While each team/year is different, the game last year was even, save for ISU’s two turnovers. ISU ran on us with efficiency and I am still not sold on this our defense’s ability to stop the run. We have lived/benefited off turnovers (our TO margin is top 5 nationally – however I recognize that ISU has certainly benefited from turnovers as well). I mean, what happens if KU doesn’t fumble that ball on the kickoff following the safety? At that point, our defense was still on its heels – even the pick was a poorly, underthrown ball as KU was driving to score.
Moving forward, the talent discrepancy between ksu and its opponent is either a push or in favor of the opposition. I don’t understand the unbridled optimism (albeit some of it a facade) about this team. This team is good, but every single game moving forward will be based on us executing - we simply don’t have the talent to cover mistakes – and it’s tough to expect them to play at the “perfect” level game in and game out. In many ways, I liken it to Frank’s teams – they require(d) consistent effort and when it wasn’t there then we were going to lose, regardless of the opponent because we didn’t have the talent to make up for it.