KU defense struggling in coverage of wide receiver position
Jayhawks allowing 10.2 yards per pass attempt
LAWRENCE — Kansas defensive coordinator Clint Bowen says the wide receiver position has become the most glamorous and sought after position at the high school level. With an influx of talented wide receivers at the prep level, the college game is bound to have heightened skill lined up outside as well.
“Now every team has eight receivers who can play,” Bowen said. “There’s a spot for the 5-foot-9 quick guy and the 6-foot-6 strong guy.”
KU has struggled mightily covering the receiver position this season, as it is allowing 10.2 yards per pass attempt, which ranks 124th out of 128 Division I teams. That statistic is alarming, considering it accounts for all pass attempts — both completions and incompletions.
KU ranks 117th in the nation when it comes to opposing quarterbacks’ completion percentage, allowing passers to complete 69.4 percent of their attempts. Similarly, KU ranks 113th in the nation in pass yards allowed per game, with 288.
Coach David Beaty says Iowa State has one of the most talented receiving corps that the team has faced all season. The Cyclones have four receivers who are 6-foot-4 or taller, not including their five tight ends that all measure 6-2 or better.
“We have to do a good job of rising to the occasion,” Beaty said. “The good news is we don’t have to do much too different, we have already had to play against (height).”
Allen Lazard, who measures 6-5, has caught 15 passes for 150 yards and a score this season. ISU evenly distributes the ball among its pass catchers, as five different Cyclones have caught touchdown passes. To compare, KU has caught only one touchdown pass the entire season.
This is not the first week that KU will be dealing with elite receivers on the other end. In its first game, there was Jake Wieneke from South Dakota State, who Beaty believes will play in the NFL.
Junior cornerback Brandon Stewart says that the team has gone against some strong players at the position. The problem for Stewart and KU is that things will only get tougher now that Big 12 play is beginning.
“That’s the exciting part about it, though,” Stewart said. “It’s football, and it’s the Big 12, so we know (it’s going to be tough). We’ve just got to prepare, come out Saturday, start fast and finish.”
KU will have to deal with players the likes of Corey Coleman of Baylor and Josh Doctson of TCU. Coleman leads the Big 12 in receiving yards per game (153.3) and touchdowns (8). Doctson is not too far behind, averaging 148.2 yards with six TDs.
“It (the Big 12) is different from when I was first here,” Beaty said. “Foot-speed-wise, it’s a little bit different. It’s very fast and you have to be able to match speed in this conference.”