Where do we go from here?

[bones129]

After a bad start to this season, then some good wins, then a great bowl game victory...what's next?

IMHO, Coach Snyder finds a way to resolve the "QB controversy" and Jake and Sams will both contribute significantly to a very successful season. Jake will take most of the QB snaps and the Snyder Wizard will find ways to make Sams like a knight or bishop in chess...many masterful moves.

[1863]

Honestly?

Another Titletown (at least in football, I'll address the basketball side elsewhere).

Everyone knew this would be a rebuilding year, and everyone thought that 8-5 with a bowl win would be reasonable. But I also think that going through this season everyone thought we should have gotten at least a win or two more... meaning 9-4 or even 10-3.

We should be able to improve to at the very least 9-4 or 10-3 next year. And if you take out the mistakes that led us to cough up those 9-4, 10-3 records? Well then you are looking at a possible 11-2 or better record.
(12-1 or 13-0 if you can't use maths.) Which is what we had last year early on when we were challenging for a national title.

Guys, I want to challenge for a national title again. It felt good last year.

Maybe I am not being realistic, but I feel like I am.

[chum1]

I think Snyder already found a resolution to the QB controversy.

[Cire]

Yeah Sam's won't be more than a slash type player next year

[Pett]

I think Snyder already found a resolution to the QB controversy.

Yep....Waters was a complete stud last night

[K-S-U-Wildcats!]

We should definitely be better next year, but I imagine other teams in the conference will be too. It was a down year.

At the most important position, Waters has solidified himself the last half of this season. Last night was fantastic, but Michigans defense is crap. Still, he had great pocket presence, great accuracy, and had a few good scrambles for key conversions. Still not convinced Sams can't be the better QB - seems like he was only inserted last night in designed run plays, just what D was expecting, and the only page ss he threw was a beautiful bomb that Lockett just dropped - but I'd like to end this "controversy" and get Sams into a more productive role where he gets more touches.

We're good at WR as long as Lockett stays.

I'm concerned at RB, obvs.

O Line will be stout. Same for the D line.

We still need more help at linebacker and Zimmerman is a big loss at safety. Overall, I'm still quite concerned about the defense next year.

[kcnut]

We win other teams lose and it's another title for title town USA

[GoodForAnother]

we can challenge for the big 12 title, and therefore a playoff spot, next year. and that's neat.

[kso_FAN]

Plenty coming back, expect improvement. 9-3 would be nice, but the schedule will be solid.

[bshea85]

I see Waters starting and being the stud I knew he'd eventually be.  As for Sams....

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1902912-if-a-position-change-means-more-playing-time-for-ksu-qb-daniel-sams-so-be-it

Sams would be a great WR/RB.  He's one of the fastest guys on the team, if not in the BigXII.  Could you imagine a Sams/Lockett threat at WR with Waters slinging the ball?  Anybody with me on that idea?

[catzacker]

QB - should be good enough to win 8 games.   I assume it will be jake.
RB/FB - who the f knows at RB, Hubes isn't impressive but was steady, would like more explosion, but doubt we get that - can't wait to see what Gronk looks like next season
OL - lose 3sr's (but really only two spots as Stiverson can fill in at RG).  OT's will be ?'s.  Can Luke Hayes step in?
WR - need Andre Davis to step in and make plays (I suppose this is where Sams could fit in). 
TE - hopefully Trujllo can be Tannahill his sr yr.

DL - I expect them to wreck crap next year
LB - if Dvonta makes it, could be an upgraded unit, plus i'm looking for someone out of Davis, Moore, Dakorey, and Ramirez to make an impact
CB - could have been the weakest unit this past year - I don't see how they aren't better - but will rely on juco kids, so we'll see how they improve.  please god let one of them be nigel Malone and actually be a threat to pick off those hitch routes we love to concede.
S/FS - can't replace Zims.  Barnett has to get better/bigger/more disciplined.  Interested to see if Travis Green can be decent.

If our OL and secondary can be better, if we don't turn the ball over, we should at a minimum win 8 regular season games.  Can't stumble in our winnable road games (ISU, WVU, TCU).

[Jackstack99EMAW]

Im happy we won, but you guys are jumping the gun.  Waters was below average-average most of the year.  He had a good game, but Michigan's pass d really isnt that good.  Sams fumbles too much and doesnt have the running style to be a RB, too raw to be WR.  He needs to be QB still mostly with snaps at WR, I mean it's like you guys didnt watch him throw.  Pretty clear his throwing improved a lot throughout the season.  He fumbles, sure, not like it can't be improved.  He's a sophomore and he needs to play QB, he ran like 5 plays all year and has a lot of success.  He has way too much talent and potential at QB to waste it at another position.

[scottwildcat]

we can challenge for the big 12 title, and therefore a playoff spot, next year. and that's neat.

Us winning the B12 doesn't get us to the playoff unless we are undefeated or the PAC ACC big 10 champion has 3 losses.

[EMAWmeister]

Im happy we won, but you guys are jumping the gun.  Waters was below average-average most of the year.

I'll disagree with that

[ChiComCat]

I think the B12 is going to be really really good next year guys.  Likely that OU, OSU, and Baylor all improve.  Feasible that UT does as well.

We could be a lot better than this year and still end up 7-5.

[K-S-U-Wildcats!]

we can challenge for the big 12 title, and therefore a playoff spot, next year. and that's neat.

Us winning the B12 doesn't get us to the playoff unless we are undefeated or the PAC ACC big 10 champion has 3 losses.

A 1 loss Big 12 team has a better than even shot at playoff. I don't see the committee taking a second team from the SEC or that otherwise doesn't win a major conference, but maybe I'm not jaded enough.

Also, hate to break it to you but we had a better chance of winning the NC without a playoff. Would have been favored in 98 and 12 if we hadn't mumped up. If there had been a playoff in 2012, we would have been torched by Oregon or Bama in the semis.

[Panjandrum]

Im happy we won, but you guys are jumping the gun.  Waters was below average-average most of the year.

I'll disagree with that

He would have started at every Big 12 school other than OSU and Baylor this year.

Our offense was very good.  Once they got the turnovers figured out, he was pretty good.

The second half of the WVU game was amazing.

[Panjandrum]

Plenty coming back, expect improvement. 9-3 would be nice, but the schedule will be solid.

Let your inner homer come through.  We're gonna be contenders in the Big 12.

[scottwildcat]

we can challenge for the big 12 title, and therefore a playoff spot, next year. and that's neat.

Us winning the B12 doesn't get us to the playoff unless we are undefeated or the PAC ACC big 10 champion has 3 losses.

A 1 loss Big 12 team has a better than even shot at playoff. I don't see the committee taking a second team from the SEC or that otherwise doesn't win a major conference, but maybe I'm not jaded enough.

Also, hate to break it to you but we had a better chance of winning the NC without a playoff. Would have been favored in 98 and 12 if we hadn't mumped up. If there had been a playoff in 2012, we would have been torched by Oregon or Bama in the semis.

....1 loss UT or OU are the only B12 teams that will get benefit of the doubt when it comes down to it. Also I hate to break it to you but everyone in the world knows we had a better chance to win a NC in the old format.

[michigancat]

Don't be loser dorks, guys.

[kso_FAN]

Im happy we won, but you guys are jumping the gun.  Waters was below average-average most of the year.

I'll disagree with that

He would have started at every Big 12 school other than OSU and Baylor this year.

Our offense was very good.  Once they got the turnovers figured out, he was pretty good.

The second half of the WVU game was amazing.

I understand to a point the angst toward Jake after the loss to NDSU, but the guy improved progressively as the year went along. He was great in the bowl game and became an above average Big 12 QB. I saw the potential for the beauty of Waters/Lockett following the Texas game (and the staff's ability to get them connected), but that doesn't erase the frustrating stretches of play calling and the weird QB rotations at times during the season. I think the staff grew and I've got to give them a lot of credit of (for once) developing a gameplan that Michigan had no answer for in the first half, and really in the 2nd half except for some silly K-State mistakes. (and mistakes that K-State must eliminate if they want to be a 9+ win team next year).

Its clear that the direction this staff wants to go is Waters. The key for next year is if Snyder/Dimel/Miller thinks they have a capable back-up in the mix for him to see what we can do with Sams. I understand the anger here for if Sams is moved because he did a lot of really good things at QB this year, but if the staff wants to go with Waters, he must be on the field.

Sams wants to be here and respects Snyder, if Snyder is willing to move him then he will be fine with it and I think he can be a very capable replacement for Thompson. He'll have to learn the nuances of being a receiver, but he won't have to learn the offense and will have a great understanding of how we use our receivers, presnap reads between our receivers and QB, and clearly he has the athletic ability and explosiveness to play the position and play it well.

IMHO, the real question will be if we move him back to QB after Waters graduates.   

[EMAWzified]

Synder's seasons after bowl wins:
1994, K-State's first 9 win regular season.
1996, K-State's first New Year's Day bowl game
1998, K-State's first north title, first No. 1 ranking
2000, North title
2001,outer, 6-6 season
2003, First Big 12 Championship

[kim carnes]

lol at people who think waters will be as good next year as he was last night

[michigancat]

Its clear that the direction this staff wants to go is Waters. The key for next year is if Snyder/Dimel/Miller thinks they have a capable back-up in the mix for him to see what we can do with Sams. I understand the anger here for if Sams is moved because he did a lot of really good things at QB this year, but if the staff wants to go with Waters, he must be on the field.   

No, Sams should be backup QB. He's below average at any other position.

[kso_FAN]

Its clear that the direction this staff wants to go is Waters. The key for next year is if Snyder/Dimel/Miller thinks they have a capable back-up in the mix for him to see what we can do with Sams. I understand the anger here for if Sams is moved because he did a lot of really good things at QB this year, but if the staff wants to go with Waters, he must be on the field.   

No, Sams should be backup QB. He's below average at any other position.

I don't agree at all. I think he could be a really good WR (since he already has been).