in coverage.

Nick Reid, Kevin Kane, Banks Floodman, Gabe Toomey, Mike Rivera and Jo e Mortensen were your classic workhorses. They weren't the fastest, most athletic but they were bruisers who would stick their nose in a hole, shed a block here or there and blow up running plays wherever they could.

Fast forward to 2009 and we're looking at five receiver sets, tight ends who play like oversized receivers, running backs catching screens, runs out of the shotgun and players being spread this way and that all over the field.

Much has been made of the loss of the three Jayhawk linebackers from last year and while Rivera, Mortensen and Holt did great work in their time at Kansas, it was clear near the end that maybe the type of linebackers they were, was not necessarily the same as the type of linebacker that would excel in today's Big 12.

Now does that mean we'll be better off, maybe not? What it does mean though is that we're starting to see a little bit of a change in the type of guys we're recruiting for this role. In '09 the makeup of the position is such that the Jayhawks will have a few guys in the mix from the old style, while also trying to fit several players of the new mold into the system. They'll be growing pains no doubt, but it was bound to happen and the candidates are plenty for the linebacker position in 2009.

Full Positional Breakdown After the Jump...

Kicking off the preview there is likely one player who has set himself in a position to be a starter and that is the lone player that has any form of substantial experience in Arist Wright. Late in the '08 season Wright began seeing increased action with the move of James Holt to a more pass rushing focus. At 6' 226 pounds Wright is a smaller more compact backer that once earned mention by ESPN.com as a workout warrior in college football. In the course of his three years to date he has amassed 77 total tackles on the year while filling in as primarily a backup player to the three that graduated a season ago. Wright showed a fairly solid ability to play against today's spread offenses last season and as a senior this year he'll likely be looked to as a leader for a unit that is experiencing tremendous change.

Another senior on the linebacking corps this year is a player who is jumping from one side of the ball to another. Angus Quigley has bounced around a whole lot in his time at Kansas but seems to be making one last move to the defensive side of the ball. At 6'2" 229 pounds the former running back has good size and great athleticism for the linebacker spot; it's just a matter of how quickly he can pick it up. Many will remember James Holt performing pass rushing duties last year rather effectively and the thinking is that Quigley might have that same advantage off the edge. While there are no doubt questions swirling around Quigley's potential at the position one thing to keep in mind is that if he does have a light go off, there is still one more year of eligibility that he has been granted and can use should he choose. At times Mangino's compliments of Quigley's switch have been few and far between but sometimes I wonder if that's his way of keeping Angus hungry amidst a position change that has a tremendous amount of urgency.

Next up on the preview is junior Justin Springer. A year ago he was the heir apparent to take the middle for Joe Mortensen in the Kansas linebacking rotation. An injury, a long recovery and a change of philosophy mean that one year later that isn't so certain. Springer is in the mold of old if you will, he's a big guy standing 6'4" 242 pounds and reportedly lives in the weight room. Over the course of his two seasons playing primarily special teams Spring has recorded 38 tackles after coming in and exciting some folks as a true freshman. Personally, I'm still a believer in the guy and again despite Mangino's comments to the contrary I think he'll be in the mix. I've spoken to him on several occasions during his recovery from rehab; he has every expectation to be competing for the starting job and has been putting in every ounce of effort to make that happen. It's impossible to say how this pans out with Springer but I can't imagine this is a guy that fades away into the background without a fight.

A newcomer to the position that also figures to factor in is junior college transfer Vernon Brooks. Brooks is now officially on the roster and from what I've gathered from players in camp, once he gets his legs under him, he'll factor into the conversation without a doubt. Brooks is a shade under 6' and a solidly built backer that was known to blow up a few screens in his JUCO days. After it looked like he wasn't going to qualify and had decided on the division II route he received late word that he was good to go for a division one transfer. Kansas landed him but he was also heavily sought after by Oklahoma and Auburn along with a few other SEC schools. I'm excited for this one as Kansas has had great success with JUCO linebackers in the past, again though recent history has not been so kind.

There are still other upperclassmen involved in the conversation and the good thing about the position is despite a major turnover there are a good number of options that are juniors or seniors. Ultimately that's where you want your program at. People may not know the names on paper but they've been at the grind for a few years now and may be far more prepared to step up than anyone imagined.

Starting things off there is Jake Shermer. Shermer is a 6'2 225 pound senior out of Nixa, Missouri. Is he a world beater? No he isn't, but Shermer did have a solid spring and has earned mention by the coaches as an upperclassman that is making a play at a position that is wide open. Shermer has seen action in 30 games over his career and recorded 38 tackles with a career best 6 against Missouri in 2006.

The next name on the experienced and competing list is junior Drew Dudley. Dudley like Quigley has bounced around a bit primarily from backer to fullback. At 6'2" 232 Dudley who was once ranked the 19th best middle linebacker in the nation as a high school player is back in a familiar role on defense. In his 2 seasons of action he has played in every single game and again this could very well be a situation where a player sat behind some very solid upperclassman but is more than capable of stepping in when his time comes. Dudley has earned specific mention for his fall camp performances and he is a very real option when it comes to the inside linebacker spot.

There are also a couple of wild cards in the mix this year starting with sophomore Steven Johnson. Johnson came out of nowhere joining the Kansas team as a walk on following a year in prep school and some time out of the game. Johnson was an all state linebacker in the state of Pennsylvania which has no shortage of history when it comes to turning out good ones. Johnson stands 6'2" 229 and by the end of last fall was running second team behind Joe Mort. Honestly Johnson should probably be a little further up this list, but despite the concern at the position if there is one thing the staff has its options.

The other wild card is true freshman Huldon Tharp. Tharp joins Kansas after sitting out his senior season at Mulvane high in Mulvane Kansas. After tearing his ACL prior to his senior season Tharp committed to the Jayhawks over Miami and Standford although it's been said had he been healthy we might not have him in the Jayhawk uniform because others would have come calling. Well apparently the freshman took his rehab very seriously and if Mangino's comments are any indication he could very well be starting at linebacker from day one. At 6' 215 he appears a bit small but by the same token he's perfect if you are running the base 4-3 but wanting better coverage out of your OLB's. Tharp has been said to be very quick and athletic and if you envision him and Chris Harris rotating in and out as either a nickel back that can tackle or a linebacker that can cover you've got a pretty good combination there. Obviously that's all a theory at this point but regardless it sounds like Tharp is making some waves and should be another guy that factors in to the conversation early.

That makes seven and we're not even close to finished here so I'll give a very quick rundown of the remaining guys on the roster.

Upperclassman Dakota Lewis enters his third season. Standing 6'1" 213 Lewis played a backup role in 2008 and has recorded a total of 25 tackles on his career.

Chea Peterman is a 6'2" 220 pound sophomore who joined Kansas as a walk on in '06. He's seen limited action to date but was the Arkansas defensive player of the year as a senior.

Josh Richardson is a 6'4" 220 pound redshirt freshman out of the same high school as Bradley McDougald. Josh's brother is an NFL defensive end who reportedly went to college a project and came out a player. Richardson was one the staff was fairly high on when they recruited him and maybe the hope is down the line he'll have a similar story.

Another true freshman on the squad is Jacoby Thomas out of Texarkana Texas where he played defensive end. At 6'2" 212 he moves to outside linebacker and could be a viable option down the line for the Jayhawks.

Walk ons added to the most recent roster at the position include; Ryan Nelson and Jordan Fee.

Julian Jones who signed with the Jayhawks in February and joined the team this summer has left the team.

As you can see while there is some turnover at the position there is no shortage of bodies to attempt to address it. It's easy to say how is Kansas ever going to replace Joe Mortenson, Mike Rivera and James Holt, but at the same time that's what people were saying when they got their first starts.

Poll

Who's the one linebacker you are most confident in going into 2009?

Arist Wright

52 votes

Justin Springer

23 votes

Angus Quigley

2 votes

Vernon Brooks

16 votes

Huldon Tharp

8 votes

Jake Shermer

4 votes

Drew Dudley

3 votes

108 votes | Poll has closed

SB Nation 2009 Big 12 Preview: Kansas Jayhawks

rockchalk — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 06:56:47 -0000

More photos » by Donna McWilliam - AP

4 months ago: Kansas coach Mark Mangino gestures during Big 12 Media Day in Irving, Texas, Tuesday, July 28, 2009. (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam)

Browse more photos »

In conjunction with CBS Sports, the folks at The Ralphie Report are organizing the official SB Nation 2009 Big 12 Conference Preview. What follows is Rock Chalk Talk's "outsider's" look at the 2009 Kansas Jayhawks, much like you'd find in many preseason magazines across the country.

Overview: After two years on the periphery of the Big 12 Championship Game, this would appear to be the year for the Jayhawks to finally capture a Big 12 North title and become the obligatory punching bag for the South Champion. A tough schedule, though, may prevent them from winning the North yet again.

Offense: As is the trend in the Big 12, the strength of the Jayhawks is the offense. It starts with Todd Reesing, the QB that fits this team and its current standing in college football perfectly -- overlooked because of warts, but still given some respect. Of course, the job is easier when you have (arguably) the Big 12's best receiver in Dez Briscoe and some of the best hands in all of college football in Kerry Meier to throw the ball to. Add in a solid third option in Jonathan Wilson, a solid-if-unspectacular runningback in Jake Sharp and a young, improving offensive line, led by returning starters C Jeremiah Hatch and RT Jeff Spikes, and you have one of the better offenses in the country. It should have no trouble scoring points, no matter the point -- it's just how consistently it can score more of them.

Defense: The defense is led by FS Darrell Stuckey, a legitimate All-American candidate at FS, with some supporting stars in CB Daymond Patterson, DE Jake Laptad and LB Arist Wright. Kansas will use the 4-2-5 as its base defense, particularly against pass-heavy teams that are so prevalent across the Big 12, with Chris Harris playing the rover position. With one less linebacker, the onus will fall on the defensive line to stop the run -- particularly the interior guys, like Richard Johnson Jr., Darius Parish and Jamal Greene. They have the tools, but none have lived up to their potential quite yet. Former RB Angus Quigley has looked good at LB so far in fall practice, and may end up starting beside Wright, although Justin Springer remains the favorite as long as he heals as planned.

Special Teams: Save kickoff returner, the Jayhawks are returning every meaningful specialist in special teams. Punter Alonso Rojas is back for his second year, after closing out the regular season with a monstrous effort against Missouri. Kicker Jacob Brandstetter will also be returning for his second season, and word is that he's added some yards on to his kickoffs. And punt returner Daymond Patterson is back and ready to rock, as is long snapper Kayl Anderson. As for the kickoff returner void, there are numerous names vying for the job, including All-American candidates Briscoe and Stuckey.

Who We'll Miss The Most: On offense, the interior offensive line. They weren't stellar by any stretch of the imagination, but they were solid enough, and it's better to have an expected solid than a batch of incoming unknowns. On defense, without a doubt, LB James Holt. He was, for parts of last season, the sole pass rush on the Jayhawks, and he was downright stellar at it. His linebacker mates, Mike Rivera and Joe Mortensen, will be missed as hell, but not as much as Holt -- after Stuckey, he was the defense's second best player in 2008.

Exciting, New Faces You Should Know: On offense, there's a couple. RB Toben Opurum is probably the favorite to back up Jake Sharp and receive a dose of carries a game, and he's the real deal -- he was recruited by Notre Dame, people. He played in a spread system in high school, so he should have a quicker learning curve than most. There's also Erick McGriff, the son of the Crime Dog Fred McGriff, at the wide receiver position that has a chance to see the field early on. After the top three (Briscoe, Meier, Wilson), it's anyone's for the taking, and Erick has looked fabulous thus far. Oh, and don't forget about Bradly McDougald -- he could see snaps at WR or kick returner, or even both.

On defense, watch out for JUCO transfers Quintin Woods on the defensive line and Calvin Rubles in the secondary. Woods will, hopefully, provide a competent pass rush opposite Laptad, while Rubles should see some playing time in a secondary that will be heavily depended on.

Best Case Scenario: We aren't going undefeated, so give up the pipedream. However, like I mentioned in the overview, the Big 12 North is a perfect goal -- a big enough accomplishment that it'd be a success, but not too big that it seems unreachable. So, in the Best Case, Kansas goes into the Big 12 Championship Game with, oh, a 10-2 record. It's possible. We're almost assuredly losing in Austin (although weirder things have happened), and that just means winning three of the following: @ Texas Tech, vs. Oklahoma, vs. Nebraska, vs. Missouri (Arrowhead). Not unreasonable. We lose in the Big 12 Championships Game, but still end up in the Cotton Bowl and win it against SEC Team X.

Worst Case Scenario: The defense sucks, Todd Reesing gets hurt and Mark Mangino gains even more weight. We slip up not once, but twice in the non-con, then continue against a brutally tough Big 12 slate. 5-7 and bowlless. Don't even bring it up.

My Prediction: As common sense would dictate, I'll go somewhere in between "best" and "worst". I'll go on record with a 9-3 mark -- undefeated in the non-conference slate, then slipping up thrice in the Big 12 (@ Texas, vs. Oklahoma and @ Texas Tech, in case you were interested). It's just enough to beat out Nebraska via tiebreaker to make it to the Big 12 Championship Game, wherever it's being played, only to lose by a large margin. But for all of our troubles we get sent to the Holiday Bowl, where we beat Pac 10 Team X.

Kansas: Beyond the Box Score Preseason Defensive Preview

Bill C. — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 17:00:11 -0000

Yesterday we looked at an offense that actually improved from 2007 to 2008. How about the defense? Was the biggest difference between 2007 and 2008 simply the schedule? Was the 2007 schedule really that easy (or the 2008 schedule that hard)?

Defense

Overall Stats

S&P+: 111.9 (#30)
Success Rate+: 113.9 (#19)
PPP+: 109.7 (#45)

Standard Downs S&P+: 107.2 (#41)
Passing Downs S&P+: 113.5 (#35)

Redzone S&P+: 106.4 (#46)

Q1 S&P+: 108.9 (#40)
Q2 S&P+: 126.2 (#15)
Q3 S&P+: 100.0 (#54)
Q4 S&P+: 10.42 (#49)

1st Down S&P+: 108.0 (#43)
2nd Down S&P+: 109.7 (#38)
3rd Down S&P+: 112.3 (#40)

Rushing Stats

Rushing S&P+: 111.1 (#38)
Rushing SR+: 118.7 (#18)
Rushing PPP+: 102.0 (#61)

Standard Downs: 107.5 (#42)
Passing Downs: 95.7 (#68)

Redzone: 110.0 (#39)

Line Yards+: 109.2 (#31)

Passing Stats

Passing S&P+: 113.3 (#27)
Passing SR+: 110.8 (#21)
Passing PPP+: 116.0 (#26)

Standard Downs: 109.4 (#30)
Passing Downs: 119.5 (#24)

Redzone: 107.5 (#41)

Sack Rate+: 88.7 (#77)

So let's play the same game we played yesterday--the 2007 vs 2008 game.

S&P+: #12 in 2007, #30 in 2008
Success Rate+: #13 in 2007, #19 in 2008
PPP+: #14 in 2007, #45 in 2008
Rushing S&P+: #8 in 2007, #38 in 2008
Passing S&P+: #20 in 2007, #27 in 2008
Standard Downs S&P+: #12 in 2007, #41 in 2008
Passing Downs S&P+: #6 in 2007, #35 in 2008
Line Yards+: #12 in 2007, #31 in 2008

Ahh, so it wasn't just the schedule that made a four-game difference in the loss column. While the offense actually got better, the defense got measurably worse despite nine returning starters (sound familiar, Mizzou fans?). They lost a second-team All-American in James McClinton at defensive tackle--the only loss other than Aqib Talib--and it seems to have made a difference.

Kansas was a bit worse defending the pass, a lot worse at defending the run, and in particular they gave up a ton more big plays (PPP+). This year, they return their entire secondary and three of four starters on the defensive line (losing only end Russell Brorsen)...but lose all three starting linebackers. So the passing numbers improve and the rushing numbers regress, maybe?

Meanwhile, with so much returning experience in 2008 and a seemingly rock solid secondary, I can't really explain the significant regression in PPP+. KU allowed a ton more big plays, particularly in the running game, so we'll pin the blame mostly on the D-line and a linebacker corps that didn't achieve nearly as much as it should have with three solid players in Joe Mortensen, Mike Rivera, and James Holt. We'll also point out that Defensive Coordinator Bill Young left for Miami after 2007, and that might have made a bigger difference than anything else.

Defensive Line

2008 Unit Ranking: #49 in the nation (#5 in the Big 12)

Projected Depth Chart
DT Caleb Blakesley (6'5, 292, Sr.)
DE Jake Laptad (6'4, 258, Jr.)
DT Jamal Greene (6'4, 303, Jr.)
DE Jeff Wheeler (6'7, 260, Sr.)
DT Richard Johnson (6'2, 280, So.)
DE Quintin Woods (6'5, 230, Jr.)
DE Maxwell Onyegbule (6'5, 257, Sr.)
DT Darius Parish (6'4, 341, So.)

So if KU felt the absence of James McClinton more than any other in 2008, then it's up to either Jamal Greene (21 tackles, 7 TFL/sacks) to become a much more consistent force or Jeff City's own Richard Johnson (14 tackles, 2.5 TFL/sacks) to overtake him if KU's run defense is to improve. If not them, then who? Man-beast Darius Parish moved to OL. Somehow, someway, there needs to be a better push up the middle.

And on the outside too. Solid-not-spectacular end Jake Laptad (8.5 TFL/sacks) offers hope for a pass rush, but he'll need help. The lack of a pass rush was bad enough last year that LB James Holt moved to end toward the end of the year, and KU fans seem to have hope that 4-star JUCO transfer Quintin Woods will thrive pretty quickly. The other options (Jeff Wheeler, Maxwell Onyegbule, or some younger guy) don't seem ready or capable, so all eyes are on Woods. If Woods doesn't catch on, KU fans start getting worried.

Linebackers

2008 Unit Ranking: #57 in the nation (#9 in the Big 12)

Projected Depth Chart
Arist Wright (6'0, 226, Sr.)
Dakota Lewis (6'1, 209, Jr.)
Jake Schermer (6'2, 222, Sr.)
Angus Quigley (6'2, 226, Sr.)
Justin Springer (6'4, 242, Jr.)
Drew Dudley (6'2, 232, Jr.)
Steven Johnson (6'2, 225, So.)

When we say that KU lost all three starting linebackers from 2008, that's a smidge of an exaggeration. When Holt was moved around to generate a pass rush, Arist Wright stepped in. Still, though, Wright was only 10th on the team in tackles and managed only ten "successful" tackles (i.e. tackles that prevented a successful play) all year, two against the pass and eight against the run. The other three LBs with any experience at all combined for just 5.5 successful tackles (two against the pass, 3.5 against the run).

While the RB situation isn't in wonderful shape right now, it's still no surprise that Angus Quigley was moved from RB to LB. There's clearly a major void in terms of proven playmakers, so really at this point Kansas just needs as many warm bodies as possible to throw out there and see what they've got. Never say never, but it's hard to see this unit gelling into a solid unit quickly. Whether they call it this or not, you do have to figure that with an experienced secondary, KU will be playing a lot of 4-2-5 or nickel coverage.

Of course, Missouri doesn't play them for quite a while, so the team we're talking about now will change significantly, for better or worse, between now and then. Probably shouldn't spend a ton of time figuring everything out, eh?

Secondary

2008 Unit Ranking: #23 in the nation (#5 in the Big 12)

Projected Depth Chart
S Darrell Stuckey (6'1, 205, Sr.)
CB Justin Thornton (6'1, 213, Sr.)
S Phillip Strozier (6'0, 200, Jr.)
CB Daymond Patterson (5'9, 175, So.)
S Chris Harris (6'0, 185, Jr.)
CB Anthony Davis (6'0, 192, So.)
CB Corrigan Powell (5'10, 171, So.)
S Olaitan Oguntodu (6'0, 220, Jr.)

As devoid of experience that the KU linebacker corps is, the secondary is the polar opposite. Five players with solid starting experience return, led by Mizzou killer Darrell Stuckey, who almost single-handedly fended off the Tiger offense for the entire first half last November at Arrowhead. He is an all-conference favorite heading into the season, and with good reason. In 2008, he put together 4.5 TFL, 5 INT, 7 passes broken-up, 2 FF, 1 FR. Plus, he managed a very healthy 23.5 successful tackles against the run, one of the highest run-support totals in the country (13th overall). He's a stud.

Beyond that, Mark Mangino has some interesting ingredients, and he's not afraid to shuffle things around. Justin Thornton's been around forever (seems like just yesterday that he was getting decapitated by Tony Temple at Faurot Field), and while he's a proven commodity, he's also in Mangino's doghouse. If he doesn't end up starting (I assume he will, but...well, Mangino's got an angry side), then it looks like Anthony Davis will be the man opposite Daymond Patterson at CB. Both are sophomores. Meanwhile, junior safety Chris Harris was a star freshman in 2007 before losing his starting spot last year. He still managed the second-most successful tackles in the secondary in 2008, however, and I'm going to figure he'll still play a role opposite Phil Strozier and Stuckey.

Special Teams

2008 Unit Ranking: #81 Net Punting, #26 Punt Returns, #118 Kickoff Returns

Projected Starters
K Jacob Branstetter (5'10, 182, Jr.) - 51-for-52 PAT, 9-for-12 FG (Long: 34)
P Alonso Rojas (6'3, 220, Jr.) - 58 Punts, 33.9 Net
KR Dezmon Briscoe (6'3, 200, Jr.) - 8 returns, 27.4 Avg
PR Daymond Patterson (5'9, 175, So.) - 22 Returns, 11.0 Avg, 1 TD

Rarely is there a more stark regression than what Kansas suffered in the kick return game last year. KU ranked 7th in the country in kick returns in 2007, then fell 111 spots to 118th in 2008. What made it strange was that, it was the same main return man (Marcus Herford) both years. KU was decent in the kicking and punt return games, but kick returns produced eight yards fewer in 2008, and that really can make a pretty big difference. It might help explain how KU's Offensive S&P+ actually improved in 2008, yet KU scored 10 fewer points per game. Dez Briscoe was outstanding in limited opportunities, but it seems KU is making a concerted effort not to wear him out (Jeremy Maclin managed to do it all, ahem...just sayin'...), and early indications (according to Rock Chalk Talk) are that sophomore Isiah Barfield might take over the duties, at least to start.

If KU gets anything from the kick return game, this is a decent special teams unit, not as good as Nebraska's (NU really does seem to have the best special teams unit in the North at this point), but solid. Alonso Rojas leaves something to be desired punting, but this is an offensive conference--kicks matter a hair more than punts, right?

Summary

After seeing a pretty solid across-the-board drop in 2008, it's hard to see where KU's baseline is with a potentially great secondary and serious question marks among the front seven. The linebacker corps returns almost no quality experience, and while experience isn't a problem on the defensive line, playmaking is. KU needs to be able to limit the big run plays and generate a pass rush if they're going to fully utilize the strong secondary, and it's not a given that they can do that. Everybody in the North has question marks, so while KU's no different in that regard...KU's no different in that regard. With a South schedule that screams 0-3, they really do need to be better than everybody else in the North if they want to win the division this year, and with the holes at offensive line and in the defensive front seven, it's hard to claim they are at this moment. I've been talking up KU all offseason (not in a "Hey, gosh, you're alright, KU!" kind of way, but in a "We better start accepting that they're probably going to win the North" kind of way), but the more I read and talk about them, the less sure of them I am.

---

Projections on Friday.

How the Resurgence of the 3-4 Scheme Made the Bears and Mike Rivera a Perfect Fit

Denverjhawk — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 02:11:29 -0000

Mike Rivera

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Long after the thrill of Saturday's first round and the seemingly never ending stream of second day draft picks, Mike Rivera formerly of the Kansas Jayhawks got an opportunity to sign as a free agent with the Chicago Bears.

Reported interest from both the 49ers and Chicago Bears meant two fairly solid situations for the former Jayhawk. Go to San Francisco and play for one of the great linebackers in the history of football or go to Chicago and play for one of the great linebacking producing organizations in the history of football.

I won't pretend to know the why's or if there was really a choice to be made but I'd like to think that the style of play and the opportunity to make a career out of things led Rivera to Chicago. Likewise I'd argue that an overall style of play and trends in the league led Chicago to Rivera.

A look at what current NFL defensive trends might mean for Rivera after the jump...

First off, scheme aside I think there is reason to believe Rivera could be a solid pickup in this draft at the linebacker spot. Why? Quite frankly the landscape of college football and specifically the Big 12 changed over the course of Rivera's college career. When Mike showed up to campus he was athletic, he was quick and built for Big 12 football. Along comes an all out offensive assault and the spread offense and suddenly a big, strong and reasonably athletic linebacker almost becomes a liability on the outside. Pair that with a rumored undisclosed injury throughout his senior year and you have reason to believe that Mike Rivera, who some thought could feasibly play himself into a 3rd-5th round selection, might just be better than your average undrafted free agent.

Looking at it from an NFL standpoint there is also reason to believe that scheme might also have contributed to his slide out of the draft. What scheme is it? The increasingly popular 3-4 and the type of player that has become so desired in the 3-4 throughout the league.

In the 80's nearly half the NFL would have been seen running a 3-4 but like everything in football things evolve and along comes the prevalence of the 4-3. However, another common thought when it comes to football is coming to fruition in the theory that all things are cyclical. One of the first dominoes to fall in the recent resurgence of the 3-4 was that of the New England Patriots and Bill Belicheck. San Diego, Dallas, Cleveland soon followed. Pittsburgh and Baltimore's 3-4 schemes are pretty stout units as well. This season will see even more with the Broncos, Chiefs and Packers also converting bringing the total number of 3-4 defenses to near half the league once again.

What's the theory here? Why is the 3-4 taking over again? I guess the most common belief would be that it's easier to find quality linebackers than defensive lineman. Specifically the most important position and most coveted though would appear to be the DE/OLB hybrid that applies the pressure in the 3-4. Your Sean Merriman's, your Demarcus Ware's or James Harrison type players. These guys are commonly ends in college but considered tweeners in the pro's and capable of playing linebacker in the 3-4 scheme.

Taking a look at this years draft alone there were several top talent players projected in this category:

1. Brian Orakpo
Texas
DE/OLB
6-3 1/4,
261

2. Robert Ayers
Tennessee
DE/OLB
6-3
272

3. Aaron Maybin
Penn State
DE/OLB
6-4 1/2
250

4. Everette Brown
Florida State
DE/OLB
6-1 1/2
255

and that's just the beginning. These were coveted players and some will end up in 3-4 schemes but all are part of the reason why traditional linebackers like Rey Maualuga and others may have fallen. Quality was less in demand and thus easier to find when it comes to a traditional 4-3 backer.

Which brings us back to Rivera and the Bears. Mike Rivera was a middle linebacker who converted to the strongside for his final two seasons at Kansas. He's much more a traditional backer type, not a pass rusher hand down type off the edge, not a tweener DE/OLB. Mike Rivera is a 4-3 linebacker, and 4-3 linebackers aren't as in demand now as they were as recently as 5 years ago when Rivera began his college career.

What that means for this draft and his positioning is that higher caliber players for the more traditional linebacker roles likely slid further down in the draft and as a result Rivera who was once considered a higher pick slid. Again, quick recap, Rivera was thought 3rd-5th after his junior year if he put together a solid senior season. Less team and individual success partially due to injury and spread attacks leads to a slide but still a very draftable players. Next up the 3-4 explodes in the NFL and now a guy like Rivera slides a smidge more and now straddles that line of 6th-undrafted headed into the draft.

The thing is, much of this was largely out of his control and the alleged injury being the only real thing you could question him on as far as his ability to be effective in the 4-3 against the more traditional NFL offenses.

Here's where it get's interesting. It would be easy to assume that maybe Rivera just doesn't have the upside or talent for the NFL and that's why he was passed on, but throw in a stellar pro day for Rivera where his numbers rivaled some of the best linebackers at the combine and a vertical that was off the charts and it would appear that Rivera is healthy, as athletic and explosive as we all thought, and well prepared for playing in a 4-3 defense.

The Bears take notice...Rivera goes undrafted...Rivera signs with the Bears...and while the end of this story is far from being told this is a great situation for Rivera and could be a very good pickup for the Bears. Should Rivera make the squad which I hope he can, he'll see time at special teams to start out, he'll have a chance to learn from some very solid pro backers and maybe just maybe Rivera himself can turn into an above average pro.

For the Bears this is a spot where maybe they couldn't afford to use the pick on him due to other more pressing needs but since he fell out of the draft they are able to pickup a guy they like a lot and possibly be getting a guy as a free agent who could have been a 5th rounder or better if the landscape of the league were different.

This all might be wishful thinking and clearly there are no free meal tickets for the undrafted free agents of the NFL, but I do think team situation and scheme can be nearly as important in a players success as his own talent. Scheme and situation in the NFL led to Rivera facing a somewhat unfortunate one in not being drafted, but it might also mean he lands in a great place and the Bears get a steal in an undrafted Jayhawk.

Linebackers James Holt and Mike Rivera Sign Free Agent Contracts

Denverjhawk — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:10:29 -0000

Kansas linebackers James Holt and Mike Rivera signed NFL free agent contracts Sunday night. Holt, signed with the San Diego Chargers, while Rivera signed with the Chicago Bears. Holt was an All-Big 12 Second Team selection in 2008, while Rivera earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors for the third straight season.

Obviously the road for any undrafted free agent isn't an easy one but I think both these former Jayhawks have found places where they do have a realistic shot at fitting the system.

Rivera to the Bears is a great fit for him. The defensive scheme is one that will play to his strengths, as is the style of play in the NFC North at the moment. That may change but I do think Rivera has a opportunity now that he's healthy and he's given a chance, to make the squad. From there who knows, maybe the sky is the limit.

As far as Holt he's been told at this point he is being brought in as a special teams contributor but he has shown the ability to be a guy that can get to the QB out of the linebacker spot his senior year. This may be a bit of a stretch but add some bulk, catch some breaks and maybe there is a fit for him in that 3-4 system with Ron Rivera and the Chargers.

One other name worth mentioning is that of Joe Mortensen, who at this point hasn't signed with anyone but it has been reported that the Raiders have shown interest. Mortensen would likely transition from a linebacker to a fullback role if given a shot by Al Davis.

Slow draft this year for the Jayhawks, I have to believe that Anthony Collins could have benefited in terms of draft position had he remained this past season. Next year we could see a couple of Jayhawks in the mix with guys like Stuckey, maybe a Thornton and if all goes well Briscoe eligible for the draft.

Chicago Bears Undrafted Free Agents

Adam T — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:32:28 -0000

A Bears Den will perhaps be up later today, but I wanted to get a current list of the players that the Bears have picked up since the draft ended.

Eric Peterman, WR, Northwestern

Peterman had a terrific pro day back in March and ran himself into an opportunity with a 40-yard dash time under 4.5 seconds. He'll look to punch his ticket by proving he can make a difference on special teams.

Mike Rivera, LB, Kansas

Rivera didn't perform as well during his senior year at Kansas as he did in previous seasons but he had a good showing at his pro day when Bears scout Teddy Monago was in attendance. At 6-2, 245 pounds, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.63 seconds and his 38 1/2 inch vertical jump was eye opening. Rivera had interest from other teams but chose the Bears for the opportunity. Perhaps he could get in the mix on the strong side if he really excels.

Will Taufoou, FB, Cal

The Bears landed one of the better fullbacks that was in this draft. Taufoou had interest from more than half of the teams in the league, including some with money offers, but chose the Bears because he liked the opportunity on the roster.

Others:

Dahna Deleston, SS, UConn

Dennis Conley, G, Hampton

Johan Asiata, G, UNLV

Kevin Malast, LB, Rutgers

Tyrell Fenroy, RB, Louisiana-Lafayette

Chase Patton, QB, Missouri

Chiefs Will Have a Bunch of Visits on Friday

Joel Thorman — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 20:59:26 -0000

The Kansas City Chiefs will workout a handful of players from area teams on Friday according to Randy Covitz of the Kansas City Star.. An NFL rule allows teams to bring in local players. This is used mostly for those that weren't invited to any of the post-season activities. For the Chiefs this includes KU, MU, KSU, Ball State and Missouri Western.

Here's a few links for the players that will be coming to the Chiefs complex tomorrow.

QB Josh Freeman, KSU

Josh Freeman set to visit the Chiefs (but he's not working out)
#18 pick in the Arrowhead Pride Community Mock Draft (pre-Cutler trade)
27 on the Wonderlic Test
Pre-Cassel, Peter King says Freeman could be an option for the Chiefs

LB Mike Rivera, KU

WR Tommy Saunders, MU

NFL Draft Scout

LB Brock Christopher, MU

NFL Draft Scout

K Jeff Wolfert, MU

NFL Draft Scout

TE Chase Coffman, MU

G Roger Allen, Missouri Western

We heard he had a workout with the Chiefs scheduled

TE Darius Hill, Ball State

NFL Draft Scout

There are likely more players that will be attending the workout but that's all we've got for now. Remember to check out our Chiefs Draft Interests page (constantly updated and on the right side bar) and make sure you're using the FanShot section if you come across any other scheduled workouts or Chiefs draft interests.

Tracking the Kansas City Chiefs' Draft Interests

Chris Thorman — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 17:04:48 -0000

*Updated April 22, 2009

Private Workout/Visit	Spoke with at Senior Bowl/Combine	Attended Pro Day	Rumored interest	Scouted in person during 2008 season	Local Pro Day Attendees
G Roger Allen (Mo. Western, Rd. 7)	QB Nathan Brown (Central Arkansas, Rd. 6)	OLB Jason Williams (Western Illinois, Rd. 3-4)	OG Marlon Davis (Alabama, Rd. 7)	T Michael Oher (Ole Miss, Rd. 1)	QB Josh Freeman (K-State, Rd. 1-2)
DE Connor Barwin (Cinncinati, Rd. 1-2)	LB Rey Maualuga (USC, Rd. 1)	University of Georgia	LB Jasper Brinkely (S. Carolina, Rd. 4-5)	CB Malcolm Jenkins (Ohio St. Rd. 1)	LB Mike Rivera (KU, Rd. 7)
WR Taurus Johnson (S. Florida, Rd. 7)	WR Mike Wallace (Ole Miss, Rd. 5)	Georgia Tech University (Likely)	FB Jerome Johnson (Nevada-Reno, Rd. 7)	LB Rey Maualuga (USC, Rd. 1)	WR Tommy Saunders (MU, Rd. 7)
DE Everette Brown (FSU, Rd. 1)	QB Pat White (WVU, Rd. 2-3)	LSU (Likely)	OG/C Lawrence Lovell (Stony Brook)	LB Brian Cushing (USC, Rd. 1)	LB Brock Christopher (MU, Rd. 7)
DT Ricky Jean-Francois (LSU, Rd. 4)	OLB Brian Cushing (USC, Rd. 1)	University of Tennessee	LB Derek Nicholson (FSU)	CB Mike Mickens (Cincinnati, Rd. 2-3)	K Jeff Wolfert (MU, Rd. 7)
OT Jason Smith (Baylor, Rd. 1)	CB Keenan Lewis (Oregon St.), Rd. 3	PK Ryan Succop (Univ. South Carolina, Rd. 7)	SS Bret Lockett (UCLA, Rd. 7)	LB Aaron Curry (Wake Forest, Top 5)	G Roger Allen (Missouri Western, Rd. 7)
LB Mike Rivera (KU, Rd. 7)	DT Fili Moala (USC, Rd. 2-3)	TE Rob Myers (Utah State, Rd. 7)	CB Vince Anderson (Webber International University)	T Eugene Monroe (Virginia, Rd. 1)	TE Darius Hill (Ball St. Rd. 7)
TE Anthony Hill (NC State, Rd. 5-6)	OT Alex Boone (Ohio State Rd. 5-6)	Ole Miss (Ole Miss) Rd. 1	DE Tyson Jackson (LSU, Rd. 1)	DT B.J. Raji (Boston College, Rd. 1)	TE Chase Coffman (MU, Rd. 2-3)
LB Aaron Curry (Wake Forest, Top 5)	OT Andrew Gardner (Georgia Tech, Rd. 5-6)	University of Iowa (Likely)	WR Quinten Lawrence (McNeese St., Rd. 7)	TE Brandon Pettigrew (Oklahoma St., Rd. 1)
DL Sammie Lee Hill (Stillman College, Rd. 5-6)	OT/G Cornelius Lewis (Tennessee State, Rd. 6)	USC	Chase Patton (MU, Rd.7)
OT Eben Britton (Arizona, Rd. 1-2)	OT Michael Oher (Ole Miss, Rd. 1)	Stephen F. Austin	WR Austin Collie (BYU, Rd. 4)
DE Jarron Gilbert (San Jose St., Rd. 2-3)	OLB DeAndre Levy (Wisconsin, Rd. 6-7)	University of Alabama	LB Mike Maresh (NDSU)
NT Sen'Derrick Marks (Auburn, Rd. 2-3)
OT Gerald Cadorgon (Penn. State, Rd. 3)
OT Cornelius Lewis (Tenn. St., Rd. 6)
OT Lawrence Lovell (Stony Brook U., Rd. ???)
LB Clint Sintim (Virginia, Rd. 2)
DE Paul Kruger (Utah, Rd. 3)
WR Mike Thomas (Arizona, Rd. 2-3)
TE Richard Quinn (North Carolina, Rd. 5)
DE Brian Orakpo (Texas, Rd. 1)
LB James Laurinaitis (Ohio St., Rd. 1-2)
K Robbie Dehaze (NAU, Rd. 7)
RB Javarris Williams (Tenn. St., Rd. 5-6)
LB Rey Maualuga (USC, Rd. 1)
LB Larry English (Northern Illinois, Rd. 1-2)
DB Vince Anderson (Webber International University, Rd. 7)
RB Andre Brown (NC State, Rd. 2-3)
CB Darius Butler (UConn, Rd. 1-2)

Good afternoon to you all on a beautiful (at least where I am) Saturday (It's Saturday, right?) afternoon. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and the NFL draft is approaching.

The table above lists all of the Kansas City Chiefs' draft interests we've been able to dig up (This is not intended to be a comprehensive list), arranged by four different categories. I've linked back to the stories on AP citing those sources for legitimacy. Take the categories as seriously as you want. Obviously, the private workouts are probably the most legitimate, although you have guys like Mike Rivera from KU who are only going to the Chiefs little local Pro Day in mid-April that is for KC-area prospects.

After today, I'm going to feature this story and there will be a permanent link in the left sidebar to this so we can access it at anytime. We'll also be updating this list as new prospects connected to the Chiefs come up.

And one more thing, please let us know in the comment section if we missed anyone. Thanks!