Connect with us

WVU Football

Opponent Offensive Breakdown: Kansas Jayhawks

Published

on

After a bounce-back win in Morgantown, the Mountaineers move on to Big 12 play against the Kansas Jayhawks. The WVU defense looked solid against NC State and has yet to give up a touchdown in the second half this season.  The Jayhawk offense is averaging almost 400 yards a game and has looked very inconsistent so far this season.  Similar to the Mountaineers, the Jayhawks are riding into week 4 with a lot of momentum after they defeated Boston College, 48-24.

We will start by looking at the most experienced player on the Jayhawk’s offense, Carter Stanley.  Stanley is a 6′ 2″ redshirt senior who can do just about anything you need him to do.  He isn’t necessarily very mobile, but he isn’t shy about tucking and running the football.  A 100-yard and a two-interception start at home against Coastal Carolina had fans wanting Stanley benched.  However, head coach Les Miles kept Stanley the starter and adjusted the offense to lead Kansas to a blowout win on the road against Boston College.  In three games, Stanely is 53/75 with 586 yards and five touchdowns.  Stanley also has thrown 3 interceptions already this season.

The Mountaineers run defense (ranked 100 nationally) will be tested again this week.  They will face two very talented running backs in Pooka Williams and Khalil Herbert.  Herbert, a powerful Senior running back who is averaging 10 yards a carry for 357 yards and has found the end zone twice this season.  Williams, a Sophomore that is not as big as Herbert, but just as elusive has 220 yards and also a touchdown.  The two backs pose to be a big threat to the West Virginia defense that is prone to let running backs run freely.

Another guy that has the ability to take over the game is junior wide receiver, Andrew Parchment.  Parchment, a 6′ 2″ 180-pound transfer from Northern Illinois was forced to sit out his sophomore season.  He is now the Jayhawk’s leading receiver with 19 catches for 235 yards and two touchdowns.

The Jayhawks wide receiving core lacks experience.  It is made up of a couple of transfers who have not seen much of the field before this season and guys that are looking to make a name for themselves.  In a weird way, their group of receivers resembles the Mountaineers group of receivers.  Overlooked and starving for success.

6′ 7″ 260-pound tight end, James Sosinski will cause problems for the Mountaineers.  Sosinski is a two-sport athlete who scored points in the 2018 Final Four for the Jayhawk basketball team.  He also has appeared in two games this year and has caught 5 passes for 61 yards and a touchdown.  Soskinski is not shy when it comes to blocking for the better of the team.  He will be an issue that the Mountaineer defense may not be able to handle.

With so many weapons at running back and receiver, the WVU defense will have to shut down Pooka Williams and Khalil Herbert.  The Mountaineers will need to stop the run and once again force the QB to make plays through the air.  Stanley is an inconsistent quarterback who relies on his run game to open up holes for his receivers.  If the Mountaineers can shut down the run, they can win their Big 12 opener.

Be sure to subscribe to WVSportsNow.com for all the latest news and updates on the Mountaineers!

Get WVSN in your mailbox!

Enter your email address to subscribe to WVSN and receive notifications of new posts by email.

COMPLETE COVERAGE