8B
GAME DAY
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2007
KU KICK-OFF
ATAGLANCE
Kansas has done everything right so far in 2007, given its weak non-conference schedule. The Jayhawks have outscored opponents 214-23 in their first four games, but those opponents have a combined record of 4-18, making Kansas' performance difficult to assess. Kansas State will provide Kansas with a better measuring stick and could be a sobering reality check this weekend.
BYTHENUMBERS
COUNTDOWN TO KICK-OFF
(2007 stats—national ranking)
53.5 ppg - 4th scoring offense
226.8 ypg - 12th rushing offense
326 ypg - 10th passing offense
5.5 ppg - 1st scoring defense
94.8 ypg - 21th rushing defense
124 ypg - 3rd passing defense
PLAYER TO WATCH
Sophomore quarterback Kerry Meier. Kansas coach Mark Mangino said Meier would likely line up as a receiver in specific formations this Saturday. Kansas fans should hope he doesn't have to fill in at quarterback. The Kansas State defense is a
physical group that punishes quarterbacks. Just ask Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, who Kansas State knocked out of last Saturday's game with a mild
concussion. If Kansas starter Todd Reeing suffers a similar fate tomorrow, Meier could be pressed into action.
QUESTION MARKS
Will Kansas finally catch the turnover bug? Through the first four games, the Jayhawks have done a decent job holding onto the ball and a fantastic job avoiding interceptions. Todd Reesing has only thrown one pick in 125 pass attempts, but the Wildcats have phenomenal defensive backs in safety Marcus Watts and cornerback Justin McKinney.
How much defensive pressure can the Jayhawks apply? The Kansas pass rush has been decent through the first four games, but the opposing offensive lines haven't been Big 12-caliber. If Kansas defensive ends John Larson and Russell Brorsen can pressure Josh Freeman into making mistakes, the game could be a repeat of last year's 39-20 Kansas victory.
JAYHAWKS NEED BIG PLAY EARLY A strong start could stun KSU and silence fans in Manhattan
KANSAS AT KANSAS STATE 11 a.m. Saturday, Bill Snyder Family Stadium
OFFENSE
OFFER OF ONE the luxuries afforded by the Jayhawks easy run through non-conference play was the opportunity to dabble in a bit of everything on offense. Kansas has relied on a balanced attack early in the season, running on 54 percent of its offensive plays and going to the air the other 46 percent of the time. Sophomore quarterback Kerry Meier has appeared as a receiver, as has junior cornerback Aqlb Talib. The best news of all for the Jayhawks could be sophomore quarterback Todd Reesing's emergence as a capable leader. Reesing has posted an 11:1 touchdown to interception ratio through four games.
DEFENSE
The Jayhawk defense has been stifling in every sense of the word. Teams have only been able to gain rushing yards on the KU secondstringers and passing against Kansas has been completely out of the question. Senior defensive tackle James McLinton seems to get faster and more ferocious each week, the redesigned group of linebackers defends the run and the pass equally well and the secondary has been airtight. But the Jayhawks haven't faced a decent offense since they shut down Central Michigan in the season-opener. Kansas State quarterback Josh Freeman and wide receiver Jordy Nelson should provide quite the change of pace Saturday.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Both teams kickoff coverage units could have their hands full Saturday, because two of the best return teams in the nation will showcase their wares at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. Kansas junior Marcus Herford is the top kick returer in the Big 12 Conference and ranked sixth nationally in yards per return, while Kansas State averages 27 yards per punt return, which is the best in the nation. The Jayhawks have been stout when covering punts this season, allowing fewer than seven yards per return.
MOMENTUM
Kansas accumulated plenty of momentum during a four-week stretch in which it rolled over four overmatched opponents by nearly 50 points per game. Trouble is, Kansas took last week off while Kansas State beat up on the then-No. 7 Texas Longhorns. The Jayhawks will need to come out of the locker room
avoid falling behind in a hostile
avoid falling behind in a hostile environment because the Wildcats will surely represent a gigantic step up in competition from Kansas' first four opponents.
Kansas coach Mark Mangino and his staff have yet to make a misstep so far this season, engineering an exciting new offense and an unrelenting defense. But it's hard to overlook Mangino's record on the road. Since his arrival at Kansas in 2002, Mangino has won just four of his 25 games away from Lawrence. Even less impressive is his 2-18 conference road record.
COACHING
Kansas State 3-1,1-0 Big 12 Conference
Derek Fine
OFFENSE
The Wildcats have the firepower to be a top-tier offense, the only question is whether their offensive line does its job. Leaks in the backfield and linemen who dread to watch game film have been a disturbing part of Kansas State's offense in 2007. Despite that, sophomore quarterback Josh Freeman has managed games well. The KSU offense constantly throws quick passes up and down the field, and Freeman gets the ball in the playmaker's hands. Senior wide receiver Jordy Nelson is second in the nation with 10.5 receptions per game and fifth with 124 receiving yards per game. Receiver Deon Murphy serves as the other starting receiver and running back James Johnson starts in the backfield. Freeman has three outstanding targets
DEFENSE
Seven of the starters are seniors. That means the Kansas State defense rarely makes mistakes — if any. The Wildcat defense has found profound success through its first four games since switching to a three-four scheme before the season. All-Big 12 performer Ian Campbell switched from defensive end to outside linebacker to conform to the new defense and hasn't missed a beat. Campbell routinely fights through offensive lines and makes opposing quarterback's hearts pound. Senior defensive end Rob Jackson and interior lineman Steven Cline use the same technique, which gives the Wildcats the best pass rush in the Big 12. The secondary defends the pass just as well as the front seven rushes it. Led by seniors Marcus Watts and Justin McKinney, Kansas State held Texas' standout receiver Limas Sweed to two catches last week.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The graduation of Yamon Figurs, one of the nation's best kick returners, looked like it would be a huge loss for the Wildcats. But both Neon Murphy and Jordy Nelson already have returned punts from the game. The Wildcats are first in the
or touchdowns this year. The Wildcats are first in a nation in punt return average and in the top 25 for kick return average. Senior Tim Reyer is a consistent punter as he averages 45 yards with a long of 58 yards. Junior Brooks Rossman has made all but one field goal, and that one was from beyond 50 yards.
MOMENTUM
The Wildcats are eager to get back to the friendly confines of Bill Snyder Family Stadium after last week's big victory at Texas and hear their fan's roar. With the Sunflower Showdown being more meaningful than ever this year, the 52,000 people dressed in Powercat gear will be as rowdy as a mosh pit. But no matter what Kansas State players say, they remember what Kansas did to them after the Wildcats' win against Texas. If the Jayhawks can strike with a big play early, it would deflate the large crowd and open past wounds.
COACHING
When Kansas State hired coach Ron Prince two years ago, he had served as Virginia's offensive coordinator and many people were puzzled by the decision. But four games into Prince's second season, it's becoming clear what Kansas State Athletics Director Tim Weiser saw in him. Prince became only the fifth head coach in Big 12 history to take over a program after a losing season and lead it to a bowl game the next year. Prince preaches disciplines and relates to players with a youthful energy. Prince has surrounded himself with two similar coordinators, James Franklin on offense and Tim Tibesar on defense, who are young and energetic.
KSU
KICK-OFF
AT A GLANCE
The Wildcats did a bit of everything in their victory against Kansas last week. They returned a punt, kickoff and interception for a touchdown while still scoring twice offensively. Kansas State is more battle-tested than its in-state rivals with trips to Auburn and Texas already behind it. The team will be ready to avenge last season's 39-20 loss in Lawrence.
BY THE NUMBERS
(2007 stats — national ranking)
37. 25ppg—21st scoring offense
124ypg—84th rushing offense
Asher Fusco
265. 75ypg-30th parsing offense
17ppg—18th scoring defense
79. 25ppg - 11th rushing defense
197ppg-42nd
PLAYER TO WATCH
passing defense
passing defense Senior wide receiver Jordy Nelson. It shouldn't be hard to
Nelson
keep an eye on the 6-foot-3, 275-pound wide receiver. Nelson is the cornerstone of the Wildcat offense and is always quarterback
Josh Freeman's first option. When he's not catching the ball, he's throwing it. Nelson is two-for-two on the year with two passing touchdowns on trick plays. The contest against a solid Kansas secondary should be an intriguing one.
QUESTION MARKS
Which team really is faster? Senior cornerback Justin McKenny said it was the Wildcats, but that could be used as KU bulleton board material. Now, Kansas feels it has something to prove.
>> Will KSU quarterback Josh Freeman fall into a similar trap this year against the Jayhawks? Kansas beat Kansas State last year by persistently sending players at Freeman, who committed five turnovers.
BIG 12 SCHEDULE
SATURDAY
Name Time Channel
Kansas at No. 24 Kansas State 11 a.m. FSN
No. 11 Oklahoma at No. 19 Texas 2:30 p.m. ABC
Oklahoma State at Texas A&M 6 p.m. FSN
No. 25 Nebraska at No. 17 Missouri 8:15 p. ESPN
TOP25
THURSDAY
No.11 South Carolina 38, No.8 Kentucky 23
SATURDAY
Time Time Channel
No. 5 Wisconsin at Illinois 11 a.m. ESPN
No. 13 West Virginia at Syracuse 11 a.m. ESPN-GP
No. 12 Georgia at Tennessee 2:30 p.m. CBS
No. 6 South Florida at Florida Atlantic 2:30 p.m. ESPNU
No. 18 Arizona State at Washington State 3 p.m. FSN
No. 15 Virginia Tech at No. 22 Clemson 5 p.m. ESPN
Stanford at No. 2 USC 6 p.m. Versus
No. 4 Ohio State at No. 23 Purdue 7 p.m. ABC
No. 20 Cincinnati at No. 21 Rutgers 7 p.m. ESPN2
No. 9 Florida at No. 1 LSU 7:28 p.m. CBS
TELEVISED GAMES
FRIDAY
Game Time Channel
Utah at Louisville 7 p.m. ESPN
SATURDAY
Game Time Channel
Miami at North Carolina 11 a.m. ESPN2
Bowling Green at No. 7 Boston College 11 a.m. ESPNU
Eastern Michigan at Michigan 11 a.m. BTN*
Minnesota at Indiana 11 a.m. BTN*
Northwestern at Michigan State 11 a.m. BTN*
Iowa at Penn State 2:30 p.m. ABC
North Carolina State at NC State 2:30 p.m. ABC
Youngstown State at Southern Illinois 2:30 p.m. CSTV
Tulane at Army 6 p.m. ESPNU
Central Florida at East Carolina 6:30 p.m. CSTV
Notre Dame at UCLA 7 p.m. ABC
*Big 10 Network not available on Sunflower Cable