Let's see how much we all really believe in CC? Thought hard about having "Before opening Kick Off" but I figured Carson had done enough to deserve a little more than that.
There aren't any personnel changes we can make that will make a difference in that game. Either we're going to be able to run the ball, or we're going to get killed. Either we convert the set of trick plays we're going to use to try and score against their defense, or we're going to get killed. Either we win in the turnover margin by at least one or two takeaways, or we're going to get killed.
This game is going to either be really, really ugly for us, or it's going to be a game like Texas in 2006 where every freaking rabbit we pull out of the hat works. I don't think there's going to be much in between.
why do you think there's not going to be much in between? basically every game kstate has played in the last year and a half has been "in between", including the nebraska game in lincoln last year.
do you think nebraska is that much better than they were last year or kstate is that much worse than last year. both? cause i'll be honest, i think the teams are pretty similar to their 2009 versions and kstate didn't do any of the things you listed above and the game was in lincoln and kstate didn't get "killed".
I think Nebraska is better, offensively, and I think K-State is worse, defensively.
So NU has the ability to run the football against KSU, especially since their specialty, the QB run game, has gashed this defense time and time again,
i think kstate is better, offensively, and i think nebraska is worse, defensively.
also, which multiple qb run games gashing the defense time and time again are you referring to? arnaud rushed 13 times for 39 yds and no tds. prince (ucla) rushed 12 times for 31 yds (2.6 avg) against ksu and 13 times for 50 yds (3.8 avg) against texas. central florida scored 13 points. what am i missing?
The threat of the QB run changes the dynamic of the defense and how they play. In those games, KSU has given up at least 170 on the ground. While the QBs themselves didn't rack up a ton of yards (save Godfrey), the running backs did.
Maybe it isn't the QB run game that hurts KSU; I don't know. Regardless, they didn't end up #100 in the nation in rushing by choice.
Ultimately, this game is going to be decided by who can run the football better. NU has Martinez and Helu Jr. KSU has Thomas. KSU is #100 in the nation in run defense and just gave up 250+ on the ground to UCF. They were a good team, but you know, that's not good regardless of who you play. NU gave up 140+ in three of their four games. So, yeah, I think these teams are probably similar in terms of strength's/weaknesses. However, given that NU has two threats to run and KSU only has one (in the game at a time), I give the advantage to NU.
And Carson will have to have the game of his life if he wants to come close to what he had against UCF on Saturday (which was probably the game of his life thus far).
Simply, my fear is this...we know that Martinez can be shaken. But will KSU even have the chance to force him into making mistakes if Nebraska can simply jam the ball down their throats? Can KSU continue to make stand after stand in the red zone? Henery is going to make the kicks other guys miss, so you can bank on them scoring when they get down there. Will KSU be able to move the ball against the best pass efficiency defense in the nation when they're so one-dimensional to begin with?
I'm not sold on Nebraska being a national title contender or a Big 12 championship team, but they're solid, they can run, and they have the best secondary in the conference. All of those things add up to a long night if KSU can't stop the run and move the ball on the ground themselves. Because they aren't going to get lucky against NU like they did against UCF on Saturday. You can't expect that kind of luck twice in a row.
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