Prince has got to build depth.

[sonofdaxjones]

When your walking into your instate rivalry game with 2.5 of your 3 best WR's out, with 3 defensive starters out, and you start 4 or 5 true freshman it's tough.

Props to ku for taking full advantage of KSU's silly mistakes and over aggressiveness on defense.

Other observations:

1.  Sorry;  while I love Brandon Archer and Diles as hard nosed players, but they are either physically getting wiped out, or schematically getting wiped out.

2.  I don't like our defense.  The DE's are easy to beat using counter/flow action, the linebackers are consistently getting caught up in the "wash", and the Cover 2 leaves to many holes in it at time.    Our DE's may be some the most poorly coached players in football.

3.  Dumb game plan yesterday considering our WR injuries (had they not been injured we throw the ball all over the place).  If I'm prince I tell Leon Patton to buckle up his chinstrap because he's getting the ball 30 times.   The kid has the physical makeup to carry the ball 30 times in a game like yesterday, with no game again for another 4 or 5 weeks.   When your 3 best WR's are either out totally or gimping around on 1 leg, you don't try to throw the ball all the time Ron. 

Silly, stupid, uncalled for mistakes killed KSU yesterday.  While the roughing call was absolutely pathetic, I ask, why the &*$@! are we even going after the kicker, when they're kicking deep in their own territory into a stiff wind??   When you can't score 1st and goal inside the 10, then you don't deserve to win.

Future:  Looks bright.

Other notes:  Two of KSU's commits to get more stars per Rivals.

[michigancat]

Pretty good post.  It did look like our DE's had never seen a shotgun QB read before.  I don't have a big problem with the overall scheme, though.

[Wildcat Jack]

When your walking into your instate rivalry game with 2.5 of your 3 best WR's out, with 3 defensive starters out, and you start 4 or 5 true freshman it's tough.

They're all just effing <insert female body parts here> 

1.  Sorry;  while I love Brandon Archer and Diles as hard nosed players, but they are either physically getting wiped out, or schematically getting wiped out.

Agree 100%

The DE's are easy to beat using counter/flow action,

Agreed, we don't defend the counter well.  We did a horrible job against texas.  I don't think our DT's do a good job with either.  We're severely outnumbered when opponents throw in the QB run-game too.  We need to shore this up.

If I'm prince I tell Leon Patton to buckle up his chinstrap because he's getting the ball 30 times.   The kid has the physical makeup to carry the ball 30 times in a game like yesterday, with no game again for another 4 or 5 weeks.

This is what I don't like about the WCO (Wildcat Creek Offense)...it seems coaches using it don't allow for the opportunity to play smashmouth football when that would be the kind of thing the situation calls for.  This isn't an admonition of the WCO, because we've all seen how effective it can be this year....but occasionally you gotta buckle up and go slobberknockin'.

[michigancat]

This is what I don't like about the WCO (Wildcat Creek Offense)...it seems coaches using it don't allow for the opportunity to play smashmouth football when that would be the kind of thing the situation calls for. This isn't an admonition of the WCO, because we've all seen how effective it can be this year....but occasionally you gotta buckle up and go slobberknockin'.

I disagree...look at the OSU, ISU, and CU games.  I think the staff (wrongfully) lacked confidence in the running game for some reason and (wrongfully) thought they could pass at will against ku's horrible pass D.

[Wildcat Jack]

This is what I don't like about the WCO (Wildcat Creek Offense)...it seems coaches using it don't allow for the opportunity to play smashmouth football when that would be the kind of thing the situation calls for. This isn't an admonition of the WCO, because we've all seen how effective it can be this year....but occasionally you gotta buckle up and go slobberknockin'.

I disagree...look at the OSU, ISU, and CU games.  I think the staff (wrongfully) lacked confidence in the running game for some reason and (wrongfully) thought they could pass at will against ku's horrible pass D.

It definitely would've been bold and daring to come out and smashmouth it and then complement with the passing game...I don't know if it would've been effective but we had pretty good rushing stats from a ypc standpoint and ku was clearly ready for all of our passing schemes....hindsight is always easier

[PoetWarrior]

If the D was 100% healthy than we would still be saying, "the lynch mob is back!"

Injuries have decimated our shallow team.

And I was wrong, without Yamon we had no chance to be successful throwing yesterday.

[mjrod]

It's understandable why they went to the pass so much because Freeman had momentum in his favor and was throwing very well.

The problem is, his WR targets aren't the veterans who knew how to get into open spaces quickly so he could throw quicker.  Out patterns to Nelson were easily caught, and ku was stalking the screen.   That leaves trying to run the ball, and our offense could move them, on the several occassions they did, I think we just didn't take advantage of it.

Prince went to the well too much for passing and assumed that ku could stop the run as well as Texas.  Mangino went after bold and daring by realizing Prince would go with what is getting better.

Suffice it to say, Prince got outcoached, but I know he'll figure it out.   Next stop.. bowl game.

[ksu_FAN]

We were trying to mix running and passing early IMO.  2 TOs in a row (when you are moving the football) will hurt a team no matter who you are.  It happens fellas.  The early mistakes killed us and ku took full advantage of them.  We didn't come into Lawrence in a very good position to play comeback football and we got put into position to do just that very early.

[RegWalker53]

I wonder who will get the extra stars?