Will we really learn anything this weekend?

[michigancat]

Does "keeping it close" tell us any more about this team than if we get blown out?



Obviously, if KSU wins, we're a North contender.  A loss - I'm still clueless as to what to expect in conference play.

[Saulbadguy]

If we win - it was only because Louisville has so many injuries.
If we lose - it was expected.

[michigancat]

Even I wouldn't be able to spin a win as anything but incredibly positive.

[Saulbadguy]

Even I wouldn't be able to spin a win as anything but incredibly positive.

I know - none of us would, I think.

All i'd like to see is our team to play well.  If we play well, we shouldn't get blown out.

[chum1]

Beating a Louisville team devastated by injury?  Yeah, that will sure be a grand accomplishment.  LOL, LMAO, & ROTFLMAO!

[catzacker]

I'd like to see Prince and his coaching staff coach as if they actually want to win the game and not to limit the amount of points the other team is going to score (see Callahan).  If we get run then fine we'll at least know where we're at as a team/program.  

As good as the defense has played the past two games, those opponents' offensive talent and speed aren't even in the same realm as UL's.  And I'm not sure our offense can hang with UL's defense.  

Should we somehow find a way to win I still won't know what to make of this team because then I'd wonder what exactly the ceiling would be for this team.  

[Skycat]

I agree that a loss doesn't tell us all that much.  Although I guess it depends on what question you're asking. 

Me, I'm wanting to know if we're going bowling this year.  I think that question will be answered in the first two weeks of conference play.

[WILDCAT NATION]

I'm interested mostly in seeing if there is an offense is there to be "opened up", or if what we'ver seen is what we've got to offer...I hope there is something else there to be uncovered...

This game is a total win-win, and can only make KSU better.

[fatty fat fat]

Hold Louisville under 420 yards/31 points and we know our defense will be excellent vs big 12 north opponents.

I think some people don't realize how good Louisville is defensively. Damn

[ksu_FAN]

I think this game is a measuring stick, not only with a win, but how well we compete.  We all know that the last couple years we haven't been able to compete with elite teams, we simply didn't have the team speed/talent to stay on the field.  This will give us a glimpse of if that is indeed the case, especially on defense (even if Louisville has some injuries), and we will also be able to see if we can move the ball vs a Big 12 caliber defense.  I actually think this game will tell us a lot, even if it is a loss.

[Fausto]

"Even I wouldn't be able to spin a win as anything but incredibly positive."

If it's a win, why would you need to *spin* anything?  The point of playing the game is to win.  Survive and advance!

[michigancat]

"Even I wouldn't be able to spin a win as anything but incredibly positive."

If it's a win, why would you need to *spin* anything?  The point of playing the game is to win.  Survive and advance!

If someone says, "we only won because UL's starting QB and RB are out", that is spin.  I wouldn't be able to do that.

[sonofdaxjones]

I think Louisville has very capable backups at QB and TB.   

For the record, I say Louisville wins by 3 TD's and it's never really close.

However, I would add that Miami clearly is not the Miami of old, and their offensive line is very poor, and their schemes are very poor.  The other two wins for Lousiville came against extremely bad football teams ... Temple is just a joke, a much bigger joke then FAU.   Kentucky is akin to Marshall on some levels.

I think there's a chance Louisville has a Miami hangover, and they have not been a particularly great road team over the last 2 or 3 years despite their nice records.   

IF (and that's a big IF) some little things break KSU's way, that will turn into big things, and the crowd can really get into it ... I think it bodes well for KSU making this a tight to the wire game.   

[FBWillie]

I'd like to see Prince and his coaching staff coach as if they actually want to win the game and not to limit the amount of points the other team is going to score (see Callahan).  If we get run then fine we'll at least know where we're at as a team/program.  
  

What play calling are you witnessing that would lead you to believe that the coaching staff isn't playing to win? 

[catzacker]

I'd like to see Prince and his coaching staff coach as if they actually want to win the game and not to limit the amount of points the other team is going to score (see Callahan).  If we get run then fine we'll at least know where we're at as a team/program. 
 

What play calling are you witnessing that would lead you to believe that the coaching staff isn't playing to win?

It wasn't a shot at our coaching staff....it was meant to be a shot at NU's. 

[Kat Kid]

Things I'd like to see:
* limit turnovers, especially game-changers for UL.  This will play a large role in keeping us in the game.
* protect Meier.  If all we do is short passes, runs, roll-outs and one big play action attempt a quarter and just limit UL possesions, limit probability of mistakes I will be happy.  This is the kind of crap that we as fans hate to watch, but it is better than having Meier get blindsided and fumble.
* Special teams/Defensive TD.  Aren't we expecting one of these a game now?  Holy crap!
* Clayton/RBs avg. 3.5+ yards a carry.  This would be tremendous, not necessarily realistic.
* Make the QB beat us/Pressure him/Stop the run
* hold them to under 35 points

Things I think we will have to do to win the game:

1.  At some point we are going to have to spread the field out 4/5 wide or so to put pressure on their D.  Even if this is just for a bubble screen or something I don't trust going max protect and letting Dylan throw to one side of the field.  I think he stares down recievers too much/not enough accuracy/zip on ball and their secondary will be athletic enough to make us pay for this.  I know this contradicts the second point above, but this is assuming that protecting Meier has not been the monumental task I expect it to be.

2.  Clayton/RBs will have to be a threat.  They will HAVE to get 3-4 yards on their first/second down carries.  ESPECIALLY if Norwood is out.

3.  Our LB will have to make one-two big plays either a key third down stuff on their HUGE (260lbs.??) RB but maybe a big hit/int/break up/deflection on a pass over the middle.  The UL recievers are going to be athletic and letting them get loose on a crossing pattern won't be pretty.

4.  We HAVE to get pressure from the front 4, and be willing to risk blitzing and relying on our safeties to cover/blitz effectively.  Pressuring UL is the only way we can force TO's, only way we make up for the billions of yards we will be giving up, only way we make this a game.

5.  I just hope to GOD that the crowd will be as pumped as I will.  We absolutely need to have the place ROCKING for this game.  UL hasn't played a tough away game yet, and we need to make them as uncomfortable as possible.  Start screaming when the 25 second play clock sets and don't stop until the ball is thrown/handed off.

[Kat Kid]

that was probably the most incredilous organization of a post evar.

my bad.  I am seriously, pumped about this game.

[FBWillie]

5.  I just hope to GOD that the crowd will be as pumped as I will.  We absolutely need to have the place ROCKING for this game.  UL hasn't played a tough away game yet, and we need to make them as uncomfortable as possible.  Start screaming when the 25 second play clock sets and don't stop until the ball is thrown/handed off.

Anyone else remember a time when the fans never stopped screaming on D?  When the opposition went into the huddle with the fans going nuts trying to rattle them?   





I miss that.

[michigancat]

5.  I just hope to GOD that the crowd will be as pumped as I will.  We absolutely need to have the place ROCKING for this game.  UL hasn't played a tough away game yet, and we need to make them as uncomfortable as possible.  Start screaming when the 25 second play clock sets and don't stop until the ball is thrown/handed off.

Anyone else remember a time when the fans never stopped screaming on D?  When the opposition went into the huddle with the fans going nuts trying to rattle them?   





I miss that.

You mean when we were good?

Yeah...me too.

[FBWillie]

yeah... then.

[trumanorme]

Keep it loud the whole game. Remember, the B-Bal recruits will be there.

 

[AzCat]

I'm not sure how much we'll learn this weekend but we'll learn an awful lot from how the team bounces back from the loss.  If they don't come out flat at Baylor it'll go a long way towards making this a bowl season.

[bigdeal]

Holy cow, is Louisville such a dominant program that we can only hope to not get blown out badly when they are missing their two best players...sorry, I think we tend to put other teams on a pedestal.  We can win this game but only if our offensive line plays MUCH better and if Dylan Meier is more accurate with his passing.  Our O line must give him time and give our backs some room to run. 

What can we learn from this weekend?  How about the college choice of several very good B-Ball recruits...that's the other thing we can learn.

[GoldbrickGangBoss]

You won't know anything unless you:

A. Win.
B. Get completely massacred.