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Kansas Football: Can Lance Leipold build a winner out of the Jayhawks?

By Dante Pryor

Sep 7, 2019; University Park, PA, USA; Buffalo Bulls head coach Lance Leipold looks on during a warm up prior to the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 7, 2019; University Park, PA, USA; Buffalo Bulls head coach Lance Leipold looks on during a warm up prior to the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports /
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LUBBOCK, TEXAS – DECEMBER 05: Quarterback Miles Kendrick #3 of the Kansas Jayhawks hands the ball off to running back Daniel Hishaw Jr. #20 during the first half of the college football game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Jones AT&T Stadium on December 05, 2020, in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS – DECEMBER 05: Quarterback Miles Kendrick #3 of the Kansas Jayhawks hands the ball off to running back Daniel Hishaw Jr. #20 during the first half of the college football game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Jones AT&T Stadium on December 05, 2020, in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

Can Leipold bring the power running game that thrived at Buffalo?

If last season at Buffalo is any indication, Leipold wants to bring a physical running game to Lawrence. In 2019 both Kevin Marks and Jarrett Patterson both ran for over 1,000 yards. The duo nearly repeated the feat in seven games last year.

Leipold and offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki have to fix the offensive line to run the ball the way they want. Not only were the trenches bad last season, but they were also historically bad.

Kansas attempted to run the ball last season with four players with at least 50 carries last season. The only two teams with a worse yard per carry average were UMass and Mississippi State.

The pass protection was even worse, historically worse. The Kansas Jayhawks offensive line allowed 5.2 sacks per game last season, the worst mark since 2009.

The Jayhawks did sign four veteran transfers to stabilize the trenches this season. Graduate transfer Colin Grunhard, a Kansas high school standout, is a culture signing. Grunhard comes from a program with a winning culture in Notre Dame.

Interior linemen Mike Novitsky and Michael Ford, Jr. followed Leipold from Buffalo. Ford is a developmental player, but Novitsky can help right away. Adding Novitsky and Grunhard with Earl Bostick and you have a competent offensive line. That is a step in the right direction.

Velton Gardner and Daniel Henshaw are a solid 1-2 punch in the backfield. What the Jayhawks need to decide is who plays quarterback. Jalon Daniels flashed as a freshman but needs to develop. North Texas transfer Jason Bean could have the inside track because of his ability as a runner.

Leipold has no issues with playing more than one quarterback; he did so in 2019. This is an offense that wants to run the football and play with physicality. Look for the Jayhawks to make that transition this fall.

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