K-State Film Study: Klein Shows Off His Arm

by TB on Sep 28, 2011 4:00 PM CDT in Football

As we examined yesterday, K-State used a punishing running game to beat Miami on Saturday. After his spot appearances last year, particularly the Texas game, nobody was questioning Collin Klein's running ability. But given his dearth of passing attempts, much less successful passes, there were plenty of questions about his passing ability.

Those questions were in particular focus going into last Saturday's game against the vaunted Miami pass defense. As has been well documented, the Hurricanes allowed only four completions to Ohio State the previous week, and I joked that Klein may not attempt four passes. Boy, was that wrong. Klein completed four passes on the first drive alone, and on K-State's second scoring drive of the day, Klein threw a 20-yard strike to Tyler Lockett for the true freshman's first career touchdown catch.

The play came on a third down and 10 yards to go from the Miami 20 yard line. K-State lines up in 00 personnel, with five wide receivers. Miami is in nickel personnel, with only three down linemen (they'll drop eight players into coverage) and its near-side linebacker lined up on Lockett and safety help over the top.

Miami's middle linebacker is dropping to cover the middle of the field, but is at about the same depth as Lockett and running backward. Lockett will run a post pattern, so Klein reads that the middle linebacker is not deep enough to get to him. He also reads that the near-side linebacker will release Lockett to the middle, assuming safety help over the top. Which he has...

...but it's not close enough to make the play. In fact, the middle linebacker is the closest to breaking up the pass, but Klein floats it over his outstretched fingertips to Lockett's waiting arms, in between the two Miami safeties.

Is Collin Klein a future NFL quarterback, No, a thousand times, no. But that's not the point in K-State's offense. The Wildcats run the ball to set up play-action passing and look for soft spots to exploit in zone defenses, such as on this play. If Klein can make the correct reads 15-20 times per game, like he did on this play, K-State will be just fine on offense.

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Comments

I shudder to vocalize (type) this but...

He reminds me a lot of Ell. I don’t think he’s as fast, but a 50+% passer, good for 100+ yards on the ground. Hubert is no Sproles, but if he’s a 100yd per game back, we’re in for a hell of a ride.

We’re unranked and picked by FoxSports as a +3.5 for Saturday against #15. Everyone knows you get +3 for being at home, so we’re ever so slightly above even…but still. They’re ranked, we’re not.

When life hands you lemons, make grape juice. Let them wonder how the F*ck you did it.

by BlackCats on Sep 28, 2011 4:47 PM CDT reply actions

I wonder if he'll make better decisions than Ell, and will wind up being a much better passer with more practice and game time

Bring on Da Bears!

"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

by Sean T on Sep 28, 2011 6:48 PM CDT up reply actions

This could be key...

Ell was so talented and at his best, as good as anyone in the game.

But he was never a QB who could be trusted. He pouted at times when things went wrong. (I recall clearly throwing a pick against Okie St. and jogging toward the DB with his head down, which allowed him to score. And then there’s Ohio State…)

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by MrHappyMushroom on Sep 28, 2011 7:18 PM CDT up reply actions

Guys, Ell was awesome.

I would be delighted if Klein ever could actually be compared to him.

What Klein did this past weekend was awesome. The guy has a ton of guts and more talent than many of us have given him credit for. But he isn’t comparable to Ell yet.

by yeahboozin on Sep 28, 2011 11:39 PM CDT up reply actions

He might be better

Not in stats, but guts. He’s about as tough as QB as we’ve seen in awhile.

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!

by MeatGeek on Sep 29, 2011 3:04 AM CDT up reply actions

Yeah, he's not Ell yet.

But he reminds me of him.

And don’t forget how terrible Ell was his first year starting. A little better his Junior year and then a stud Senior.

When life hands you lemons, make grape juice. Let them wonder how the F*ck you did it.

by BlackCats on Sep 29, 2011 8:04 AM CDT up reply actions

This pass was truly exceptional.

In person it was even more apparent how great a throw it was – a great decision, timing, and execution.

It reminded me of Coffman’s best pass all year – the TD to Harper in the Pinstripe Bowl.

This single play is what has given me the most hope for this season. Collin Klein is capable of making a truly great pass. Not many of us thought that was the case. Let’s hope he builds on this performance and can become a true passing threat.

by yeahboozin on Sep 28, 2011 11:44 PM CDT reply actions

I daresay he's already a passing threat because he's such a running threat

If he can do a 7-step drop and nail a 35 yard out or post route, every D in the league will be terrified. I don’t know if he can do that yet, but he’s already proving to be a dangerous, if under-used, passer.

by Sean T on Sep 29, 2011 9:17 AM CDT up reply actions

Absolutely agree.

His ability to pull up and accurately pass on a run/pass option play makes him already a very difficult assignment. Aside from the Harper TD in game one, he’s struggled on deep balls, but that should come with a little more experience. Once he has that, look out.

by yeahboozin on Sep 29, 2011 9:55 AM CDT up reply actions