Don’t Underestimate the Loss of Sams

By Cole Manbeck

We are 109 days away from what looks to be a promising football season for Kansas State. And even without Daniel Sams returning to the team, expectations are still high. But you’re being naïve if you don’t think the loss of Sams has an impact on the upcoming season. Sams had made the switch to receiver, and I think he could have helped the offense there, but I also believe he still could have been a big contributor at the quarterback position in certain packages.

In Sams’ freshman and sophomore seasons, he combined to run the ball 184 times for 1,042 yards, an average of 5.9 yards per carry. He also rushed for 14 touchdowns. He completed 44 of his 61 passes in his career for 507 yards, a completion percentage of 72 percent to go along with four touchdowns and four interceptions.

In Ell Roberson’s freshman and sophomore seasons, he combined to run the ball 175 times for 811 yards, an average of 4.6 yards per carry. He also rushed for nine touchdowns. Roberson completed 64 of his 159 passes for 974 yards, a completion percentage of 40 percent to go along with six touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

Sams’ numbers were significantly better in his first two seasons when compared to Roberson’s, who became one of K-State’s best quarterbacks in school history. As I’ve said before, I have no idea if Sams would have developed like Roberson did in his final two seasons. Because of the switch to wide receiver, he likely wouldn’t have made that progression since he would have been mixing in practice time at both positions. But I do believe K-State still planned to use Sams in Wildcat packages this upcoming season at the quarterback position. And if that’s the case, this is a big loss, because he might have been the most dynamic runner Snyder has ever had at the quarterback position.

Below are some reasons why Sams’ departure concerns me:

• K-State becoming a one-dimensional team: The Wildcats desperately need a running back to step up, because the quarterback-run game will significantly decrease now. K-State coaches can ill-afford to lose Waters to injury, so he’s much less likely to have many quarterback-run plays called his way. Although this could be a good thing, as I believe Waters is most effective as a runner when the pocket breaks down and he scrambles. But the quarterback-run game with Waters, when used occasionally, still keeps defenses off-balance. I would expect a certain reluctance to utilize that aspect of the offense now.

K-State is breaking in two new offensive tackles. The offensive line has to be solid, so the development of the new tackles will be crucial to protect Waters. If he goes down, all K-State has left to back him up is Jesse Ertz and Joe Hubener. While the coaching staff is reportedly high on both, you don’t want to have to turn to either a redshirt freshman or a walk-on to play meaningful snaps in what should be a promising season.

K-State’s opponents also no longer have to worry about spending preparation time each week for the threat of facing Sams in the Wildcat formation. Defensive coordinators across the Big 12 are probably relieved with the news of Sams departing.

• Tyler Lockett absolutely has to stay healthy now: Lockett is one of the best receivers in college football, so with or without Sams, it’s vital that he stays healthy. However, it takes on even more importance with Sams’ departure. Lockett missed the majority of the Oklahoma State game last season as well as the Baylor game due to a hamstring injury. The coaching staff turned to Sams to run the ball in both games. Against the Cowboys and Bears, Sams ran the ball 57 times for 317 yards and four touchdowns, an average of 5.6 yards per carry and 158.5 yards per game, which is incredibly impressive considering both opponents knew what was coming without K-State’s top two receivers playing in either game (Tramaine Thompson was also sidelined).

Without Lockett and Thompson in those two games, Waters was only 9-of-22 passing. So it’s pivotal that Lockett stay healthy, because K-State needs him to fully utilize Waters as a passer as K-State now doesn’t have a running quarterback to turn to if this situation occurs once again.

• Owning time of possession: A trademark of K-State football under Bill Snyder is owning time of possession. I have no idea how much Sams was still going to play in special packages at quarterback, if at all, but that option would have still been there had he stayed. It’s hard to own time of possession as a passing team, so once again, it will be of utmost importance that a running back steps up and becomes the guy to help shoulder the workload.

It should still be a fun season and expectations certainly should remain high, but Sams will be missed. You don’t get better as a team when you lose a player of his caliber.