[Snorlax94]

A writer from the Wichita Eagle gives some more insights into K-State and offers a prediction for Saturday's game (hint: it's a K-State column):

https://www.kansas.com/sports/college/bi...40243.html

I had read this and generally have been seeing similar comments around -- that K State is particularly excited about its offense this year due to the return of Skylar Thompson from injury, and they are particularly worried about their defense this year -- replacing linebackers and concerns about their secondary.

Some thoughts - Bad News
K-State started last year 4-0 until their QB got injured, so, arguably, we should look at their 4-0 start and their win over Oklahoma as more representative of the team we will face.

I watched a highlight tape of Skylar and he can do a lot. He sells fakes and has a repertoire of play action, he has dropped in over-the shoulder flies, hit receivers deep exploiting 1 on 1 matchups, put soft touch on receivers on short passes, and, though he is a bit of an awkward horizontal runner, when he gets vertical, he has a nice, fairly rare straight-line top speed for a QB. 

At least in the past, he ran a tough option where he lowers his shoulder and can punch it into the end zone, though, if after his injury, they are still running the option, I think the coach should have his head examined.

They have a dart-like RB that has historically given Stanford problems.

Thoughts - The OK news:
Though the QB has good vertical speed, he is a lumbering runner horizontally and in the pocket, and I think it's the spry QBs like Marcus Mariota and even pocket shufflers that have been particularly problematic.

They have new receivers and just lost a starting lineman for the year, so the corps around the QB could be new and I'd be surprised if they are already "gelling."

They didn't announce the exact cause of Skylar's injury last year, but they indicated it was to his upper body and his throwing arm, which had to be "rebuilt." So, I'd be surprised (and impressed!) if Skylar goes out there picking up where he left off last year. 

Stanford beat K-State 26-13 in 2016 at home, and that was with Ryan Burns (!) making his first career start throwing 14/18 for 156 yards and a TD. So, we got it done last time with a new QB (and new center, to my recollection). Granted, we had C-MAC last time, who ran for 2 touchdowns and had that 97 yard punt return called back (remember that?). 

But I am hopeful this year's o-line is better than the 2016 line. If Stanford can get a lead, hopefully the o-line can grind it out. 

Listening to Shaw's comments, I was struck by all the flexibility in the players and all the alignments and switches that may be coming. 

Let's not forget we also have a 6th year QB in Isaiah Sanders. I don't see him starting, but I think Stanford has a wide enough array of weapons, formations, and packages to give a defensive coordinator a lot to handle during the first few weeks. 

Later in the season, more players like the QB are going to have to deliver, but at the start of the season, our opponents won't know the new tendencies yet, and they won't necessarily know the personnel limitations, so hopefully there will be some nice, positive surprises.

[Snorlax94]

A writer from the Wichita Eagle gives some more insights into K-State and offers a prediction for Saturday's game (hint: it's a K-State column):

https://www.kansas.com/sports/college/bi...40243.html

I had read this and generally have been seeing similar comments around -- that K State is particularly excited about its offense this year due to the return of Skylar Thompson from injury, and they are particularly worried about their defense this year -- replacing linebackers and concerns about their secondary.

Some thoughts - Bad News
K-State started last year 4-0 until their QB got injured, so, arguably, we should look at their 4-0 start and their win over Oklahoma as more representative of the team we will face.

I watched a highlight tape of Skylar and he can do a lot. He sells fakes and has a repertoire of play action, he has dropped in over-the shoulder flies, hit receivers deep exploiting 1 on 1 matchups, put soft touch on receivers on short passes, and, though he is a bit of an awkward horizontal runner, when he gets vertical, he has a nice, fairly rare straight-line top speed for a QB. 

At least in the past, he ran a tough option where he lowers his shoulder and can punch it into the end zone, though, if after his injury, they are still running the option, I think the coach should have his head examined.

They have a dart-like RB that has historically given Stanford problems.

Thoughts - The OK news:
Though the QB has good vertical speed, he is a lumbering runner horizontally and in the pocket, and I think it's the spry QBs like Marcus Mariota and even pocket shufflers that have been particularly problematic.

They have new receivers and just lost a starting lineman for the year, so the corps around the QB could be new and I'd be surprised if they are already "gelling."

They didn't announce the exact cause of Skylar's injury last year, but they indicated it was to his upper body and his throwing arm, which had to be "rebuilt." So, I'd be surprised (and impressed!) if Skylar goes out there picking up where he left off last year. 

Stanford beat K-State 26-13 in 2016 at home, and that was with Ryan Burns (!) making his first career start throwing 14/18 for 156 yards and a TD. So, we got it done last time with a new QB (and new center, to my recollection). Granted, we had C-MAC last time, who ran for 2 touchdowns and had that 97 yard punt return called back (remember that?). 

But I am hopeful this year's o-line is better than the 2016 line. If Stanford can get a lead, hopefully the o-line can grind it out. 

Listening to Shaw's comments, I was struck by all the flexibility in the players and all the alignments and switches that may be coming. 

Let's not forget we also have a 6th year QB in Isaiah Sanders. I don't see him starting, but I think Stanford has a wide enough array of weapons, formations, and packages to give a defensive coordinator a lot to handle during the first few weeks. 

Later in the season, more players like the QB are going to have to deliver, but at the start of the season, our opponents won't know the new tendencies yet, and they won't necessarily know the personnel limitations, so hopefully there will be some nice, positive surprises.