Kansas defensive tackle Daniel Wise (96) celebrates after a stop during the Spring Game on Saturday, April 9, 2016 at Memorial Stadium.

The Kansas University football team held its second public and 14th overall practice of the spring Tuesday afternoon.

It’s not a stretch to believe that the 2016 Jayhawks will be better than they were when they went 0-12 last fall. But enough better to make much of a difference in the standings? Not as easy a question to answer.

The 0-12 record doesn’t fully capture how overmatched the Jayhawks were in David Beaty’s first season as a college head coach. They didn’t come anywhere close in two-thirds of their games and came within single digits just twice.

Take a look at the 2015 margins of defeat, from smallest to largest.

Four losses by fewer than 14 points: South Dakota State (3), TCU (6), Texas Tech (10), Rutgers (13).

Four losses by more than 24 and fewer than 48 points: Iowa State (25), Kansas State (31), Memphis (32), Texas (39).

Four losses by 48 points or more: Oklahoma State (48), West Virginia (49), Oklahoma (55), Baylor (59).

Right off the bat, getting to one victory will be far easier, given that the FCS opponent, Rhode Island, went 1-10 last season. Kansas might be the underdog in every other game, if only by small margins in a pair of home games vs. Ohio University and Iowa State.

Especially on defense, Kansas will bring more experience onto the field than last season, the main reason I think some improvement should take place.

Every starter is back with the exception of defensive linemen Ben Goodman and Corey King. An argument can be made as to that being a mix of good and bad news considering KU finished dead last among 128 FBS schools in both points (46.1) and yards (560.8) allowed per game.

Still, some of the bodies look different, most notably sophomore defensive end Dorrance Armstrong and senior D-end Anthony Olobia. Defensive tackles Jackie Dezir, Daniel Wise and D.J. Williams should benefit from a year of body-building and football experience. At linebacker, where KU uses two starters, coach Todd Bradford has plenty of experience with junior Joe Dineen and seniors Marquise Roberts and Courtney Arnick.

Sophomore Tyrone Miller’s move from cornerback to free safety puts him in a better position to succeed. Strong safety Fish Smithson returns and so does nickel back Tevin Shaw. Experienced depth at both spots is strong.

Cornerback, a weakness a year ago, still isn’t a strength but if Brandon Stewart and Marnez Ogletree make significant improvements, they won’t be the first junior-college players doing so going from their first to second seasons. Former receiver Derrick Neal will have more polish and newcomers Stephan Robinson, a junior, and freshman Kyle Mayberry will compete for snaps.

Other than the addition of explosive Texas A&M transfer LaQuivionte Gonzalez, No. 1 in your program and in the talent rankings at wide receiver, it’s not as easy to project as much improvement for the offense.

Watching KU’s quarterbacks, minus injured Ryan Willis, throw to receivers on short routes was not encouraging, and that’s putting it kindly.

Kansas ranked 123rd of 128 in scoring (15.3 points per game) and 115th in total offense (331.5 yards per game) in 2015.

The offensive line, even if injured Jordan Shelley-Smith doesn’t get healthy, should be better than last season, based on a year of experience and body-building, but will need to make a big leap to keep Willis from taking so many punishing hits again.