Battling the injury bug

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas cornerback Aqib Talib is congratulated by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius after winning the MVP trophy.

Greetings to all you fine readers of KUSports.com. I’m Asher Fusco, and I’m at the helm of this blog, meant to entertain and hopefully enlighten from time to time. This space will usually focus on Kansas University or Big 12 Conference athletics, with occasional diversions into the national college sports scene, if need be. In my experience covering the Jayhawks the past few years, I’ve rarely come across a KU fan that doesn’t want more info or insight on his or her team, so hopefully you’ll enjoy this extra serving of analysis here at KUSports.com. Feel free to leave topic suggestions/comments/criticism in the comments section.

For now, let’s get started with a look at Kansas University’s football team and its improved depth.

KU’s football program is in a very different place than it was last season, that much can be seen on any fall Saturday. The freshly-built Anderson Family Football Complex nestled at the bottom of the hill and the 50,000-plus fans packing Memorial Stadium each week stand as obvious reflections of the program’s progress under head coach Mark Mangino.

KU football has also enjoyed some below-the-surface improvements thanks to its 2007 Orange Bowl victory and strong 2008 follow-up. Most notably, the Jayhawks seem to be hauling in recruiting classes full of players who are prepared to make instant impacts.

Sophomore cornerback Daymond Patterson played — and played well — as a freshman last season. Freshmen such as running back Toben Opurum, wide receiver Bradley McDougald and linebacker Huldon Tharp have seen their fair share of playing time so far in 2009.

Opurum’s emergence as a legitimate power runner might be the most important development of the young season, given senior running back Jake Sharp‘s recent injury issues. Sharp played sparingly Sept. 19 against Duke and didn’t see the field one week later against Southern Mississippi.

No star running back, no problem.

Opurum gained 250 yards on 50 touches from scrimmage. Not only did the bruising 235-pounder pick up yardage, he helped KU drain the clock by taking the ball again and again ( … and again and again). Sharp has only topped Opurum’s 25 touches per game twice in 40 career games (34 vs. Colorado and 26 vs. Kansas State in 2008).

Five seasons ago, KU most likely wasn’t capable of reeling in a 235-pound true freshman with enough physical ability to step into game action right away. The added depth Opurum and his fellow youngsters provide might just be what separates KU’s current bowl contenders from the also-rans of years past.

Opurum
http://worldonline.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/blogs/entry_img/2009/Sep/28/opurum.jpg

Evidence of the importance of depth can be found when injuries inevitably occur.

In 2007, the Jayhawks enjoyed an extreme run of good health. The team’s 24 starters (including kicker and punter) missed only two of their combined 312 games. That team, as KU fans need no reminding, lost one game all season and

“>won the Orange Bowl.

In 2008, KU was less fortuitous. The team’s starters missed 12 games due to injury or suspension. Still, the Jayhawks managed an 8-5 finish and an overpowering victory in the Insight Bowl. Then-frosh, then-wide receiver Daymond Patterson filled in for senior wide receiver Dexton Fields. KU mixed-and-matched veterans and youngsters in the defensive backfield when Kendrick Harper missed several games and Justin Thornton sat out because of a suspension. Mangino used a steady rotation of backups to fill in along the defensive line, including true freshman defensive tackle Darius Parish.

So far this season, KU’s depth — in the form of Opurum, McDougald, Tharp and others — has played a crucial role in the team’s perfect non-conference run. KU’s starters have sat out four of the team’s possible 96 player games (Sharp’s five-carry moonlighting job against Duke excluded). KU is suffering from injuries and suspensions at approximately the same pace as it did in 2008 — so far without consequence.

The chart below illustrates how exceptionally healthy KU was in 2007 compared with the past season-plus.

KU starter availability breakdown, 2007-present
http://worldonline.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/blogs/entry_img/2009/Oct/01/injuries.png

All things considered, KU has enjoyed three strong seasons in terms of health, which reflects well on the training staff, team physician Dr. Larry Magee and strength and conditioning coach Chris Dawson. But it’s also apparent the Jayhawks have greater depth and greater ability to add ready-to-play freshmen through recruiting. If the 2007 team lost starters for more than 10 games to injury, would the Jayhawks been BCS-bound? If the 2009 team doesn”t have Opurum and McDougald does it fall to Southern Mississippi?

It’s clear KU has been both lucky and good in recent seasons. But thanks to added depth, the Jayhawks might stay good even when good fortune fails them.