Vitals: Oklahoma vs. Kansas

Everything you need to know about the Sooners' game against Kansas.

Thursday, October 13th 2011, 10:44 pm

By: News 9


Corey DeMoss, News9.com

No. 3 Oklahoma Sooners (5-0, 2-0) vs. Kansas Jayhawks (2-3, 0-2)
8:15 p.m. CST
Memorial Stadium; Lawrence, Kansas

Statistical Leaders:

  Oklahoma Kansas
Passing Landry Jones
142/205, 1,814 yards, 13 TDs, 5 INTs
Jordan Webb
80/117, 1,130 yards, 11 TDs, 2 INTs
Rushing Dominique Whaley
83 carries, 462 yards, 8 TDs
James Sims
91 carries, 380 yards, 5 TDs
Receiving Ryan Broyles
47 catches, 598 yards, 7 TDs
D.J. Beshears
19 catches, 257 yards, 2 TDs

Where to find it:

On TV: ESPN2
On Radio: Sooner Radio Network

Injury Report:

Oklahoma: RB Brennan Clay (shoulder, questionable); K Jimmy Stevens (quadriceps, questionable); OL Ben Habern (arm, out)

Kansas: S Keeston Terry (undisclosed, questionable); RB Brandon Bourbon (concussion, questionable); DB John Williams (knee, out for season); WR Daymond Patterson (groin, out for season)

What you need to know…

This game has the potential to get ugly, and early. Kansas has been severely outclassed on both sides of the ball, and allowed 35 points to Oklahoma State in the first quarter last week. The Jayhawks have given up a total of 181 points in the last three weeks.

Now that porous defense will have to face another elite offense. The Sooners are coming off a 55-17 thrashing of rival Texas last week, and the Longhorns' front seven is significantly better than the Jayhawks'.

This game should give OU a nice break, and could become a big enough blowout that the offensive backups are able to see significant playing time. Last week, Oklahoma State pulled its starters in the first half, and backup quarterbacks Drew Allen and Blake Bell could use some playing time earlier in games.

Who you need to watch…

With Landry Jones coming off his most efficient game of the season, he will need to continue that high level of play and try to get into a rhythm. He has struggled with high passes at times this season, but was crisp and accurate against Texas.

Jones and the Sooners will face two struggling defenses in a row against Kansas and Texas Tech, which could give Jones a chance to get in a zone heading into a surprisingly tougher stretch against Kansas State, Baylor and Texas A&M.

Kansas; offense is very young, with freshmen and sophomores filling key skill positions. Quarterback Jordan Webb is a sophomore, and the Jayhawks consistently use three running backs, two of which are freshmen and the third a sophomore.

Webb recorded solid stats the first two weeks of the season, passing for six touchdowns and zero interceptions. But those games came against McNeese State and Northern Illinois. When the strength of Kansas' opponents improved, Webb's production fell.

He has thrown five interceptions over the last two weeks. He has managed to throw for more than 500 yards in that same span, but much of that yardage against OSU came after the defense let off the gas with a huge lead.

If Webb struggled against the Texas Tech and OSU defenses, he will have fits against OU. The Sooners' defensive unit has come on strong in recent weeks, culminating in a dominant performance against Texas that featured a school-record three defensive touchdowns. Webb may be in for a very long day.

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