What Big 12 game could be the key to K-State’s season? The Powercat Gameday crew breaks it down.

With the absence of Tyler Lockett and Curry Sexton, who is K-State’s leading receiver this year in a best-case scenario? The Powercat Gameday crew breaks it down.

For the first time since 1990, K-State didn’t have 100 yard rusher. Led by Charles Jones and his 13 rushing touchdowns from 2014, the Powercat Gameday crew discusses the improvements that will be needed in K-State’s ground game.

K-State’s offensive line has a lot of returning names, but is missing a key player with the loss of BJ Finney at Center. The crew discusses who will take his place and how the offensive line can help K-State’s run game in 2015.

Led by Dante Barnett and Danzel McDaniel, the secondary is expected to be the strongest part of K-State’s defense going into the 2015 season.

2015 Season Preview: Linebackers from Manhattan Broadcasting Company on Vimeo.

With the loss of heavy hitters like Jonathan Truman and Dakorey Johnson, there are question marks about the strength of the linebackers on K-State’s 2015 roster. The Powercat Gameday Crew takes a closeup look at this position in part 2 of our 8 part preseason video series for K-State Football.

The crew analyzes what’s left of the defensive line in this first video. Suffering key losses with the departures of Ryan Meuller, Valentino Coleman, and Terrell Clinkscales, who are the top players coming into the 2015 season?

By Cole Manbeck

The season is young, so you shouldn’t get too worked up over the following numbers. But through three games, the explosive plays Kansas State’s offense had in 2013 have gone missing. Tyler Lockett hasn’t been 100 percent, so that’s part of the issue. But there is a lack of weapons on the Wildcat offense to help out the senior All-American and to strike fear into opposing defenses.

K-State had 59 plays of 20 or more yards last season, an average of 4.5 per game. The Wildcats have 10 plays of 20-plus yards through three games, an average of 3.3 per contest. K-State had 38 plays that went for 25 or more yards in 2013, an average of three per game. This season, it has four plays of 25-plus yards, an average of 1.3 per game. K-State had 28 plays of 30-plus yards last season, averaging out to 2.2 a game. The Wildcats have two plays that have gone for 30 or more yards this season (both at Iowa State), an average of 0.67 per contest.

K-State hasn’t replaced the production Tramaine Thompson gave the offense as the No. 2 guy to help Lockett at receiver. Curry Sexton is a very good slot receiver, but there’s no one opposite of Lockett that’s a home-run threat. The Wildcats miss the explosive plays John Hubert and Daniel Sams gave it in the running game. Hubert didn’t wow you with his speed, but he had a decent ability to break off some big runs. The Wildcats had nine running plays of 20 or more yards from their running backs last season. Through three games in 2014, they have zero. K-State had 17 running plays of more than 20 yards overall in 2013 (including quarterback runs). So far, the Wildcats have one, a 25-yard run by Jake Waters at Iowa State.

Charles Jones and DeMarcus Robinson have played relatively well through three games, but they aren’t likely to break off a lot of chunk plays. The Wildcats need Lockett to get back to 100 percent. And it would be a significant help if Andre Davis and Judah Jones, two of K-State’s fastest players on the offensive side of the football, can earn their way on the field. If that occurs, K-State’s offense will look a little different.

Explosive Offensive Plays

Explosive Offensive Plays in the Running Game Overall (Including Running Backs and Quarterback runs)

Explosive Offensive Plays Running the Football (Running Backs only)

Sustained drives certainly aren’t a bad thing. They provide rest to the defense, but the longer a drive goes, the possibility increases that a mistake will be made to cost a team points. So getting a few explosive plays a game is key. Right now, K-State isn’t getting them. It’s still early, so this could change, and it will need to if the Wildcats are going to be a good offensive team.

By Cole Manbeck

Auburn’s defense isn’t elite like its offense, but the Tigers have the capability to be decent against the run. In 2013, they ranked 62nd in the country in run defense, allowing 162 yards per game and 4.6 yards per carry. Through two games this season, Auburn is allowing only 2.9 yards per carry and only 110 yards per game. Auburn held Arkansas, the No. 2 rushing team in the country through three games, to 153 yards on 29 carries in week one. Still, that’s an average of 5.3 yards per carry, and any offense would happily take that average. In Auburn’s second game, it faced San Jose State, a team known much more for its passing game than its running attack. So we can essentially throw that game out.

K-State has averaged more than 5 yards per carry in two games this season, and coincidentally, averaged 4.6 yards per rush in 2013, exactly what Auburn gave up on the ground. If the Wildcats can establish the running game, that will open up the pass against a secondary that can be beaten downfield. But the Wildcats will need another receiver to step up and take some of the heat off Tyler Lockett. Ideally, Judah Jones or Andre Davis could fill that void as they have the speed to create separation, but neither has seen much playing time thus far.

I emphasize the run defense because this is where Auburn was expected to be better coming into this season. Auburn’s biggest weakness should be its pass rush. The Tigers averaged 2.3 sacks per game in 2013, but Dee Ford, who had a team-leading 14.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks, is now with the Kansas City Chiefs. Carl Lawson, a promising young player who was second on the team with four sacks, is out for the season with an injury. Auburn’s defense thrives on getting a rush off the edge, and it doesn’t possess the same firepower that it had last season. The Tigers do have five sacks through two games, but K-State’s offensive line should be better at pass protection than Arkansas or San Jose State.

Auburn allowed 259 passing yards per game in 2013, ranking 100^th out of 123 FBS teams. Chris Davis, who led the team with 15 pass breakups and was second on the squad with 74 tackles, is gone. The Tigers ranked 63^rd in passing efficiency defense (K-State ranked 21^st on defense in passing efficiency).  Through two games this season, Auburn ranks 47^th, allowing 214 passing yards per game and 53^rd in passing efficiency defense. But two games worth of action against average competition is difficult to gauge for both teams.

While I’ve pointed out some of Auburn’s weaknesses on defense, they do have several good players, led by junior middle linebacker Cassanova McKinzy, who led the Tigers with 75 tackles last season while also adding 8.5 tackles for loss. Through two games in 2014, McKinzy leads the team with 16 tackles.

Gabe Wright, a 6-foot-3, 284-pound senior, provides versatility along the defensive line. Wright, who has been a defensive tackle most of his career, has moved to defensive end after dropping some weight this offseason. Named to the preseason All-SEC First-Team defense, Wright was second on the team with 8.5 tackles for loss last season. Joining Wright upfront is 6-4, 306-pound sophomore defensive tackle Montravius Adams, who was named by Sporting News as a preseason All-American. Through two games, Adams leads the Tigers with four tackles for loss.

As I mentioned above, the Tigers lost their best corner in Chris Davis, but Jonathon Mincy returns and is probably their best player in the secondary. Mincy, a four-year starter at corner, was second on the team with 14 pass breakups last season and was named to the preseason All-SEC Second Team this year. He is joined by veteran free safety Jermaine Whitehead, who recorded 65 tackles in 2013 and has 28 career starts under his belt.

Auburn has plenty of speed on defense. I’d look for the Wildcats to counter that speed with some misdirection plays to see if they over-pursue and to slow them down.

K-State can win this game, but it will have to play mistake-free football. The Wildcats can’t afford to turn the ball over and put Auburn in favorable field position or commit silly penalties. And the Wildcats must capitalize by scoring touchdowns when they’re in the red zone, because field goals are not going to win this game.

Auburn’s offense has scored 30 or more points in 12 straight games, dating back to last season. K-State has scored 30 or more points in nine straight contests. The Tigers defense should not shut down the Wildcats’ offense. I expect K-State to score points against them. It will come down to whether or not the Wildcat defense can contain Auburn’s high-powered offense.

The crew breaks down the 2014-15 schedule, which includes two Thursday night games, and a game against last season’s national title runner-up, Auburn.

With the departure of Daniel Sams earlier this year, Jake Waters is the undisputed starting quarterback for the 2014-15 season.  What do Jesse Ertz, Joe Hubener, and newcomer Taylor Laird bring to the table?  The Powercat Gameday crew breaks it down.

Tyler Lockett has evolved into one of the most dangerous all purpose threats in the nation.  With the preseason All American leading a crew that returns experience, depth, and athleticism, it’s no wonder Receiver is viewed as one of the deepest positions for the Cats in 2014.  Who better to break down the receiving crew than Kevin Lockett?  The PCGD crew takes a look at the guys catching the ball in episode #6 of our Pre-Season Preview.

With John Hubert gone, K-State will need to establish the running game early on in the season.  There are some unproven candidates in DeMarcus Robinson, Jarvis Leverett Jr., Charles Jones, and Dalvin Warmack.  John Kurtz, Kevin Lockett, Corey Dean, and Matt Walters discuss who will be able to step up and give  Jake Waters’ arm a break.

The K-State offensive line has three returning players who have starting experience, including all-American B.J. Finney at center, but they must replace both offensive tackles. Cody Whitehair and Boston Stiverson are also back to lead the line and along with Finney have 69 combined career starts. Who will fill in at the tackle spots? And will they be able to clear holes for a new running back in 2014? Kevin Lockett, Matt Walters, Corey Dean and John Kurtz break it down.

The biggest question mark for the 2015 defense is the secondary.  With the losses of not only 4 year starter Ty Zimmerman at safety, but also both starting corners from last year’s squad, there’s plenty of pressure to go around in the spread offense oriented Big 12.  The unit is led by nickel back Randal Evans and does return some experience at safety with Dante Barnett and Dylan Schellenberg. Juco transfer Danzell McDaniel seems set to step in and start at one corner, with high expectations out of returners Cre Moore and Morgan Burns.  Who’s poised to break out, and where are the biggest areas of concern?  We break it down in our 3rd pre-season video.

Related: Pre Season Preview – Linebackers

Related: Pre Season Preview – Defensive Line 

K-State may not be quite as deep at linebacker as they are on the defensive line, but there are still plenty of quality returners from last season. Jonathan Truman finished second on the team in tackles last season, Mike Moore is an emerging playmaker and coaches rave about up-and-comer Will Davis. Extra help may be on the way in the form of JUCO transfers D’Vonta Derricott and Isaiah Riddle too. How much of an impact can they make if they get here? Kevin Lockett, Matt Walters, Corey Dean and John Kurtz break it down in part two of our video season preview!

For the first time in recent memory, the word “depth” can be used in a positive reference to the K-State defensive line.  Led by returning Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year Ryan Muller, the crew at the point of attack should be as strong and as deep as it’s been in several years.  In this the first of our 8 part pre-season video series we look at the returning names including Travis Britz, Markwell Bryant, Demonte Hood, and Layton Dowling along with what new additions Ryan Willis and Tanner Wood can bring to the rotation.  The biggest question mark…juco transfer Terrell Clinkscales.  Can the D-Line provide the push up front to help out a young secondary and new linebacking crew?  The PCGD Crew of Kevin Lockett, Matt Walters, John Kurtz, and Corey Dean start the countdown to kickoff.