Three Keys: Kansas State Wildcats at Kansas Jayhawks
The Kansas Jayhawks are looking to bounce back after a puzzling loss last week that saw a sluggish offense take a big blow and then never fully recover, while the defense took a big hit early and then buckled down. And coming up this week is the game that has been circled by player and fan alike: The Sunflower Showdown against the Kansas State Wildcats.
This team is much more formidable on paper than last week's opponent, and the extra emotion and energy surrounding a night game in this rivalry is sure to amplify everything. So if Kansas wants to come out with a win, what are the main things they need to make sure happens?
Test the Deep Ball
The Kansas State defense is very sound, with playmakers all over the place that have the capacity to step up and make a huge impact. The one area that Kansas might be able to find a weakness is the deep ball over the middle. Kansas State has some inexperience at safety, and Kansas has already shown a willingness to go deep (think Iowa State and Oklahoma State). Whether Jason Bean or Cole Ballard is the starter, all the necessary tools are there. And going deep successfully should set up pretty much everything else they want to do.
Hold the Line
The Wildcats have historically been a fantastic team across both the offensive and defensive lines. It's the biggest reason that they are so consistent across seasons and always have a chance to win in spots that you wouldn't expect. They struggled early in the season on the offensive line, and the defensive line has been solid but not dominant. And both units have been better, but a lot of that improvement has come against teams that have had severe struggles this season.
Kansas has the ability to win in both of these spots. The Kansas defensive line has the depth and variety of pass rushers to get to Will Howard, and the front seven is strong enough that they can limit the run if they apply themselves right. On the offensive side, the combination of players and scheme have gone a long way to minimizing pressure on the Jayhawks. The main thing to avoid is too much trust in the line to power through and open up holes that aren't materializing. Too many runs up the middle will cause a huge lull like we saw last week.
Turnover Creation
Kansas has a great secondary that is able to take advantage of mistakes by the opponent. They lead the country in defensive touchdowns, and routinely create opportunities to get the ball back for the offense. Will Howard has been better in the last few weeks, but there has been an issue with turnovers early in the season. Once again, the quality of opponent doesn't completely explain the difference, but there is plenty of reason to think that Kansas can have more success in pressuring and turning over the Wildcats. Getting at least one will go a long way to bringing this win home.
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