Playing quarterback for Kansas against a brutal schedule requires making the right decision when the best-laid plans break down.

For example, take a look at three screen shots taken from ESPN’s telecast, all from the biggest play of KU’s 43-7 loss at Memphis, defensive tackle Jonathan Wilson’s interception return for a touchdown.

The first shows guard Jayson Rhodes falling to the ground after he let a defender blow past him.

The second shows quarterback Montell Cozart getting tackled by the defender Rhodes missed. In this one, Rhodes is on his back as the football sails over his head.

The the third screen grab, the best available but just a tick too late for a true representation, shows that if the block had been made, Cozart very well could have found tight end Ben Johnson for a big gain. We’ll never know for sure, of course, but do know that if the Jayhawks could have scored on that possession instead of delivering a touchdown in the other direction, the game would not have been over by halftime. In reality, Memphis took a 33-7 lead into the second half.

The broken play doesn’t change that Cozart made a bad decision, it just illustrates that the offense’s problems start before the quarterback pulls the trigger.