Gameday Breakdown: KU football at No. 11 Baylor

Kansas quarterback Ryan Willis (13) heaves a pass during the first quarter on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016 at Memorial Stadium.

— Kansas (1-4 overall, 0-2 Big 12) at No. 11 Baylor (5-0 overall, 2-0 Big 12)
2:30 p.m. Saturday, McLane Stadium, Waco, Texas • Game-time forecast: 87 degrees, partly sunny, 0% chance of rain • TV: FOX Sports 1

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Keys for Kansas

1. More progress for Willis

It’s going to take exceptional performances from every player in a Kansas uniform for the Jayhawks to have a shot at upsetting a highly-ranked Baylor team on the road. That starts with quarterback Ryan Willis and the offense. The Bears average 42.6 points a game and have put up at least 35 points in all five of their wins. KU’s offense improved last week against TCU in sophomore Willis’s first start of the season. But head coach David Beaty wouldn’t call what he saw out of his quarterback (31-for-45 passing, 348 yards, zero touchdowns, three interceptions) anything but average.

In order for KU to maintain pace with Baylor, Willis will have to make the “big jump” Beaty said he soon expects to see out of the QB. And Willis will have to do so against a BU squad that ranks sixth in the nation in pass efficiency defense (92.27) and 13th in passing yards allowed (166.2 a game).

2. Make Russell uncomfortable

Last week against TCU, Clint Bowen’s KU defense limited quarterback Kenny Hill to season-lows in completions (17), completion percentage (53.1) and passing yards (206) while also harassing the QB into a season-high three interceptions. The Jayhawks accomplished all of that without starting defensive tackle Daniel Wise and starting linebacker Marcquis Roberts, both of whom are expected back from injuries against the Bears.

Most likely, KU will need all the help it can get to break through Baylor’s massive offensive line. Still, the defense seems to improve and show off more depth by the week (see: the emergence of sophomore linebacker Keith Loneker Jr. and senior defensive end Cameron Rosser).

Baylor’s Seth Russell is a perfect 13-0 as the Bears’ starting QB, and so far this season has passed for 1,326 yards and 14 touchdowns, while completing 59.4 percent of his passes, with four interceptions in 155 throws. The Bears have a run-first offense, for sure, but Kansas will have to pressure Russell heavily when he drops back to throw.

3. No retreat from KU O-line

Kansas offensive line coach Zach Yenser finally has what he considers his best combination of starting linemen in place: freshman left tackle Hakeem Adeniji, junior left guard Jayson Rhodes, junior center Joe Gibson, redshirt freshman right guard Mesa Ribordy and senior right tackle D’Andre Banks. KU’s O-line looked better than it had all season last week versus TCU.

Now it’s up to the group to avoid a letdown at Baylor. The line has to give Willis time in the pocket to get the ball out to his top play-makers, such as sophomore receiver Steven Sims Jr. and junior wideout LaQuvionte Gonzalez. Perhaps even more importantly, the O-line has to open more holes for the Jayhawks’ running attack, so that senior back Ke’aun Kinner, sophomore Taylor Martin and true freshman Khalil Herbert have better opportunities to show off their skill sets.

Mega matchup

Baylor rushing attack vs. KU defensive front

This is a case of strength versus strength. Baylor loves pounding away on drives with its running game and KU’s defensive front has routinely made impact plays. Bowen, no doubt, spent all week challenging the manhood of his defensive linemen and linebackers in preparation for taking on a BU O-line whose smallest starting member is 6-foot-4, 310-pound left guard Ishmael Wilson.

The Bears basically have two starting running backs in Shock Linwood and Terence Williams. Linwood, a senior, has rushed for 454 yards and a touchdown, while Williams, a sophomore, brings 410 yards and six scores with him into the weekend. Between the two of them, they average 172.8 rushing yards a game, which is more than the five least successful rushing attacks in the Big 12 (TCU, Iowa State, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and Kansas) average as a team.

Led by the likes of KU defensive linemen Wise and Dorance Armstrong Jr. and linebackers Roberts and Courtney Arnick, KU’s defense is in for its toughest test to date.

5. Questions with WR Shakiem Barbel

1. Last year you had 15 catches on the season. Last week versus TCU it seemed like you were going to surpass that in one game (career-highs with nine catches and 94 receiving yards). What was the key to your breakout performance?

“It was kind of how the game unfolded. Willis did a great job of making reads back there and our line was blockin’ their tails off, giving him time to make those great reads. It was kind of just routine plays we’ve been making the past couple weeks. I was playing a new position, but it doesn’t matter who’s in the game. As long as Willis does a great job of making his reads back there, someone should be able to make the catch.”

2. With Willis taking over as the starter last week, did the offense have more rhythm because you weren’t switching back and forth between quarterbacks?

“I definitely feel as though it’s nice to roll with the same quarterback and build chemistry throughout the game, not switch as much. But as far as who’s playing quarterback, I feel as though no matter who’s in there Coach Beaty and (offensive analyst Garrett) Riley do a good job of preparing them all equally. I trust whoever’s back there’s gonna make great reads and put us in a situation to win the ball game.”

3. You and Willis had a pretty good thing going last week. Do you think it’s something that can be replicated going forward?

“Definitely. I feel as though it’s confidence for me, personally, catching so many balls in one game. It’s kind of reassuring that the hard work I’ve been putting in in practice is paying off. And I also feel as though it builds confidence for Willis, and mine and Quiv’s and Sims’ chemistry. So he knows that he doesn’t just have to look one way, that he has multiple targets out there who he can trust throwing the ball to.”

4. The offense obviously wasn’t perfect against TCU but it did seem to show a lot of progress. How close do you all feel like you are to taking another step and keeping the offense competitive week after week in the Big 12?

“Definitely we had a lot of missed opportunities last week, but I feel like it’s a glimpse of what our offense could be, if that makes sense. It’s kind of like a confidence-boost that shows the team what we’re capable of doing. I definitely think it’s a step in the right direction.”

5. Last year, you scored one touchdown and it was on a recovered fumble at Texas. Is it safe to say you have a legit TD in your future? Do you feel like it’s coming?

“I definitely do. Honestly, I felt like it was coming last year, but the way things unfolded it just didn’t happen. But building confidence in your quarterback and your quarterback building confidence in you puts you in position to make those plays. As long as we keep grinding and all the receivers, we keep opening up the field for the running backs to open it up for us, the line’s blocking their tails off, the opportunity will present itself.”

Jayhawk Pulse

No, Kansas didn’t upset TCU last week. But the four-touchdown underdog Jayhawks came much closer to doing so than the college football nation expected in a 24-23 loss. Neither Beaty nor his players took joy in defeat, either, which is a great sign moving forward. The positive vibes surrounding the program can only grow as both the offense and defense had reasons to feel better about the state of their affairs entering the team’s first game against a ranked opponent this season. Kansas football hasn’t won away from Memorial Stadium in 40 games, and a win this week at BU would have to be considered a monumental upset. But as long as the Jayhawks avoid self-inflicted setbacks this week, they might be able to continue to head in the right direction — even in defeat.