Lance Leipold calls Kansas’ defense 'significantly better' from 2022
As Kansas turned things around last season, the Jayhawks’ defense remained an area of weakness. They ranked last in the Big 12 with 469.3 yards allowed per game, but still did enough on offense to finish with a 6-7 record one year removed from a 2-10 season.
Through four games this season, it’s been a completely different story. Kansas has allowed 296.8 yards per game en route to a 4-0 record, which ranks second in the Big 12 behind Iowa State. That, of course, will be put to the test this week against Texas.
As for how the Jayhawks were able to improve so quickly, head coach Lance Leipold pointed to a few reasons — from a new scheme to, quite simply, more scholarships.
“They’ve gotten significantly better,” Leipold told Andy Staples on Andy Staples On3. “Part of it, I could say for a lot of reasons, Andy. I’ll start with yes, we’ve added some new pieces. The back seven is more experienced. They’re all returning, they understand things better. But when I break it down, sometimes — to keep it fair to everyone, so to speak — is we inherited a program that was a three-man front. We transitioned to a four-man front.
“As you probably well know through your time is that this program was vastly under scholarshipped from three coaches ago. Besides being under-scholarshipped, we were 10 over-scholarship on offense vs. defense. … I was hired the day before the spring game. Quick sidebar. I go watch spring game and they line up in 10 personnel. But yet, on the scholarship, there’s five tight ends scholarshipped and two fullbacks. So evolving everything back into a segmented by class, by position, by offense and defense, has been a process that we’ve been working through.”
Lance Leipold: Players had to play out of position at times as Jayhawks built up defense
As Leipold implemented his new scheme with such limited personnel, he had to get creative and put players in new spots. The transfer portal, however, allowed Kansas to fill those spots with players who play those positions.
By bringing in more experience, Leipold’s scheme is taking shape. That will also be a critical factor on Saturday at DKR Texas Memorial Stadium.
“We’ve had to move players and probably played some guys out of position,” Leipold said. “But now, through the portal and other things, we think we’re in a little bit balanced situation. We’ve been able to add a few guys. We’re playing a lot of guys up front that are keeping us fresh. And like I said, the back seven has had a little more experience.
“With an addition of a guy or two there, at least in the two deep, I think we’ve been able to play at this level. Now, we know it’s a huge challenge and it’s really going to be probably measured of improvement down in Austin on Saturday.”