Unsettled Waters

[kso_FAN]

ISU observos...

Waters was given the keys to the car in this game, and while he didn't take it out and wreck it, he took some bad turns and ran a stoplight, resulting in a ticket. Waters had every opportunity to (at least for the time being) take over the quarterback spot and lead K-State to its best run of offense on the season, but 4 missed throws in the 1st half stopped it. The Cats should have been up by 28 (or more), but an overthrow to an open Thompson on a fade, a throw in the ground to Lockett on Snyder's new favorite play (run/pass seam route option), a sailed throw to Sexton, and finally an open deep post route to Lockett ruined what could have been a great first half and a run of 8 (or more) scores on straight possessions for K-State's offense. However, after mixing in some big plays, K-State's offense only generated 17 points, the last score coming when Snyder finally inserted Sams into the game. The second half saw more of the quarterback carousel and better offensive production, but the roulette wheel of quarterback play will likely continue into the near future. Had Waters hit all 4 of those throws, Sams likely plays some, but I think Waters would have stepped up a couple rungs on the ladder. However, the throws weren't made and Snyder will continue to play both.

The defense continues to improve and gain confidence. Granted, ISU isn't an offensive juggernaut, but its nice to see us take a bad offense and essentially shut them out, plus avoid giving up big plays.

K-State's power running game from the I formation was dreadful. So was much of the power running game with the QB, mainly when Sams is in the game. As I said last week, much of K-State's running game is slow developing because we often pull the backside offensive lineman and teams continue to shoot gaps with defensive linemen causing us fits.

Lockett and Thompson are really good. Both bailed out both QBs multiple times.

Hubert seems to be getting back into form. He's hitting holes quicker and making fewer mistakes. Having him playing to his potential helps both quarterbacks. 

Tight end and full back continue to be a work in progress in the running game/blocking.

[kim carnes]

Lockett is probably the best receiver we've ever had

[everyone shut up]

Lockett is probably the best receiver we've ever had

he's the best Lockett we've ever had, imo. and that's nothing to be ashamed of.

[kim carnes]

Lockett is probably the best receiver we've ever had

he's the best Lockett we've ever had, imo. and that's nothing to be ashamed of.

ok.  so he's the best receiver we've ever had.

[everyone shut up]

Lockett is probably the best receiver we've ever had

he's the best Lockett we've ever had, imo. and that's nothing to be ashamed of.

ok.  so he's the best receiver we've ever had.

i'm agreeing with you. go cats

[pvegs]

ISU observos...

Waters was given the keys to the car in this game, and while he didn't take it out and wreck it, he took some bad turns and ran a stoplight, resulting in a ticket. Waters had every opportunity to (at least for the time being) take over the quarterback spot and lead K-State to its best run of offense on the season, but 4 missed throws in the 1st half stopped it. The Cats should have been up by 28 (or more), but an overthrow to an open Thompson on a fade, a throw in the ground to Lockett on Snyder's new favorite play (run/pass seam route option), a sailed throw to Sexton, and finally an open deep post route to Lockett ruined what could have been a great first half and a run of 8 (or more) scores on straight possessions for K-State's offense. However, after mixing in some big plays, K-State's offense only generated 17 points, the last score coming when Snyder finally inserted Sams into the game. The second half saw more of the quarterback carousel and better offensive production, but the roulette wheel of quarterback play will likely continue into the near future. Had Waters hit all 4 of those throws, Sams likely plays some, but I think Waters would have stepped up a couple rungs on the ladder. However, the throws weren't made and Snyder will continue to play both.

The defense continues to improve and gain confidence. Granted, ISU isn't an offensive juggernaut, but its nice to see us take a bad offense and essentially shut them out, plus avoid giving up big plays.

K-State's power running game from the I formation was dreadful. So was much of the power running game with the QB, mainly when Sams is in the game. As I said last week, much of K-State's running game is slow developing because we often pull the backside offensive lineman and teams continue to shoot gaps with defensive linemen causing us fits.

Lockett and Thompson are really good. Both bailed out both QBs multiple times.

Hubert seems to be getting back into form. He's hitting holes quicker and making fewer mistakes. Having him playing to his potential helps both quarterbacks. 

Tight end and full back continue to be a work in progress in the running game/blocking.

Good summary.  Very surprising to think the defense is the unit that has markedly improved.  I wouldn't have guessed that after NDSU, and it's somewhat hard to pinpoint as a LFIQ fan - to whom only Mueller has shown obvious stud status. On offense, certain individuals have gotten better and having Lockett/Thompson healthy has been extremely helpful, but it's hard to envision dramatic improvement this season with the inconsistencies in QB play.  "It is what it is" is one of my least favorite phrases for its laziness, but with 4 games left in the season that's pretty much how I feel about our '13 offense, particularly the QBs.

[steve dave]

It's important to remember that this is one of the worst teams we've played in recent memory. Possibly the worst we will play this season. Don't read too much into the good stuff (and be very scared about the stuff we were still somehow bad at)

[catzacker]

I hate our secondary so much.

Would it kill our rough ridin' DT's to maintain some rough ridin' lane/gap discipline?

Sams must be hurt this year.  He is just not explosive/fast.

TBL and Mueller are pretty neat players.

Wish we threw more screens on passing downs with Sams.

ISU is rough ridin' awful.  Worse than Terry Allen KU teams.

[pvegs]

It's important to remember that this is one of the worst teams we've played in recent memory. Possibly the worst we will play this season. Don't read too much into the good stuff (and be very scared about the stuff we were still somehow bad at)

Yeah, I guess my overall sentiment is that we're basically the same team we've been all year with some subtle improvements.  6-6 still seems about right.

[star seed 7]

It's important to remember that this is one of the worst teams we've played in recent memory. Possibly the worst we will play this season. Don't read too much into the good stuff (and be very scared about the stuff we were still somehow bad at)

bummer

[MakeItRain]

Jake threw the ball very poorly today

[wetwillie]

Do other people agree that sams is not fast or explosive? I think that is just not true.

[ben ji]

Do other people agree that sams is not fast or explosive? I think that is just not true.

He seems very fast the 1st 10-15 yards, has not shown "breakaway" speed though.

[michigancat]

Jake is hypothetically the best qb, assuming he completes all his bombs to the good wr's.

Also, does it seem like sams  throws less now that Thompson and Lockett are back?

[MakeItRain]

Do other people agree that sams is not fast or explosive? I think that is just not true.

I didn't agree with any of zackers first three points. I have no idea what the hell what he's talking about as far as speed goes, the coaches haven't found a way to get him in space since the UMass game so I have no idea how anyone can tell how fast he is running in a phone booth. He cant get to the second level when they are stacking the box. In all of our home conference games the safeties are walking up with the LBs. The coaches need to let him throw more earlier to loosen up the defense. They keep bringing him in and ram him into the line like 10 straight plays before he runs.

[MakeItRain]

Jake is hypothetically the best qb, assuming he completes all his bombs to the good wr's.

Also, does it seem like sams  throws less now that Thompson and Lockett are back?

I'd be happy with him putting the quick slants in the right place that we are so fond of calling. He threw that slant 4 times and missed badly each time. Lockett made a great catch on one of those for the first completion of the game, it should have been a touchdown but the ball was way behind Lockett.

Sams is playing less since Thompson and Lockett are back so it stands to reason that Sams' is throwing less passes in meaningful situations. Some people theorized when Lockett and Thompson were out that Sams played more because those receivers were out. They do let Sams throw in garbage time though.

[ArchE_Cat]

It's important to remember that this is one of the worst teams we've played in recent memory. Possibly the worst we will play this season. Don't read too much into the good stuff (and be very scared about the stuff we were still somehow bad at)

Hmm, tcu, WVU, and ku tho. I mean woof

[kso_FAN]

FWIW, I think there is something to zacker's premise of Sams not being as explosive. He still does some nice things, but he seems to be breaking fewer big runs. Granted, part of it is how they are defended, but Waters has more big runs the last two games than Sams.

[joda]

Sams looked pretty explosive on that zone read on one of his first series.

[eastcat]

I don't think you can say he had the "keys to the car" when we mostly ran 2wr sets. 4 or 5 wide would be more his territory.

Both him and Sams are playing far less stupid. Ball security has improved about 300% between the 2 of them.

[MakeItRain]

FWIW, I think there is something to zacker's premise of Sams not being as explosive. He still does some nice things, but he seems to be breaking fewer big runs. Granted, part of it is how they are defended, but Waters has more big runs the last two games than Sams.

Come on _FAN it has everything to do with how he is defended, well the play calling has a role too. There were two Waters runs in particular where this is apparent.  Waters first run was a great play design that we have not seen for Sams; the play flowed right but 3 Olinemen went left and created a beautiful wall for Jake, a truly mobile QB would have housed it. Jake got a very nice run out of it but Sams would have scored on that. I don't know if we ever even ran that play for CK.

There was also a play that Waters went right up the middle for almost 20, again great run by Jake. Sams isn't getting those chances because even when we spread the field when he's in the corners are up on the receivers and the safeties are walking up. I have no explanation as to we aren't seeing a diversity of play calling when Sams is in but it is unquestionably happening. Its almost like the coaches are expecting Sams to beat the defenses no matter what they do, or they're happy with him running like Klein did, but obviously he isn't that type of runner.

[kso_FAN]

I don't think you can say he had the "keys to the car" when we mostly ran 2wr sets. 4 or 5 wide would be more his territory.

Both him and Sams are playing far less stupid. Ball security has improved about 300% between the 2 of them.

He played the first 1 and a half quarters and had a game plan (and opponent) that should have set up a 28+ point half up for him. But he missed 4 open receivers that made it feel like ISU was kind of in the game.

[MakeItRain]

I don't think you can say he had the "keys to the car" when we mostly ran 2wr sets. 4 or 5 wide would be more his territory.

Both him and Sams are playing far less stupid. Ball security has improved about 300% between the 2 of them.

We didn't run MOSTLY 2 WR sets but even when we did he had options at TE and RB. Why are 4 or 5 WR sets his territory, did he stop being a pro style QB and became a spread QB overnight?

[420seriouscat69]

He looked good. Missed fired on a few attempts and he got stale in the 2nd half when isu figured out his game. This game was setup perfectly for 2 qb system, mainly cause Rhoads is a dumbass and doesn't know how to adjust. That said, good game for both qb's. that said, SAMs is more exciting to watch. That, and water is wet.

[bones129]

He looked good. Missed fired on a few attempts and he got stale in the 2nd half when isu figured out his game. This game was setup perfectly for 2 qb system, mainly cause Rhoads is a dumbass and doesn't know how to adjust. That said, good game for both qb's. that said, SAMs is more exciting to watch. That, and water is wet.

Interesting post. Very interesting.