A Look at Marshall

[catsfan20012002]

The Thundering Herd return 19 starters. QB Bernard Morris threw for 168 yards vs. West Virginia. They seem to have settled on Morris at that position but they also have Derek Devine and Jimmy Skinner, but Skinner is the only one with significant experience (he threw for 189 yards but 2 INT's vs. the Cats last season), who can come in and do a nice job for them if necessary. Their leading rusher is Ahmad Bradshaw who had 70 yards on 18 carries (that's a healthy 3.9 yards/carry average) vs. West Virginia. Bradshaw ran for two TD's vs. the Cats in 2005. They've got 4 returning O-Linemen to lead the way for Bradshaw. They've had 13 receivers catch passes this season. WR Emanuel Spann leads the team in catches with 12 in two games (10 vs. Hofstra).

Defensively, they've got 9 starters returning for a defense that lead the league in total defense last season. LB's Dennis Thornton and Matt Couch and DB Curtis Keyes were all in the Top 10 in the conference in tackles last season.

[opcat]

qb. 151 yards rushing against Hofstra ?

http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootball/players/playerpage/417300

[catsfan20012002]

Keys to the game:

1. Score early. Marshall has been outscored 28-7 in the first quarter.

2. Stay disciplined. Marshall is penalty-prone. They have been penalized 23 times for 219 yards. The Cats have only been penalized 10 times for 103 yards in two games.

3. We're gonna have to be balanced offensively. We'll probably use the pass to set up the run. Marshall held Hofstra to -5 rushing yards but gave up 269 yards passing. W. Virginia was effective using both the run and the pass. They had 312 yards rushing vs. Marshall and 173 yards passing vs. Marshall.

I guess it's going to depend on which Marshall defense decides to show up.

[Saulbadguy]

I think one of their starting defensive tackles was ruled ineligible for the rest of the season yesterday.  That will help.

http://www.herdnation.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24510

[opcat]

Their Qb must be slowed down. 

[wildcat79]

If my recolection is correct this has been a hard fought series where K-state has tried numberous time to give this game away with turn overs. Solid special team play, no turn overs and a good defsive outing should get KSU a win. Offense  has to  play smart. Oline has to bring it today. JMO

[Beijing Cat]

Gotta establish the run with our short passing game.

[catsfan20012002]

Another solid effort from the Cats. Nothing spectacular but nothing awful either.

I keep hearing that Dylan Meier had an awful game so I guess 256 yards passing doesn't get you what it used to anymore. I guess the people that think he should have done better hold the key to knowing how to throw with accuracy into and with a gale force wind. Not only that but in his 19 completions he found at least 4 (I think I heard 7 somewhere?) different receivers.

Thomas Clayton and Terry Petrie both averaged a solid 4 yards/carry. I'd like the running game to be better but it's at least serviceable. 

The penalty bug did hit us in this game unlike the other two games. I have total confidence that they'll get that straightened out.

The defense and the special teams continue to play tremendous football. There were a couple of punts that didn't go as planned but the one that was shanked would have turned out beautifully if it had gone another 5 yards.

I like the way this team is playing going into Louisville. With all the preseason hype that the Cardinals got you would have thought we had no shot but with both Brian Brohm and Michael Bush being out.....Maybe the Football Gods are smiling on K-State this year. The name we're really gonna have to look out for this week is WR Mario Urrutia. He's 6'6" and we know what Illinois State's Laurent Robinson was able to do against us and he was only 6'2".