In many cases, you just don’t know what you’re going to get with the 2006 Kansas University football team.

How will quarterback Kerry Meier respond in game situations? How will better athletes negate lesser experience at linebacker? Will teams focus on Jon Cornish? Throw away from Aqib Talib? What could that mean?

So many questions with answers not yet ripe. But ask both of the Jayhawks’ coordinators, and there’s optimism bubbling through all the uncertainty.

“We know what we’re capable of,” defensive coordinator Bill Young said. “We think we have a chance to be as good as we were a year ago.”

As for the offense?

“We came together real well by the end of spring,” offensive coordinator Nick Quartaro said. “Certainly the cohesiveness you have in spring should translate into practice in August.”

Interesting comments, especially by Young, who guided one of the best defenses in school history in 2005. But are either off base? Let’s look closer at the 2006 Jayhawks, dissecting each unit to see how good this team can be.

Quarterback

Projected starter: Kerry Meier, Fr.

Projected backups: Adam Barmann, Sr., Todd Reesing, Fr.

What looks good: The potential of Meier, a dual-threat slinger with poise and confidence and talent and bloodlines to be a solid Big 12 quarterback before too much longer.

What doesn’t: The experience of Meier, still just a freshman who, everyone admits, will make some freshman mistakes this season. The key could lie in how damaging those mistakes are in the scope of a game.

Outlook: To be determined. Meier certainly looked good in the spring game, which bodes well. Mangino had heads nodding that night when he said, “I’m sure you sensed the poise he has, and the physical ability he has is hard to overlook.” But can that poise stay intact when a 260-pound defensive end is rumbling around the edge? It’s one of the biggest questions this team has in 2006.

Running backs

Projected starters: Jon Cornish, Sr. (RB); Brandon McAnderson, Jr. (FB)

Projected backups: Angus Quigley, Fr. (RB); Nick Kurtenbach, Jr. (FB)

What looks good: Both Cornish and McAnderson took a huge leap in 2005, turning into crucial parts in KU’s Fort Worth Bowl run. Cornish has great explosion and can break big plays. McAnderson may get the football more, and he’s a good tool to mix things up with.

What doesn’t: You wonder if gameplans will key on smothering Cornish, especially early while Kerry Meier gets comfortable. Cornish still isn’t believed to be the “complete back” that Clark Green was, though he is a better runner.

Outlook: Very positive. Cornish and his offensive line have speculated about the Canadian becoming KU’s first 1,000-yard back since June Henley. It’s certainly possible. Though Cornish isn’t on, say, Adrian Peterson’s level, he’s a good weapon to have behind Meier. Same with McAnderson when he’s in the game.

Wide receiver

Projected starters: Brian Murph, Sr., Dexton Fields, Soph., Dominic Roux, Sr.

Projected backups: Marcus Henry, Jr., Jonathan Lamb, Sr., Marcus Herford, Soph.

What looks good: Murph had 10 catches in KU’s last two games last year and had two touchdowns in the Fort Worth Bowl. He has the potential to be a nice playmaker to round out KU’s balanced offense.

What doesn’t: Behind Murph is a lot of receivers with something to prove, and at least two of them need to walk the walk. Murph had 33 catches for 368 yards and two scores last season. The other five receivers on the post-spring depth chart had a combined 31 catches for 325 yards and just one touchdown.

Outlook: So-so with room to get a lot better. Marcus Henry and Marcus Herford could be solid, and Fields and Roux have shown noticeable improvement as they go. But potential doesn’t win football games. Results do.

Tight end

Projected starter: Derek Fine, Jr.

Projected backup: Marc Jones, Jr., Bradley Dedeaux, Fr., or Marc Dierking, Jr.

What looks good: The Big 12 is full of great tight ends this year, but Fine remains vastly underrated to outsiders. He’s a good receiving option, can always get extra yards with his strength, and Mangino lauds him as a solid blocker. He could be a real weapon in KU’s offense this year.

What doesn’t: No proof of reliability behind Fine. Two tight-end sets that KU sometimes run will require that someone is game-ready behind Fine. Last year, Russell Brorsen was a servicable fill-in before he moved back to defense. Now, someone has to step up. Jones seems the most likely answer.

Outlook: Fine (yuk yuk). If Jones or Dedeaux contributes, even better. But Fine looks to have a solid year, and Meier would be well-served looking for him often this season.

Offensive line

Projected starters: Cesar Rodriguez, Jr. (LT); Bob Whitaker, Sr. (LG); David Ochoa, Sr. (C); Ryan Cantrell, Soph. (RG); Anthony Collins, Sr. (RT).

Projected backups: Travis Dambach, Sr. (LT); Jake Cox, Sr. (LG); Matt Mann, Sr. (C); Rameses Arceo, Jr. (RG); Jose Rodriguez, Fr. (RT).

What looks good: Experience looks real good. Seven players on the two-deep have started at least one game, and four (Ochoa, Whitaker, Cesar Rodriguez and Dambach) have started at least 10. Only one starter from last season is gone.

What doesn’t: Not a whole lot of size compared to some of the horses around the conference. Talent, athleticism and teamwork can negate that, but it doesn’t hurt to be as big as a truck.

Outlook: Good. The offensive line, after really struggling midway through last season, turned things around and was a strong point by season’s end. The regulars all claim to be comfortable with each other, and that could make the line a reliable unit.

Defensive line

Projected starters: Rodney Allen, Sr. (DE); James McClinton, Jr. (DT); Wayne Wilder, Sr. (DT); Paul Como, Sr. (DE).

Projected backups:: John McCoy, Sr. (DE); Caleb Blakesley, Fr. (DT); Todd Haselhorst, Soph. (DT); John Larson, Soph. (DE).

What looks good: A lot of well-built size. McClinton and Wilder are tanks in the middle, and Allen is a fine defensive end stuck behind two NFL-quality players in Charlton Keith and Jermial Ashley last year. Como and Allen were part of last year’s third-down bandit packages, so they have pass-rushing skills.

What doesn’t: Everyone but McClinton has something to prove as every-down Big 12 linemen. There’s not a lot of starting experience across the board, but remember, three of the four projected starters are junior-college transfers who played behind a solid line in ’05.

Outlook: Not bad at all. Gone are Ashley and Keith, two slender, pass-pestering standouts, as well at Tim Allen. But Wilder and Rodney Allen were highly recruited out of junior college, and Kansas fans will see why soon.

Linebackers

Projected starters: Joe Mortensen, Soph. (OLB); Mike Rivera, Soph. (MLB); James Holt, Soph. (OLB)

Projected backups: Eric Washington, Sr. (OLB); Brandon Duncan, Fr. (MLB); Jake Schermer, Fr., or Arist Wright, Fr. (OLB).

What looks good: Potential. Better athletes make up KU’s linebacker fleet now. As former MLB Kevin Kane said, “They’re bigger, faster and stronger than I ever was and ever will be. Once they just learn everything, they’ll be real good.”

What doesn’t: So much experience is lost. Not one of KU’s top seven linebackers have started a Division I-A game. It’s rare to play with the poise of a three-year starter when you’re not one.

Outlook: OK now, good later. Mangino doesn’t seem to be sweating the lack of experience, saying that the linebackers “will continue to be a strong part of our football team.” Rivera and Mortensen, two beasts, are good reasons to believe that. The final grade depends on how quickly these sophomores pick things up.

Defensive backs

Projected starters: Aqib Talib, Soph. (CB); Jerome Kemp, Sr. (SS); Darrell Stuckey, Fr. (FS); Blake Bueltel, Jr. (CB).

Projected backups: Michael McCoy, Jr. (CB); Tang Bacheyie, Soph. (SS); Sadiq Muhammed, Soph. (FS); Raymond Brown, Soph. (CB).

What looks good: Talib has everything – size, instincts, a mean streak – to be a fantastic collegiate cornerback. Kemp was a pleasant surprise at strong safety, and Stuckey was one of the better recruits in the 2005 class. Even incoming freshmen like Phillip Strozier arrive packed with promise.

What doesn’t: Talib is the only KU cornerback with any Division I-A experience. Juco transfers Bueltel and McCoy were here for spring drills, but will that provide the neccesary learning curve? Safety also lacks significant experience behind Kemp.

Outlook: It could’ve been great except for Charles Gordon’s NFL aspirations and Rodney Harris’ career-ending neck injury during the spring. Kansas goes a lot more inexperienced because of the unforseen losses. But Talib and Kemp are quality defensive backs, and that’s a good start.

Special teams

Projected starters: Kyle Tucker, Jr. (P); Scott Webb, Jr. (PK); Brian Murph, Sr. (PR); Marcus Herford, Soph. (KR).

Projected backups: Dane Broadie, Sr. (P); Kyle Tucker, Jr. (PK); Aqib Talib, Soph., or Jonathan Lamb, Sr. (PR).

What looks good:: KU’s commitment to playing strong special teams, which means blood-chasers like Jon Cornish, Mike Rivera and Brandon McAnderson will continue to bust wedges and drill return specialists. Tucker has a booming leg, and Webb is money from inside 40 yards. He’s gotten better beyond 40, too.

What doesn’t: A loss like Charles Gordon returning punts is glaring, but even smaller voids like reliable long snapper Kevin Kane need attention. A squad not oozing with blue-chip talent across the board must get the little breaks, and field position created by special teams can loom large.

Outlook: Just fine, potentially. Tucker and Webb will fly under the radar because of solid performance, and Murph can provide playmaking skills returning punts. And, added depth brought about by stronger recruiting can only mean good things for KU’s special teams.

Schedule

Non-conference: Northwestern (La.) State, Louisiana-Monroe, at Toledo, South Florida.

Conference: at Nebraska, Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, at Baylor, Colorado, at Iowa State, Kansas State, at Missouri.

Outlook: A big relief. The Big 12 South rotation kicks in, and the conference’s top three teams – Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech – don’t play Kansas again until 2008. Make no mistake, that will have a huge impact on how KU’s season plays out. A lot of “ifs” surround the Jayhawks’ final record, but another above-.500 season and bowl berth certainly is within reach.