Big X(II) Breakdown: The Kansas State Wildcats

As we pass into August, it shows that we are getting really close to College Football season. This week the Big X(II) breakdown rolls into the Little Apple and is going to cover the Kansas State Wildcats. For the past three weeks worth of coverage checkout Baylor, Iowa State, and Kansas.

To start out, sad news coming from Manhattan as on of the workers at Bill Snyder Memorial Stadium fell to his death while working at renovating the stadium. For more information on that, check it out here.

The running back is a pivotal park of the Wildcat offense and is going to be a turning point of the team this season. Last year, the team was lead by the bruising running style of Daniel Thomas who got drafted in the second round by the Miami Dolphins. Thomas ran for 1585 yards and 19 touchdowns which put him at 7th in the country in both categories. In wins, the team ran for 254 yards per game but in losses they ran for 134 yards which shows how they won games. This season the key will be highly touted running back Bryce Brown who will be apart of the team after his transfer from the Tennessee football program. Brown was the top ranked player in the 2009 class and has the potential to be a great back in the K-state system even though he does not fit the type of player that Snyder recruits.

There should be a three way race for the quarterback position, Collin Klein is the front runner but Sammuel Lamur and Justin Tuggle should be in the mix as the summer wears on. Do not be surprised if the team used the QBs as they did last year, one as more of an option style QB and another as more of a thrower. The team should be able to improve on their performance on last years passing game as the team was 92nd in the country in passing yards per game.

I am not sure what to think about the defense, the addition of Bryce Browns brother Arthur should be a welcome addition to a team who was in the bottom 20 in the NCAA. The defensive side of the ball will be the difference between what they are expected to be or if they will be a team that takes the rest of the league by surprise.

The most memorable moment from the 2010 season was the game at Yankee Stadium for the New Era Pinstripe Bowl. With time running down in a shootout against the Syracuse Orange Kansas State wide receiver Adrian Hilburn scored a touchdown and gave a salute to the crowd. This put the Wildcats a  two point conversion away from a tying ball game late in the 4th. Then the refs stepped in and gave a excessive celebration penalty because of the salute, this was a very iffy call and turned a 3 yard play into a 18 yard play and killed the Kansas State hope to tie the game.

Schedule Breakdown after the Jump…

• 9/3 vs Eastern Kentucky
• 9/17 vs Kent State
• 9/24 @ Miami
• 10/1 vs Baylor
• 10/8 vs Missouri
• 10/15 @ Texas Tech
• 10/22 @ Kansas
• 10/29 vs Oklahoma
• 11/5 @ Oklahoma State
• 11/12 vs Texas A&M
• 11/19 @ Texas
• 13/03 vs Iowa State

Expected Wins: Eastern Kentucky, Kent State, Kansas, Iowa State

Expected Losses: Baylor, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M

Swing Games: Miami, Texas Tech, Texas

Best Case Scenario- 6-6

More Realistically- 5-7

I could easily see the Wildcats being one of the biggest surprises in the league if Bryce Brown plays like he was expected to out of high school, but can the defense do enough? Can the Quarterbacks throw for enough yards to scare away Defenses from loading the box?

The Missouri/Kansas State match up will be a very interesting one. This will be a much needed road win for the Tigers, and the Wildcats will feel as though this is a winnable game at the little apple. We will have more breakdown on that when we get to October.

Next Week the breakdown gets to the heavy hitters in the form of the The Oklahoma Sooners.