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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4,2007 PAGE 1B
GEARING UP FOR SUNFLOWER SHOWDOWN
KANSAS VS.KANSAS STATE11 a.m., Bill Snyder Family Stadium
Kansas State
3-1
QUARTERBACKS
The question for the Wildcats entering this season was whether sophomore quarterback Josh Freeman could mature into one of the Big 12 Conference's top signal callers. The imposing 6-foot-6, 250-pound quarterback has completed 86 straight passes without an interception. That's important because before those 86 passes, he threw 19 interceptions and only seven touchdowns in his career. He seems headed in the right direction and ready to pick apart the Jayhawk defense by firing to receivers on short routes.
RUNNING BACKS
Sophomore Leon Patton established himself as a super quick back as a freshman last year when he averaged 5.6 yards per carry. But Patton fell into a sophomore slump this season with 2.5 yards per carry and a long run of only 12 yards. Senior James Johnson now receives the bulk of the carries and has scored a team-high five touchdowns. Johnson is also a threat in the passing game. He is Kansas State's third leading receiver.
RECEIVERS
Senior Jordy Nelson serves as the most important player on the Wildcat offense. Nelson, a Riley County native, averages more than 10 receptions per game, has thrown two touchdown passes and returned a punt 89 yards for a touchdown against Texas. He ranks second in nearly every statistical category in the Big 12. On the other side of Nelson, Junior Deon Murphy serves as a perfect target for Josh Freeman in the Wildcat's precision passing game.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Plagued by inexperience and injuries, the Kansas State offensive line may be the team's one area of concern. Left tackle Alesana Alesana was manhandled by All-American Quentin Groves in Kansas State's 23-13 season-opening loss to Auburn. Highlights of Groves running over, under and around Alesana infiltrated everything from local sports shows to SportsCenter. But Alesana seemed improved against Texas and new right tackle Penisini Liu has solidified the other tackle spot in his two starts.
DEFENSIVE FRONT SEVEN
Junior lan Campbell switched from defensive end to outside linebacker before the season and hasn't slowed
with a bit. campbell has proven for the second year in a row that he's the Wildcats' biggest playmaker with two sacks, a touchdown off of an interception, three quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery. With offenses fearing Campbell, senior defensive linemen Steven Cline and Rob Jackson have found easier paths to opponents' quarterbacks and backfields. Senior
middle linebacker Joshua Rosland is second on the team with 25 tackles. Sophomore John Houlih isn't even a starter but is tied for third on the team with 19 tackles.
Kansas State's front seven aren't just good; they're scary.
Throwing the ball on the Wildcats isn't easy, either. Senior free safety Marcus Watts leads the secondary by patrolling the middle of the field. Senior cornerback Justin McKinney not only shuts down the opponent's best receivers but is a force in the running game. Junior strong safety Gary Chandler's transition from junior college to an FBS-school has gone smoothly. Everyone in the KSU secondary has the ability to pick off passes, as evidenced by the team's six interceptions.
SECONDARY
Case Keefer
Todd Reesing
QUARTERBACKS
Just how good has Todd Reeing been this year? Nearly perfect. The sophomore has thrown 11 touchdowns and just one interception in his first season as a starter while completing 58 percent of his passes and compiling a passer rating of 166, 10th best in the nation. Reeing has allayed any preseason concerns about his lack of size with his ability to elude defenders and hurl 50-yard passes with ease.
RUNNING BACKS
As feature backs, sophomores Brandon McAnderson and Jake Sharp probably would not be elite. But combined, the bruising senior and speedy sophomore have become one of the most dangerous duos in the Big 12 Conference. Each averages more than six yards per carry, and the thunder and lightning change-up they present keeps defenses guessing. As an added bonus, Sharp has not carried the ball for a loss yet this season.
RECEIVERS
Coach Mark Mangino has made wholesale changes to the Kansas football program since his arrival in 2002, and it is especially evident in the receiving corps. Lean, tall and speedy receivers have replaced short and slow possession receivers in the Jayhawk offense. Freshman Dezmon Briscoe and sophomore Raimond Pendleton have potential, junior Dexton Fields has great hands and senior Marcus Henry has it all. After getting off to a fast start in 2007, the play of the group deteriorated slightly in the final two non-conference contests as receivers dropped a number of catchable passes.
OFFENSIVE LINE
The Kansas offensive line is anchored by junior left tackle Anthony Collins. Collins, an impressive 6-foot-6, 310-pound specimen, could be the best tackle in the conference and eventually a high-round NFL draft pick. Senior right tackle Cesar Rodriguez is not spectacular, but does an adequate job of paving the way for the Jayhawks' run game. The middle of the line, which was a question mark entering the season, has proven itself to be a stable and cohesive unit in the early-going thanks to the communication skills of Junior center Ryan Cantrell.
DEFENSIVE FRONT SEVEN
The defensive line is home to the Jayhawks' greatest strength and perhaps their most glaring weakness. That strength is senior defensive tackle James McClinton and his eyes for the ball carrier. McClinton has recorded 20 tackles this season, including 5.5 tackles-for-loss. The weakness is the pass rush. Though much-improved over last season's rush, the Kansas defensive ends could have trouble collapsing the pocket against Big 12 offensive lines. The linebacking corps has been sturdy in 2007. Juniors Mike Rivera and Joe Mortensen are big hitters with a knack for finding the quarterback and inflicting damage. Junior outside linebacker James Holt has been one of the team's most pleasant surprises, recording 27 tackles in the first four games.
SECONDARY
The Jayhawk secondary is certainly the most improved piece of the team and could be one of the most improved units in the Big 12. After finishing last in the nation in passing yards allowed per game last season, Kansas currently stands at third in the nation. Junior cornerback Aqib Talib is one of the nation's best and most exciting shutdown corners, and if anyone said they expected true freshman wide receiver Chris Harris to perform so exceptionally this season, they weren't telling the truth. The safeties have also performed well. Sophomore Darrell Stuckey is finally healthy and hitting, and Junior Patrick Resby is consistent.
— Asher Fusco
DON T FORGET TO BRING YOUR POWER TOWEL!
COMMENTARY
Top 10 things Kansas must overcome to beat Kansas State
10. Interceptions
Though sophomore quarterback Todd Reesing has thrown for 11 touchdowns and just one interception, Kansas State's defense intercepted against sophomore Texas quarterback Colt McCoy four times last weekend in Austin.
9. The Power Towel
Note: As witnessed in the Free for All, many Kansas students have gotten a hold of the YouTube video titled "Hey KSU: 1989 called, it wants its promotional video back!"
The video promotes the Power Towel, not to be confused with the South Park character "Towlie." It's available in the K-State Team Store for $4.99.
Though the Power Towel does not show any real threat, Ron Prince and the Wildcats would like Kansas State fans to bring it to every game (see YouTube video). Whether there is more to the Power Towel than thousands of little fibers, we will never know. It
8. The Legend of Bill Snyder
is best to play it safe and not to overlook the Power Towel.
Before Bill Snyder, Kansas State was one of the worst teams in Division I-A. He turned the Wildcats from a laughingstock into one of the toughest teams in the Big 12. From 1989-2005, Snyder won 136 games, thus causing Kansas State to name its football stadium after him. From 1995 to 2004, Bill Snyder's Wildcats made it a routine to blow out Kansas every year. This year, it appears as if Ron Prince may once again be turning Kansas State into the powerhouse it was under Snyder's reign. Though the Jayhawks are looking tough this year, the Legend of Bill Snyder will be looming throughout Kansas State's Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
7. Sack Attack
Kansas State is second in the Big 12 with 15 sacks, behind Oklahoma, who has 18 sacks. Last Saturday, Kansas State put pressure on Colt McCoy with four defensive line pass breakups, 13 hurries and two sacks. This Saturday, the Kansas offensive line will
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