Kansas football: What to expect from the new offense

The Kansas football program has struggled on offense since Mark Mangino resigned in 2009.

And since 2009 the Jayhawks have had four different head coaches; five if you count Clint Bowen’s interim role in 2014.

Aside from Bowen, all the other coaches were offensive-minded. Yet the offense still struggled.

The Jayhawks failed to make the top 100 in yards per game in all but two years; 2012 and 2019.

New offensive coordinator, Andy Kotelnicki, a carry-over from new head coach Lance Leipold‘s staff at Buffalo, will look to change that.

"“What I value the most on a staff is collaboration,” Kotelnicki said. “I talk about tributaries to a river. We all kind of come together by the end of the week, then it’s all going the same direction.”Kotelnicki on his offense (247Sports)"

Leipold and Kotelnicki have the same vision, creating consistency and continuity, which will allow the staff and players to come together and be on the same page.

They developed this relationship working together for eight years. This will be something new for the Jayhawks, as they’ve had more offensive coordinators than head coaches the last ten years.

When you look at Buffalo‘s offense the last few years, the best way to describe it is run-heavy.

For instance, last year they averaged 287.1 yards rushing per game and 191 yards passing. The year before that they averaged 250.5 yards rushing per game, and 138.1 yards passing.

It’s not to say they don’t pass the ball, they just take what the defense gives them. They also built a strong offensive line which made it easier to run the ball.

They have two talented returning running backs in junior Velton Gardner and sophomore Daniel Hishaw, along with two young talented prospects in sophomore Amauri Pesek-Hickson and true freshman Devin Neal.

The quarterback race is still in the air at this point and likely will be throughout all of fall camp, so that lends even more evidence that this year’s offense could be rushing-focused.

As Kotelnicki said, the offense will be tailored around the personnel the Jayhawks have.

Either way, the Jayhawks appear to be in good hands with an offensive coordinator that knows how to adjust and adapt to whatever situation he’s put in.