Kicking the Tires: Iowa State
by TB on Dec 2, 2011 5:11 PM CST
in Football
Email
PrintThis is late, and unfortunately it's going to be fairly short, too. It's been a busy couple of days.
A month ago, I feared that a 5-6 Iowa State team would arrive in Manhattan on December 3rd, playing for its season under a coach who could get them motivated to play in Siberia. Fortunately, the Cyclones shocked the world and knocked off previously undefeated Oklahoma State in Ames the weekend that K-State got its ninth win of the season in Austin.
So the Cyclones won't be looking to extend their season tomorrow, which bodes well for K-State. And K-State has plenty to play for in its own right. A win gives the Wildcats a 10-win season for the first time since 2003, ensures they will finish no worse than solo second in the Big 12 Conference, and keeps open the possibility of a split conference title and a BCS appearance. But after the two straight Farmageddon losses, I'm sure Paul Rhoads is itching to get a win over Bill Snyder. Hit the jump for more on the matchup.
Players to Watch
K-State
Rushing: John Hubert, 173 carries, 813 yards, 4.7 yards/carry, 73.9 yards/game, 2 TD
Passing: Collin Klein, 138-236-5, 1,587 yards, 6.7 yards/attempt, 144.3 yards/game, 11 TD
Receiving: Chris Harper, 39 receptions, 536 yards, 13.7 yards/reception, 48.7 yards/game, 5 TD
Defensive Line: Ray Kibble, 32 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 1.0 sacks
Linebacker: Arthur Brown, 83 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 2.0 sacks
Secondary: David Garrett, 70 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks
Iowa State
Rushing:James White, 142 carries, 660 yards, 4.6 yards/carry, 60.0 yards/game, 8 TD
Passing: Jared Barnett, 93-186-5, 1,025 yards, 5.5 yards/attempt, 146.4 yards/game, 5 TD
Receiving: Darius Reynolds, 37 receptions, 599 yards, 16.2 yards/reception, 59.9 yards/game, 7 TD
Defensive Line: Jake Lattimer, 35 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 2.0 sacks
Linebacker: Jake Knott, 104 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 2 INT
Secondary: Jacques Washington, 75 tackles, 1.0 TFL, 1.0 sacks, 1 INT
Team Statistics (from CFBStats.com)
Rushing Offense
K-State:193 yards/game, 30th nationally
Iowa State: 178.1 yards/game, 37th
Passing Offense
K-State: 149 yards/game, 109th
Iowa State: 217 yards/game, 71st
Total Offense
K-State: 342 yards/game, 97th
Iowa State: 395.1 yards/game, 55th
Rushing Defense
K-State: 123.9 yards/game, 28th
Iowa State: 194.6 yards/game, 98th
Pass Efficiency Defense
K-State: 76th
Iowa State: 41st
Total Defense
K-State: 401.5 yards/game, 76th
Iowa State: 439 yards/game, 102nd
Hidden-Yardage Stats
Turnover Margin
K-State: +11, 7th nationally
Iowa State: -6, 99th
Penalties
K-State: 37.0 yards/game, 12th
Iowa State: 56.8 yards/game, 80th
Third-Down Conversions
K-State: 44.1 percent, 36th
Iowa State: 40.8 percent, 59th
Red-Zone Conversions
K-State: 87.3 percent, 25th
Iowa State: 68.2 percent, 117th
Time of Possession
K-State: 34:23, 3rd
Iowa State: 29:19, 76th
There you have it. Iowa State has strong linebackers and a decent secondary, but overall is a pretty poor defense. The red flag is stopping the run for the Cyclones. Giving up 195 yards per game is not a good sign for a team about to face a K-State group that will be more than happy to grind it out.
Further, for as disciplined as Iowa State is supposed to be, the Cyclones don't measure up well in the last group of stats. Iowa State has turned the ball over an astounding 30 times this season, an average of nearly three times per game. For his part, Jared Barnett has thrown as many interceptions as has Collin Klein, but on 50 fewer attempts. To be fair, a lot of those turnovers belong to famed gunslinger Steele Jantz, who is no longer playing. But Barnett is no caretaker either.
Even worse for the Cyclones is the weather forecast. The always-accurate Kansas weathermen estimate the chances of rain tomorrow at 90 percent, with a high of 45 degrees. While it doesn't sound like we'll get the freezing rain and snow that was discussed, it's not out of the question, either. In any event, throwing the ball could be an adventure, and you know NIgel Malone, Allen Chapman and David Garrett will be chomping at the bit to get their hands on a few of Barnett's passes.
With a week to heal and facing a mediocre run defense, Klein and the Cats should be able to pound the rock and control the clock. Keep an eye on Jake Knott and A.J. Klein at linebacker for Iowa State, as they're as good a duo as you will see all season. If the K-State line is sloppy and doesn't stay on its blocks, Knott and Klein will make plays and stop drives.
For only the second time this conference season, K-State will be the Vegas favorite, this time at -11. If I were a betting man, I'd take Iowa State to cover on that, but only barely. It won't be much fun for the fans, but this team has been a joy to watch all season, and they deserve a full house, even if they won't get it. The Wildcats move to 10-2 with a 24-14 win over Iowa State.
28 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
To the players and coaches
I’m 57 years old and have been attending Wildcat football games since 1963. I just want to offer a big thanks to this team for a great year of football. I think this has been my most enjoyable season ever as a Wildcat football fan, and I truly appreciate the contributions of all, but particularly the seniors. Guys like Hrbek, the two Lemurs, Guidry (all the seniors) have contributed so much. Thank you.
Now, beat Cyclone!
oh hail the Purple and White
by Furnace76 on Dec 2, 2011 5:48 PM CST reply actions 3 recs
nice sentiments Furnace.
I don’t want to try and follow this up too b/c I can’t nearly as compare to your experiences (years of pain). I come from the younger generation (26 years old) who’s been spoiled with knowing KSU football during the majority of my life as a success. But even at that I too really appreciate the joy this team has been able to give to me. I hope they have enjoyed the ride more than I, they deserve every last bit of it.
"Nor yet in Dell?"
Amen, Brother Furnace, Tell it all Tell it all.
And it’s fitting to end the regular season against ISU. We have had some very memorable games against them over the years in both FB and BB. It’s been a good rivalry marked for the most part with mutual respect and generally good sportsmanship.
Besides, I have always looked forward every year to seeing who the hell they beat (like Nubs) that I detested.
Somehow, this year marks in my mind a real closing to the era of “He who should not be mentioned by name”. Go Cats.
If I'd known I was going to live this long, I'd have taken better care of myself.
KSU 21-20 ISU
I will be there this Saturday.
But instead of tailgating like I normally like to do, I’m going to be a putz and just show up in time for pre-game (Wildcat March!).
I’m going to stick with the prediction I made over at Wide Right, because it wouldn’t be Farmageddon with out a blocked kick, and for shits and giggles I’m going to make it a blocked XP after time has expired.
Would you like some Freys with that?
This time Sammuel Lamur inexplicably is the one that blocks it...
Earning him fame in K-State lore so Emmanuel can’t always act so arrogant at thanksgiving in front Samuel’s in the future about how much more he played.
Bobby Hill: What's a meat examination team?
Hank Hill: It's like a debate team, only instead of doing something useless you get to grade the cut and quality of meat!
No rec-love for my fortune-telling?
Would you like some Freys with that?
by ChrisP Wildcat on Dec 3, 2011 9:16 PM CST up reply actions
If you think ISU has a bad defense
Then you haven’t seen one of their last 4 games then. 7 points to TT, 10 points to KU, 17 offensive points to the pokes, and 26 to the sooners who received 4 to’s in cyclone territory, I think we can say the statistics may hide a few details. If ISU can load up the box Klein will look rather pedestrian.
"The more I get hit, the more they git hit" - Marcus Coker
Fine with us. That's what Texas did, and look how it turned out for them.
Of course, Klein will be a lot healthier for this game than he was for the Texas game, so I’m betting that he performs a little better.
Would you like some Freys with that?
by ChrisP Wildcat on Dec 2, 2011 6:21 PM CST up reply actions
Holding KU to 10 pts is more of an indication of them
doing really dumb things in the redzone than ISU’s D being in “lock down” mode.
I’m not trying to discount the ‘clones’ effort, but we all can slice any 4 games in our favor to portray whatever message we want to portray with it.
Because KSU averaged 43.5pts per game between @TT and Home vs aTm. Big deal. Each game is entirely different of the one before.
Anyway, I don’t expect anything to be easy tomorrow with Knott and Klein in your defensive backfield, but holistically you are what you are, and I would tend to put more stock in a season’s worth of stats than just the last 4 games. No doubt you guys are playing good ball right now, but that doesn’t mean you have entirely erased ALL of the old habits from the entire year.
"Nor yet in Dell?"
But remember how well TT did against the Cats' run offense
And their D is awful!
"If you don't want to work, become a reporter. That awful power, the public opinion of the nation, was created by a horde of self-complacent simpletons who failed at ditch digging and shoemaking and fetched up journalism on their way to the poorhouse." - Mark Twain
You guys are reasonable; as am i
And I know that Klein could punish all day, any given Saturday with cfb who knows what farmageddon will bring this year.
"The more I get hit, the more they git hit" - Marcus Coker
17 won't win the game this week
That I’m sure of, what i’m not sure of is if a qb with 250 carries is ever going to be “healthy”
"The more I get hit, the more they git hit" - Marcus Coker
He doesn't need to be "healthy"
Just healthier. See OSU and aTm games (both after not practicing the previous week).
Klein will do enough to win, as long as our defense can hold you to a little bit more than you normally pass and a little bit under what you normally rush.
The only defenses that have been able to shut-down Klein is OU for one half and Texas (though they let Klein score when he needed to make a play at the end of the 2nd).
Is your defense as good as OU or UT?
Would you like some Freys with that?
by ChrisP Wildcat on Dec 2, 2011 6:45 PM CST up reply actions
For the record
I think Kleins two weeks of not practicing b4 a game was aTm, and @UT. I believe he was “healthy” enough to practice before OSU. Maybe not the entire week, but I believe he practiced some.
"Nor yet in Dell?"
I'm pretty sure it started after the OU game, when he got injured pretty bad in the ribs.
And he hadn’t practiced since until this week, so that would have been three weeks (or four if you count Thanksgiving).
It was before the UT game when we first heard of that, I thought.
But I could be wrong. Still. aTm. Best passing day of his life.
Would you like some Freys with that?
by ChrisP Wildcat on Dec 2, 2011 6:59 PM CST up reply actions
that's true, forgot about that.
Snyder only admitted to him not practicing for 2 weeks.
"Nor yet in Dell?"
I know it will be close, and the weather will probably help make it sloppy
I think ISU has a better D than those stats show, but I like the Cats having a week off to rest, and an extra week (you think Snyder was eating turkey? please) for the offensive staff to get ready for the ISU D.
scout.com thinks the Cats win 41 – 27. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re just making stuff up, but that’s ridiculous. But they may also not know the weather is supposed to be crappy. Give me Cats 20 – 13 or thereabouts.
"If you don't want to work, become a reporter. That awful power, the public opinion of the nation, was created by a horde of self-complacent simpletons who failed at ditch digging and shoemaking and fetched up journalism on their way to the poorhouse." - Mark Twain
I agree with this.
Hope that the Cats win easy but I’m figuring a relatively low-scoring, hard fought battle.
70 and not eating turkey?
Only if he lost his dentures
"The more I get hit, the more they git hit" - Marcus Coker
We all keep finding ways to say the same thing, but
This really is a unique team.
Tell a football fan that you’re thinking of a team that is 76th in the country in total defense and 97th in total offense. Then mention that the team has been outgained in seven of its eight conference games.
Said football fan will not say, “Gee, they must be about 9-2; maybe ranked #11, give or take?”
Turnovers, penalties, red zone conversion, heart.
Man, if Collin had found his way into the endzone on that last play against OSU, this would possibly be remembered as an all-timer in college football lore.
My blogs: pakagankarachi.livejournal.com (dormant)
burmahunkalove.livejournal.com (occasional signs of life)
If there's another blocked XP
I’m doing a drive by from Lawrence to Wakeeny.
"We're getting drunk today, Rand. Quart of rye each."
hopefully your clip runs out just in Lawrence
But since we’re talkin’ Farmageddon it’s likely a 12GA. Hope the game warden doesn’t catch you over the limit, hope you get some quality pheasant in the process.
"Nor yet in Dell?"
It is very likely that if we miss a kick to lose...
Norman is going to drive down there and kill Mahoney/Guyer.
USC knockoff uniforms, none of the results (including probation)
Wide Right & Natty Lite | @widertnattylt
I feel affinity
For KSU fans, hate to troll but we don’t get opportunities like this very often.
"The more I get hit, the more they git hit" - Marcus Coker
ISU may be the one team we've played beyond Kansas where we can say we have better personnel pretty much across the board.
That said, I think this team plays with more passion and intensity, man for man, than any other team that we will play all year.
If I'd known I was going to live this long, I'd have taken better care of myself.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Bring On The Cats
Related FanShots on Bring On The Cats
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
