Kansas State
Wildcats
Preview 2007
By
Michael Bradley & Pete Fiutak
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2007 Kansas State Offense Preview |
2007 Kansas State Defense Preview
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2007 Kansas State Depth Chart
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2006 CFN Kansas
State Preview
Forget what you saw
in that ugly Texas Bowl wipeout loss to Rutgers. At least the game
was played in the relative anonymity of the NFL Network.
Don’t pay much attention to the regular-season-ending defeat at
Kansas, either. That might have stung, but at least KSU fans could
mask the sting of losing by teasing their rivals that they – and not
the Jayhawks – would be participating in the post-season.
Head coach: Ron Prince
2nd yea: 7-6
Returning Lettermen:
Off. 23, Def. 28, ST 2
Lettermen Lost: 20 |
Ten
Best KSU Players
1. LB/DE Ian Campbell, Jr.
2. QB Josh Freeman, Soph.
3. FS Marcus Watts, Sr.
4. WR Jordy Nelson, Sr.
5. DE Rob Jackson, Sr.
6. RB Leon Patton, Soph.
7 RB James Johnson, Sr.
8. P Tim Reyer, Sr.
9. CB Justin McKinney, Sr.
10. TE Rashaad Norwood, Sr. |
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2007 Schedule
CFN Prediction: 6-6 |
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Sept. 1 |
at
Auburn |
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Sept. 8 |
San Jose State |
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Sept. 15 |
Missouri State |
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Sept. 29 |
at
Texas |
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Oct.
6 |
Kansas |
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Oct.
13 |
Colorado |
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Oct.
20 |
at
Oklahoma State |
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Oct.
27 |
Baylor |
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Nov.
3 |
at
Iowa State |
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Nov.
10 |
at
Nebraska |
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Nov.
17 |
Missouri |
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Nov.
24 |
at Fresno State |
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2006
Schedule
CFN
Prediction:
4-8
2006 Record: 7-6
Preview 2006 predicted wins |
| 9/2 |
Illinois State W 24-23 |
| 9/9 |
Florida Atlantic
W 45-0 |
| 9/16 |
Marshall
W 23-7 |
| 9/23 |
Louisville L 24-6 |
|
9/30 |
at Baylor L 17-3 |
| 10/7 |
Oklahoma State
W 31-27 |
| 10/14 |
Nebraska L 21-3 |
| 10/21 |
at Missouri L 41-21 |
| 10/28 |
Iowa State W 31-10 |
| 11/4 |
at Colorado W 34-21 |
| 11/11 |
Texas W 45-42 |
| 11/18 |
at Kansas L 39-20 |
| 12/28 |
Texas Bowl
Rutgers L 37-10 |
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If
you want to focus on the Wildcats’ 2006 season, look at the stretch from
late October through mid-November when KSU won three in a row, including
a signature triumph over Texas. Sure, the Longhorns were without Colt
McCoy (who was knocked out of the game), but beating Texas is still
beating Texas. For a team picked by many to be the absolute dregs of the
Big 12 North to win seven games and advance to a bowl is quite an
accomplishment, and bolsters the case for Ron Prince being the right man
for the job in Manhattan.
A lot of people have made strong openings. The real work comes now. The
difference between five wins (KSU’s 2005 total) and seven wins is far
less than the area that must be covered to go from seven to nine or ten.
That’s where the real money is made.
Prince’s second-year plan will contain some of the same components that
characterized his first season. There are eight junior-college transfers
included in this year’s recruiting class, offering immediate help along
the offensive line and bringing some much-needed speed to the equation.
Meanwhile, all the young new starters from last year are now seasoned
veterans. The question is whether Kansas State is ready for more.
The short answer is no. The program still needs more talent across the
board, and needs quarterback Josh Freeman, who was given the starting
job midway through the season, to continue his development and cut back
on the poor decisions that led to 16 interceptions (versus six
touchdowns). Patience…patience.
Last year was a tremendous first step, and now Prince and the Wildcats
have to keep progressing. They might not make the overnight jump into
Big 12 championship territory, but the Wildcats might be closer than
anyone could’ve expected last year at this time.
What to look for on
offense: The
Wildcats will try to be better running the football, no matter how good
Freeman is. But there was one big reason for importing the JUCO linemen:
the franchise player at QB needs time to work his magic. With the return
of Leon Patton and James Johnson, the running game will be excellent,
but the season depends on Freeman. He must cut back on mistakes and be
more consistent.
What to look for on defense: Expect an across-the-board
improvement in a unit that wasn’t great last year. KSU is going to get
pressure on the quarterback and force turnovers. What it must focus on
are defensive basics, like shutting down the run better (opponents had a
4.1-yard average), and cutting down a 58.3% completion success rate. Do
that, and some of those blowout losses (no loss by fewer than 14 points)
will quickly become much tighter.
This team will be much better if… it can fine-tune the passing
game. Because Freeman was learning on the job, KSU was ranked 106th
in passing efficiency last year. In fairness, Dylan Meier, whom he
replaced, wasn’t too sharp, either. A high completion rate (51.9%) and
fewer interceptions will make a big difference.
The Schedule:
Talk about your
measuring-stick games: KSU starts out the year at Auburn, with a chance
to show how far things have come under Prince, and/or how far the
program still has to go. The rest of the non-conference slate isn’t bad,
as San Jose State and Missouri State visit Manhattan, but the regular
season ends with a trip to Fresno State. Getting a home game against
Baylor is a break, but South road trips to Texas and Oklahoma State make
up for it. Three of the last four games, and four of the last six, are
away from Manhattan, including key North dates against Iowa State and
Nebraska.
Best Offensive Player:
Sophomore QB
Josh Freeman. Coming into last season, Freeman was a top recruit who was
expected to wait and learn as he practiced behind Dylan Meier. Allan
Evridge and Allen Webb transferred, and Meier didn’t do much over the
first five games. Freeman wasn’t consistent and he showed he had a long,
long way to go, but he also showed his limitless potential, with a great
arm and decent mobility. He has the size and skills to eventually be
special.
Best Defensive Player:
Junior DE
Ian Campbell. One of the breakout stars of 2005, Campbell went from an
unknown backup to an unstoppable pass-rushing machine, making 11.5 sacks
and 17 tackles for loss. While his 6-5, 232-pound frame makes him more
of an end, he’s quick enough to play outside linebacker if needed.
Key player to a
successful season:
Freeman. Soon he’ll be
an All-Big 12 superstar capable of carrying the program to national
prominence all by himself. It might not be this year, since he still has
a long way to go in his development and consistency, but the more he’s
able to be the calm, cool leader who averaged 254 yards per game over
the last three regular season outings, and the less he’s like the
10-for-21, two-interception passer in the bowl loss to Rutgers, the
faster Kansas State will get to where it wants to be.
The season will be a
success if
... the Wildcats win eight games. It might take a bowl win to do it, but
the goal is to keep improving. If last year’s young, inexperienced team
could scratch and claw its way to seven wins, this year’s squad should
be able to find a way to win eight and be more of a factor in the North
race. While winning the division is still out of reach, there’s no
reason this team can’t come close.
Key game:
Oct. 20 at Oklahoma
State. The Cowboys are loaded and poised for a big season, and if KSU
can go into Stillwater and pull off the win, it’ll be a big step forward
to a bowl bid. It could also be a key win in a nice stretch, as it’s the
only road game after home dates with Kansas and Colorado and before a
home battle with Baylor.
2006 Fun Stats:
- Kansas State first quarter scoring: 38; Kansas State fourth quarter
scoring: 100
- Penalties: Kansas State 89 for 732 yards; Opponents 63 for 525 yards
- Red zone touchdowns: Kansas State 12 of 32 (38%); Opponents 26 of 50
(52%)