JayhawkSlant.com - First depth could reveal changes

July 23, 2012

Jon Kirby

It comes as no real surprise that Charlie Weis used spring football to concentrate mainly on the offensive side of the ball. It was the first opportunity he had to teach his offense to a new group of players.

Once spring football was over Weis turned more of his attention to the defense.

"What I did more than anything else is look more at the defense than the offense," he said. "For me personally I put more energy in the spring in the offense. It gave me a time to evaluate the defense. Campo and I spent a lot of time together revamping the personnel."

Weis said there are going to be big changes compared to the depth chart that was used before spring practice. Next week Weis will release the first depth chart to the public.

"When we hand out a depth chart on August 1st there will be a lot of new names in the two deep," Weis said. "I don't mean a few new names. I mean a lot of new names. That's why a couple are moving to offense and a couple are moving way down the depth chart. Some of them will be moving up the depth chart."

For starters two players on the defensive line have shifted to offense. One of them is Pat Lewandowski who Weis said has moved to tackle. Weis didn't say who the second player was.

"I didn't move them to the offensive line unless I felt it would give them a better chance of playing," Weis said. "I have seen Pat play defense and I think he will have a better chance of playing offensive tackle. If we were playing in a league that plays smash-mouth football I think he would be suited for the defensive line. You have to have guys that can play in space."

Throughout the spring Weis referred several times the "reinforcements" were coming. The defensive line was a thin unit during the spring. When he talked about the reinforcements many could take that as new players arriving. However, he also meant that group could include players coming back that didn't go through spring football.

"What if John Williams comes back and is healthy and plays good?" Weis mentioned. "Then you have Kevin Young who you really don't know that much about. Throw Jordan Tavai into this mix. How about (Ty) McKinney and (Keon) Stowers? Does anyone know Keba is 280 pounds right now?"

Any way you look at it the defensive line is going to be much different than the one Kansas fans witnessed in the spring game. Another name that will be a big factor is Josh Williams, a transfer from Nebraska. He played in 26 straight games for the Cornhuskers.

[Williams ready to lead at KU]

The changes on the depth chart won't be specific to the defensive line. There will also be movement in the secondary. Weis pointed out in the Big 12 you have to be deeper than the first unit to have success.

"In the secondary the starters won't change but there will be new names in the two deep," he said. "Some of those new names up front are going to be the 1's. They won't be 2's. I believe in the Big 12 you better be able to play two deep. The game is so fast paced and so many teams play the game at the line of scrimmage you have to be able to roll them through.

"You can't worry about who is in the game. The game happens too fast. You have to have enough confidence you can play two deep. I have explained to our guys you aren't trying to get into the one deep, you are trying to get in the two deep."

There are six weeks until kickoff against South Dakota State but the excitement could begin early when Weis reveals the first depth chart.

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