When a team remains winless in the Big 12 but its coach is encouraged by baby steps of progress during yet another decisive loss, it’s obvious that football program is really struggling.
No, it’s not Colorado we’re talking about, but Kansas.
Something has to give Saturday afternoon in Lawrence, Kan., because the Jayhawks (2-6, 0-4 Big 12) and Colorado (3-5, 0-4) are the last remaining conference teams without a league victory.
Kansas scored with seven seconds left to make the 28-16 loss at Iowa State appear respectable. But first-year KU coach Turner Gill said Monday on the Big 12 coaches teleconference that he saw improvement. After all, KU entered the game in Ames having yielded an average of 53 points per game in league play. And Kansas led 9-7 at halftime.
“We simplified some things (on defense),” Gill said. “We just let our guys play, and they really did a better job.”
Just three years removed from a 12-1 season with a win over Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl, Kansas ranks at or near the bottom of almost every major Big 12 team statistical category. For conference games only, the Jayhawks are last in scoring offense (10.0), total offense (300.0), scoring defense (46.8), rushing defense (247.2) and total defense (517.2).
Gill turned a beleaguered University at Buffalo program into a Mid-American Conference champion before taking over at Kansas for Mark Mangino, who was forced out. Rebuilding will take time, Gill said.
“We just have to continue to get our guys to execute the things we do. I think we will,” said Gill, who led Nebraska to a 28-2 record as the starting quarterback in the early 1980s. “I think we will continue to improve. That’s all you can ask yourself to do.”
KU QB up in air.
Gill said he might not know his starting quarterback for Saturday’s game until Thursday. Kansas had to go with third-string quarterback Quinn Mecham last weekend against Iowa State because the usual starter, redshirt freshman Jordan Webb (shoulder), and top backup Kale Pick (concussion) were out.
A junior college transfer, Mecham was being redshirted until pressed into service Saturday. He completed 22-of-33 passes for 149 yards, with one touchdown pass and one interception. Webb and Pick will practice this week, Gill said.
Patterson hurting.
During Dan Hawkins’ turn on the Big 12 teleconference, the Buffaloes coach said “we’ll see” when asked if senior wide receiver Travon Patterson will play Saturday. Patterson sprained an ankle at Oklahoma. Regarding the severity of the sprain, Hawkins said, “He got it pretty good.”
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
