Inside Slant

The Sports Xchange

October 23, 2018 at 9:25 pm.

Kansas offense continues to sputter under Beaty

One of the disappointing developments that prompted Kansas coach David Beaty to fire his offensive coordinator was the Jayhawks’ inability to capitalize on takeaways.

The surprising opportunism of the Kansas defense has seen the unit vault to the top of the FBS statistical chart in takeaways. In an Oct. 20 game at Texas Tech, the Jayhawks forced three more, including two that provided first-and-goal situations for the offense.

Yet Kansas managed to convert the three takeaways into just three points and fell 48-16 to Texas Tech. The loss was the 12th straight in the series and worse yet, the 43rd in a row for the Jayhawks in Big 12 road games as they fell to 2-5 overall and 0-4 in the conference.

Just another bad look for Beaty, who has won one Big 12 game in four years and now has made himself responsible again for play-calling. Kansas responded by failing to convert on eight straight third downs to begin the game before finishing 4-of-15 and punting nine times against a Texas Tech defense ranked 105th nationally in yards allowed.

Kansas will attempt to regroup at home on Saturday against TCU, but clearly, if the Jayhawks cannot keep pace with an opponent early, they minimize the effectiveness of one of their top weapons, freshman running back Pooka Williams.

Williams provided 80 yards on 16 carries against Texas Tech, but none of his production mattered a great deal since Kansas scored its two touchdowns in the final 15 minutes after the outcome was decided by a 45-6 scoring barrage that included a 553-yard output by the Red Raiders. The Kansas defense, which came out with great energy and at least supplied the two red zone opportunities, withered as Texas Tech controlled the pace.

“We’ve got to find a way,” Beaty said, “to go and get that ball in the end zone.”

Apparently one method Beaty approves for the Jayhawks finding their way is the use of Peyton Bender at quarterback. The senior began the season as the starter, but his inconsistency prompted other quarterbacks — Miles Kendrick and Carter Stanley — to also get chances.

Against Texas Tech, Bender took every snap and delivered two late touchdown strikes while completing just 18-of-41 passes for 221 yards with one interception.

Just one of the first eight possessions for Kansas resulted in a drive of 20-plus yards, though the inability to convert short fields, including a fumble it lost, was most harmful.

“We’ve talked about how we haven’t taken advantage of the turnover opportunities,” Bender said. “It’s something you’ve just got to work at. When you get down there and the field’s a lot shorter and everything’s condensed it’s tough to get those yards. You’ve just got to focus a little more.”

The home matchup against TCU (3-4, 1-3) provides some hope considering the Horned Frogs have lost four of their last five. TCU trailed by just four at halftime in an Oct. 20 game against Oklahoma, but eventually committed five turnovers and fell 52-27.

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