Through the Phog
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Kansas football: Joe Dineen deserves prime time against TCU

By Stan Unruh

LAWRENCE, KS - SEPTEMBER 03: Kansas Jayhawks exit the tunnel during pregame introductions before taking on the Rhode Island Rams on September 3, 2016 at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Kyle Rivas/Getty Images)
LAWRENCE, KS - SEPTEMBER 03: Kansas Jayhawks exit the tunnel during pregame introductions before taking on the Rhode Island Rams on September 3, 2016 at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Kyle Rivas/Getty Images) /
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The Kansas football team is struggling and the schedule gets more difficult. Jayhawk linebacker Joe Dineen deserves Saturday night’s prime time appearance.

The Kansas football team suffered a shutout Saturday in Ames, Iowa. I never, ever expected David Beaty’s Jayhawks might sit at 1-5 going into Saturday’s game against 4th ranked TCU.  On the other hand, I did not expect the amazing comeback season from linebacker Joe Dineen.

When I saw Sunday’s news that Kansas and TCU would kickoff at 7p.m. in Fort Worth, I wondered why?  What was Fox thinking?  Who wants to watch that game in prime-time?  After what happened in Ames, even die hard Kansas football fans might skip tuning in.

There is one reason to watch this game. I want to see Joe Dineen against the Frogs.  Fans, writers and just about everyone else is critical of the Kansas defense. Yes, Clint Bowen’s defense played better against Iowa State. We are blaming this loss on special teams’ mistakes and the missing Air Raid offense.

Dineen missed most of last season with a leg injury. You’d never know he had an injury. He returned this season with a vengeance. The Lawrence native not just leading the Big 12 in tackles. He is also among the nation’s leaders in total tackles and tackles for loss.  Some might suggest that Dineen is having such a great year because nobody else on the Jayhawk defense is tackling. I won’t go that far.

Dineen led the Jayhawks again during Saturday’s rainy shutout at Iowa State. He logged 16 tackles and increased his Big 12 lead in the category. Nobody is close to his 49 solo stops. Big 12 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Dorance Armstrong has 17 solo tackles through six games. He fights through getting double teamed on most plays.

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The Jayhawks need all the help they can get in Saturday’s contest game. The Frogs made the Big 12’s other purple team look bad last week. I expect Dineen to have another outstanding game under the lights in Fort Worth.

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