We haven’t done this all season, but the Mike Plank at Rock Chalk Talk traded questions and answers. Mine should already be posted over at RCT, so go check out my answers. Much thank to Mike and the rest of his group for reaching out (I’ve also done a podcast, so I’m multimedia RN).

1. This first question is all speculation, but what in the world happened with Doug Meacham being fired and why was this a bad fit (was it a bad fit?)? Will Beaty take over play-calling duties or will this be someone else?

1A. No idea what is going on there, honestly. The timing was very unusual – around 5 PM local time on a Wednesday. This is the second offensive coordinator that Beaty has fired and the second time he has promoted himself to play caller (so yes, Beaty will be calling plays). I have to wonder a couple of different things. Is Beaty just a control freak? Does he feel his seat so hot he felt the need to oust the coach most likely to be promoted to interim? Did Beaty and Meacham disagree on who the starting quarterback should be? (Beaty says they didn’t.) Maybe Meacham saw the ship sinking and wanted out?

As you noted, any answer is complete speculation. I don’t think it was a “bad fit” because, at least according to Beaty, even with Meacham gone the offense won’t change “a whole lot” and that the responsibilities of the rest of the staff are “all pretty much the same.”

2. I’ve watched a bit of video on Kansas (mainly highlights) and there are two things that really stand out: 1) the actual play design on a ton of big plays are really well designed and when they work, they can make opponents look silly; and 2) the Kansas backfield is loaded with talented runners. With these two things, why is the offense struggling so much (in the 100’s in S&P+)?

2A. Two words: AIR RAID! Beaty is so determined to throw the ball all over the yard that he can’t see the forest for the trees. Case in point: when KU’s Khalil Herbert was gashing West Virginia last year (2017) to the tune of 8.1 yards per carry on his way to 291 rushing yards in the game, David Beaty still had Peyton Bender throw 32 passes. And as per usual, Bender barely completed half of them (17), and threw two INTs to boot.

Kansas has three running backs that, in my opinion, could start for most of the teams in the Big 12 in Herbert, Pooka Williams, and Dom Williams, but for some reason Beaty absolutely refuses to rely on his running game. For a line that’s questionable (at best) in pass protection, quarterbacks that struggle with downfield accuracy, and receivers that are OK but who, for the most part, didn’t have any other P5 offers, it seems like yet another example of questionable decision-making from the head coach.

3. In my preview of Kansas I’m writing that Joe Dineen is an All-Big 12 player, without question. What makes that a true statement (or false if you feel that way) and what other players should be in that conversation of All-Big 12 performers?

3A. Joe reminds me a lot of Ben Heeney in that he’s just always around the ball. I don’t know if he has the measurables to make an NFL roster, but he has the ability to read a play and the speed to get himself in position to make a play on the ballcarrier.

As for other All-Big 12 players, you’ve got to have DT Daniel Wise on that list. Wise is a likely mid-round NFL Draft pick next year, and although his stats may not jump out at you, that’s due to schemes more than anything. Opposing offenses are double and triple-teaming him, while the KU defense counts on him to take up blockers like that so linebackers can make plays.

Safety Mike Lee has the talent to be an All-Big 12 performer, but has had injury issues this year. DB Hasan Defense has also missed two games this year, but just picked Will Grier off twice; if he gets a couple more picks this year, he has a chance to be on the list as well.

4. In December, are you all writing about a new head coach and if so, who are your top three candidates and why?

I apologize in advance for this absurdly long answer, but I already have a weekly segment called “Potential Head Coach Tracker” where I’m tracking 25 coaches across college football. Obviously some of them are more realistic than others.

The thing to keep in mind is that Beaty has a $3M buyout; that doesn’t change if he gets fired tomorrow or in 2020. So KU will have to buyout Beaty, buyout the new coach, then pay that coach a competitive salary (likely $2M+). So this is going to be an expensive deal.

I’m gonna do you one better and say my top four realistic favorites are Neal Brown (Troy), Seth Littrell (North Texas), Chris Creighton (Eastern Michigan), and Willie Fritz (Tulane).

Brown has fielded incredibly competitive teams over the past several years at Troy, losing by 6 to Clemson in their national title year (2016), knocking off LSU last year, and beating Nebraska this year. “Competitive” is something Kansas hasn’t been in a long time. Troy is on pace for another 10-win season, and Brown will be a hot name in the coaching carousel this winter.

Littrell has the highest buyout of these four but I think would be worth it. He has completely turned around the UNT program and is a Big 12 guy, playing his college ball at Oklahoma. Additionally, he was a graduate assistant at KU for Mark Mangino from 2002-04. Like Brown, Littrell has UNT on pace for a 10-win season, and will be a hot name this winter.

Not a lot of people know about Chris Creighton or the job he’s done at Eastern Michigan, but do yourself a favor and Google him. Dude has been a winner everywhere he has been. He has turned around literally the worst D1 football program in America in three years, taking the Eagles to a bowl game for the first time in 29 years. I’d be really excited about this hire, but I don’t think it will move the needle for the donors.

Like Creighton, Fritz has been a winner everywhere he has gone, and if the Green Wave finish strong this year he’ll be a hot commodity in the coaching carousel.

Dream hires would be Jeff Monken (Army), Dave Doeren (NC State), or Jeff Tedford (Fresno St). Doeren and Tedford are likely way too expensive, and who knows if Jeff Monken is realistic or not? Some people are wanting KU to hit up unemployed guys like Les Miles, Bret Bielema, or Todd Graham, but I’m wary of those guys for various reasons (especially Miles).

TLDR; Kansas likely can’t afford a sitting P5 coach, and I would prefer they go with a G5 coach over a P5 coordinator. Regardless, whoever is coaching KU next year, it won’t be David Beaty, and it will be an upgrade.

5. I can’t let you all get away without asking a basketball question. From afar, Kansas may have the strongest team that I can remember, from top to bottom and basically a full roster of available players. For me, this is clearly a Final Four team. With that being said, what are Kansas’ biggest question marks headed into the season so that I can pass them onto Chris Beard?

Um. Three-point shooting? I honestly don’t know. With Dedric Lawson, Udoka Azubuike, and (hopefully) Silvio de Sousa all down low, I expect KU to go back to more of a high-low “typical” Bill Self type team. With Graham and Svi gone, KU will be looking for shooters. Lagerald Vick is a career 37.8% shooter from behind the arc and Charlie Moore is 35.2%, but Devin Dotson and Quentin Grimes are unknowns while Marcus Garrett hit just 12-45 (26.7%) his freshman year.

Prediction. What’s your prediction for Saturday’s game?

My prediction? PAIN. Tech could start a cheerleader at quarterback and beat KU by 20. I have no doubt this will be over early; go out and enjoy your halftime tailgate. Texas Tech 56, Kansas 21.