photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas cornerback JaCorey Shepherd jumps on the back of Duke running back Josh Snead after a catch during second quarter on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2013 at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, North Carolina.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas cornerback JaCorey Shepherd jumps on the back of Duke running back Josh Snead after a catch during second quarter on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2013 at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, North Carolina.

We’ve already covered The Day After so now here’s a quick look back at a few grades from Saturday’s 41-3 loss at Duke….

• BEN HEENEY — B+

What can you say about an accomplished, all-Big 12 guy who ties his career-high for tackles, with 15, and, once again, seemed to be in on every single play? Heeney was shaken up in the first half but only missed a snap or two and got right back out there to do his job. One of the guys on this team who really shows how much it means to him by how hard he plays.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas linebacker Ben Heeney tackles Duke running back Shaquille Powell during the first quarter on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2013 at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, North Carolina.

• CB DEXTER MCDONALD — C+

Picked on by Duke QB Anthony Boone early, McDonald had a very rough first quarter and that helped Duke set the tone and establish control. Gave up all four completions to Duke receiver Issac Blakeney in the game’s first eight minutes and then settled in and started to play the kind of football we’ve come to expect from him. McDonald said the adjustment to matching up with Blakeney was difficult early because of the receiver’s 6-foot-6 frame and physical style and because he expected to be on the smaller, quicker, 5-9 Jamison Crowder. Once he adjusted, he looked like the McDonald we all know. But that was a rough start and it set the tone and forced KU’s safeties to think about cheating his way, which allowed slot receiver Max McCaffrey (7 catches, 79 yards, 2 TDs) more room to operate over the middle.

• RB COREY AVERY — B

Avery, a true freshman remember, ran hard for 87 yards on 16 carries and proved, yet again, that he’s ready for whatever role the coaching staff wants to give him. Still has some things to learn/improve upon — most notably his route running and pass blocking — but he’s young and he’s way ahead of where most freshmen would be in thrown into his position. Hard to believe that even with the departure of James Sims and the loss of Brandon Bourbon and Taylor Cox to injury, the KU rushing attack just keeps humming along. If anything, KU should have run it way more than the 47 times they did on Saturday.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas running back Corey Avery cuts between Duke defenders Jonathan Jones (34) and Jeremy Cash during the third quarter on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2013 at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, North Carolina.

• CB MATTHEW BOATENG — C

Credit the freshman for going out there and proving he belongs and is able to hang with the big boys. Now he just needs to get more comfortable and polished. Beat deep a handful of times by just a step or two, but he didn’t pay for it because the balls were overthrown. If the throws were on the money, he would’ve had a rough day, as he showed that he’s still a few games away from combining his athleticism with his ever-improving understanding of what it takes to cover quality receivers at this level.

• QB MONTELL COZART — D-
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Never looked comfortable all afternoon and, worse, looked indecisive and unable to make quick reads. Left plenty of opportunities for completions on the field by not picking up open receivers early, which allowed Duke’s defense to get close to him and forced him to scramble or throw it away. One interception was tipped at the line but the ball was late coming out and, on the other, he missed a wide open Tony Pierson sitting in the soft spot of the Duke defense by firing it 7 yards over Pierson’s head. Cozart did deliver a couple of nice runs but even those were frustrating because they showed what he should be doing and emphasized what he wasn’t.

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas tight end Jimmay Mundine has nowhere to go as he is surrounded by several Duke defenders during the second quarter on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2013 at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, North Carolina.

• TE JIMMAY MUNDINE — C
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Caught three balls for 17 yards one week after being held without a catch, but still did not do enough to impact the game. Dropped one of the few catchable balls Cozart threw all day and did very little to help spark KU’s struggling offense. The issues of the offense in this one certainly went well beyond what Mundine did or did not do, but as a veteran and a leader, you have to think there’s something he could have done.

• UNIT GRADES — In 10 words or less

Pass Offense: F Receivers got open, Cozart struggled to find or hit them.

Run Offense: C+ Avery, Mann solid; would’ve been better if Cozart ran more.

Pass Defense: C+ Rough opening drive but shut down top two Duke options.

Run Defense: D- Wilson gained 182 of his 245 yards on three carries.

Special Teams: B- Pardula good again, rest not noteworthy, good or bad.

Most Impressive Unit: Running Backs. For just their second games at the Div. I level, freshman Corey Avery and junior De’Andre Mann sure looked like seasoned veterans. The two combined for 196 of KU’s 297 yards of offense and when you throw freshman Joe Dineen’s late-but-meaningless 28 yards on top of it, it’s clear that you’re looking at one of the few position groups that showed up.

Least Impressive Unit: Defensive Line. No sacks. Huge holes for Duke freshman Shaun Wilson to run through en route to breaking a 20-year-old school record for single-game rushing yards. And minimal pressure on Duke quarterback Anthony Boone.

MVP: CB JaCorey Shepherd. After a so-so game in the opener, Shepherd bounced back in a big way in this one. He did not give up a single significant completion, and every time the Blue Devils challenged him deep, he was right on the hip of the man he was covering. All-ACC receiver Jamison Crowder caught just two balls for 14 yards.

Hidden Hero: DL T.J. Semke. The former walk-on turned scholarship and starting defensive lineman was one of the few guys consistently around the ball during this one. He finished with a career-best six tackles and proved, once again, that he’s not afraid to tangle with anyone.

Better Luck Next Time: QB Montell Cozart. After starting the season with so much promise, Cozart struggled mightily in this one. He missed guys when they were open, had trouble deciding when to take off and run and looked overwhelmed and lost throughout much of the game. He’s still young. So these kinds of growing pains are bound to happen.