EDIT: Sorry it's late again.
The old saying of “close... but no cigars” couldn’t have been more fitting to describe K-State’s loss to Colorado last Saturday. Whether it was missed field goals, costly penalties, or turnovers inside enemy territory (the most devastating), the Cats weren’t able to get the job done in Boulder, losing 14-13 to the Colorado Buffaloes.
The Wildcat defense showed a tremendous amount of improvement in holding Colorado to only 14 points. Granted that CU’s offense is the worst in the Big XII in most categories, it was gratifying to see the Cats could still tackle somebody.
The real question is, “Where was the offense?” Josh Freeman had a very mediocre day throwing the football, completing only 49 percent of his passes. Brandon Banks dropped two passes that would have been first down. Further, reliable kicker Brooks Rossman missed two field goals (42 and 47 yards). Just one of those field goals could have been the difference. A Brett Alstatt fumble in front of the Colorado sideline at the 35 yard line with less than 7 minutes to go in the game was the back breaker for Kansas State as the Cats weren’t able to get into Buffalo territory the rest of the game.
There were, however, some positives to the game; specifically, the defense was able to have a decent showing. I say “decent” because the Cats did give up 247 yards on the ground to Colorado. Colorado is probably the worst offensive team the Cats will see for the rest of the season; hopefully the defense will be able to build on their modest improvement. Unfortunately, the negatives out-weighed the positives: K-State really wasn’t able to sustain a consistent running game, the Cats had to battle themselves, and they had 9 penalties accounting for 84 yards.
Unfortunately for the Cats, this Saturday’s game is going to be their toughest test yet this season as the powerhouse Oklahoma Sooners come into Manhattan. Oklahoma is ranked number 4 in the newly released BCS Rankings. They also bring in the nation’s third highest scoring offense and a quarterback that is a top contender for the Heisman. However, the Sooners do have a shaky defense and a special teams susceptible to giving up a long return. OU’s defense has been exposed in their last two games, giving up a total of 66 points in the two games. If Kansas State is going to keep this game close, they are going to need to get big plays in the special teams game, as well as to get stops on defense. OU’s pass defense is very suspect, and they are missing Manuel Johnson (WR) and Ryan Reynolds (LB). Is the possibility for the upset there? If we have learned anything this season, the answer is “Yes.” Do I think it will happen? In my best Magic 8-Ball imitation, “Outlook is not good.”
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
KSU-CU Review and Look ahead to Oklahoma
The old saying of “close but no cigar” couldn’t have been more fitting to describe K-State’s loss to Colorado last Saturday. Whether it was missed field goals, costly penalties, and the most devastating, turnovers inside enemy territory, the Cats weren’t able to get the job done in Boulder losing 14-13.
The Wildcat defense showed a tremendous amount of improvement in holding Colorado to only 14 points. Granted that CU’s offense is the worst in the Big XII in most categories it was nice to see the Cats could still tackle somebody.
The real question is where is the offense? Josh Freeman had a very mediocre day throwing the football, completing only 49 percent of his passes. Brandon Banks dropped two passes that would have been first down, Also, reliable kicker Brooks Rossman, missed two field goals (42 and 47 yards). Just one of those field goals could have been the difference. A Brett Alstatt fumble in front of the Colorado sideline at the 35 yard line with less than 7 minutes to go in the game was the back breaker for Kansas State as the Cats weren’t able to get into Buffalo territory the rest of the game.
There were some positive to the game however, the defense was able to have a decent showing. I say decent because the Cats did give up 247 yards on the ground to Colorado. Colorado is the worst team offensively we will play for the rest of the season, hopefully the defense is able to build off of it for the rest of the season. But unfortunately the negatives out weigh the positives. K-State really wasn’t able to sustain a consistent running game and the Cats had to battle themselves as well as they had 9 penalties accounting for 84 yards.
Unfortunately for the Cats, this Saturday’s game is going to be their toughest test this season as the powerhouse, Oklahoma Sooners come to Manhattan. Oklahoma is ranked number 4 in the newly released BCS Rankings, they also bring in the nations third highest scoring offense and a quarterback that is a top contender for the Heisman. However, the Sooners do have a shaky defense and a special teams susceptible to giving up a long return. The defense has been exposed in their last two games giving up a total of 66 points in the two games. If Kansas State is going to keep this game close they are going to need to get big plays in special teams game, as well as get stops on defense. OU’s pass defense is very suspect, and they are missing Manuel Johnson (WR) and Ryan Reynolds (LB). Is the possibility for the upset there? If we have learned anything this season the answer is yes. Do I think it will happen? In my best Magic 8 Ball imitation, “Outlook is not good.”
The Wildcat defense showed a tremendous amount of improvement in holding Colorado to only 14 points. Granted that CU’s offense is the worst in the Big XII in most categories it was nice to see the Cats could still tackle somebody.
The real question is where is the offense? Josh Freeman had a very mediocre day throwing the football, completing only 49 percent of his passes. Brandon Banks dropped two passes that would have been first down, Also, reliable kicker Brooks Rossman, missed two field goals (42 and 47 yards). Just one of those field goals could have been the difference. A Brett Alstatt fumble in front of the Colorado sideline at the 35 yard line with less than 7 minutes to go in the game was the back breaker for Kansas State as the Cats weren’t able to get into Buffalo territory the rest of the game.
There were some positive to the game however, the defense was able to have a decent showing. I say decent because the Cats did give up 247 yards on the ground to Colorado. Colorado is the worst team offensively we will play for the rest of the season, hopefully the defense is able to build off of it for the rest of the season. But unfortunately the negatives out weigh the positives. K-State really wasn’t able to sustain a consistent running game and the Cats had to battle themselves as well as they had 9 penalties accounting for 84 yards.
Unfortunately for the Cats, this Saturday’s game is going to be their toughest test this season as the powerhouse, Oklahoma Sooners come to Manhattan. Oklahoma is ranked number 4 in the newly released BCS Rankings, they also bring in the nations third highest scoring offense and a quarterback that is a top contender for the Heisman. However, the Sooners do have a shaky defense and a special teams susceptible to giving up a long return. The defense has been exposed in their last two games giving up a total of 66 points in the two games. If Kansas State is going to keep this game close they are going to need to get big plays in special teams game, as well as get stops on defense. OU’s pass defense is very suspect, and they are missing Manuel Johnson (WR) and Ryan Reynolds (LB). Is the possibility for the upset there? If we have learned anything this season the answer is yes. Do I think it will happen? In my best Magic 8 Ball imitation, “Outlook is not good.”
csourk article: 10-12
Just another “ho-hum week” in the world of college football . . . For the second time in three weeks, three of the top five teams were upset. This past weekend may have been the most hyped weekend of the college football season:
Texas and Oklahoma hooked up for their annually billed “Game of the Millennium.”
The last two national champions-- LSU and Florida—hooked up for an “SEC Showdown.” Oklahoma State and Missouri got together for what was supposed to be a “Shootout for the Ages.” And, of course, there were upsets. Auburn, number 20, got clipped by SEC West rival Arkansas, just a few days after Auburn fired their offensive coordinator Tony Franklin. Vanderbilt, number 13, was upset by a brutally “offensive” offense in Mississippi State. And, those poor Michigan fans—first it was Appalachian State, now Toledo. Last, but not least, in what was a great team effort, Oklahoma State, capitalizing on rare Chase Daniel mistakes, upset Missouri.
In my opinion, the story of the weekend was the Big XII. Number 1 Oklahoma, who was looking like a complete juggernaut, was upset by Number 5 Texas. Texas, who has beat Oklahoma three out of the last four times at the Cotton Bowl, played an absolutely great game. Texas was able to outscore Oklahoma (45-35) in what was the highest scoring game in series’ history. I couldn’t leave the TV screen; in my years of watching football, this had to be one of the best games I have ever watched! It was a well-played, hard hitting game that really came down to the final minutes. Colt McCoy has stamped himself as the leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy. Texas’ win over Oklahoma has vaulted them to the top of the rankings nationally, as they play Missouri this weekend, 7 p.m. on ABC.
While on the topic of Missouri. . . talk about a devastating loss. It was all set up to maybe be the game of the year in the nation: Texas had beaten Oklahoma earlier in the day, all that was left was for Missouri to beat an Oklahoma State team, which quite frankly was somewhat of an unknown. Missouri’s offense was never in a sustained rhythm the whole game. Oklahoma State had found a way to slow down Missouri’s high-powered offense; couple that with the Daniel turnovers, and it was a recipe for an upset.
This coming weekend the Kansas State Wildcats head to Boulder to take on the Colorado Buffaloes. Although K-State was able to beat an absolutely awful Texas A&M Aggie team last Saturday in College Station, it was still a pretty ugly game for the Cats. The woeful Aggie’s offense was able to roll up 544 yards of total offense. I hate to say it, but that is just inexcusable. Fortunately, at the end of the day, all that mattered was the Wildcats were able to come out with a much needed win, giving them 4 on the season. Colorado’s offense is really struggling right now and the offensive line is really banged up. The same could be said for the entire offense. Cody Hawkins, son of Head Coach Dan Hawkins, was pulled in favor of Matt Ballenger in the Buffs most recent game against Kansas. The defense is pretty middle of the road, ranking 7th in the Big XII in points given up per game and sixth in yards given up per game. If K-State is going to win this game, they have to be able to run the ball with some effectiveness. Whether it is Josh Freeman, Logan Dold, or Lamark Brown, the Cats need to possess the ball so that Kansas State’s defense stays as far away as possible from the turf. If the defense can show the ability to “bend but not break” and this is a game that they can win.
EDIT: Sorry, it's late. Got busy and forgot. Go Cats.
Texas and Oklahoma hooked up for their annually billed “Game of the Millennium.”
The last two national champions-- LSU and Florida—hooked up for an “SEC Showdown.” Oklahoma State and Missouri got together for what was supposed to be a “Shootout for the Ages.” And, of course, there were upsets. Auburn, number 20, got clipped by SEC West rival Arkansas, just a few days after Auburn fired their offensive coordinator Tony Franklin. Vanderbilt, number 13, was upset by a brutally “offensive” offense in Mississippi State. And, those poor Michigan fans—first it was Appalachian State, now Toledo. Last, but not least, in what was a great team effort, Oklahoma State, capitalizing on rare Chase Daniel mistakes, upset Missouri.
In my opinion, the story of the weekend was the Big XII. Number 1 Oklahoma, who was looking like a complete juggernaut, was upset by Number 5 Texas. Texas, who has beat Oklahoma three out of the last four times at the Cotton Bowl, played an absolutely great game. Texas was able to outscore Oklahoma (45-35) in what was the highest scoring game in series’ history. I couldn’t leave the TV screen; in my years of watching football, this had to be one of the best games I have ever watched! It was a well-played, hard hitting game that really came down to the final minutes. Colt McCoy has stamped himself as the leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy. Texas’ win over Oklahoma has vaulted them to the top of the rankings nationally, as they play Missouri this weekend, 7 p.m. on ABC.
While on the topic of Missouri. . . talk about a devastating loss. It was all set up to maybe be the game of the year in the nation: Texas had beaten Oklahoma earlier in the day, all that was left was for Missouri to beat an Oklahoma State team, which quite frankly was somewhat of an unknown. Missouri’s offense was never in a sustained rhythm the whole game. Oklahoma State had found a way to slow down Missouri’s high-powered offense; couple that with the Daniel turnovers, and it was a recipe for an upset.
This coming weekend the Kansas State Wildcats head to Boulder to take on the Colorado Buffaloes. Although K-State was able to beat an absolutely awful Texas A&M Aggie team last Saturday in College Station, it was still a pretty ugly game for the Cats. The woeful Aggie’s offense was able to roll up 544 yards of total offense. I hate to say it, but that is just inexcusable. Fortunately, at the end of the day, all that mattered was the Wildcats were able to come out with a much needed win, giving them 4 on the season. Colorado’s offense is really struggling right now and the offensive line is really banged up. The same could be said for the entire offense. Cody Hawkins, son of Head Coach Dan Hawkins, was pulled in favor of Matt Ballenger in the Buffs most recent game against Kansas. The defense is pretty middle of the road, ranking 7th in the Big XII in points given up per game and sixth in yards given up per game. If K-State is going to win this game, they have to be able to run the ball with some effectiveness. Whether it is Josh Freeman, Logan Dold, or Lamark Brown, the Cats need to possess the ball so that Kansas State’s defense stays as far away as possible from the turf. If the defense can show the ability to “bend but not break” and this is a game that they can win.
EDIT: Sorry, it's late. Got busy and forgot. Go Cats.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
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