Originally posted on kstateonline.com
By Derek Young
KSO will look at a handful of categories each week when previewing the Kansas State game on Saturday. What are the factors to keep in mind for the Wildcats, what K-State needs to learn, the players to watch and a final prediction.
FOUR FACTORS FOR KANSAS STATE
1. FAST START: There hasn’t been a more anticipated game in Manhattan since I began covering Kansas State in 2017. It has a chance to be at a fever pitch by kickoff at Bill Snyder Family Stadium if the weather cooperates. A good way to draw the crowd in even more and make them an integral factor and have it be tough on Missouri is to jump out to a fast start just like they did versus South Dakota.
2. TRENCHES: The Wildcats will be a man down on the offensive line. Taylor Poitier’s injury forces Hadley Panzer into the starting lineup at right guard. KT Leveston receives his first real test. Eli Drinkwitz and the Tigers have three defensive linemen that they believe will play on Sundays. On the other end, Missouri is concerned about how right tackle Zeke Powell will hold up versus Felix Anudike-Uzomah. Each team has a handful of future pros on the defensive line. Who wins those battles will go a long way in determining Saturday’s winner.
3. ADRIAN MARTINEZ: Missouri can’t think there’s any other way to defend the Wildcats than to make Adrian Martinez beat them. They just saw him throw for only 53 yards on 11 completions, and they are well aware of his past where he has been prone to mistakes in crucial situations of critical ball games. How he plays under pressure is an important item. We didn’t see any explosives from him personally against the Coyotes, but he will need a few through the air when they host Missouri.
4. DON’T GIVE AWAY POINTS: Much to the pleasure of head coach Chris Klieman, K-State has yet to turn the ball over this year. They played a clean game in that respect last Saturday. Doing so again could be the difference between winning and losing during week two. Not only that, but special teams could play a role. While the Tigers have one of the best kickers in the country, Chris Tennant is slumping a bit for the Wildcats.
WHAT THE WILDCATS NEED TO LEARN
1. OFFENSIVE LINE: We liked what we saw from KT Leveston last week, but it’ll be much different for him this week. The player across from him will be quicker and more skilled. We will find out if he is indeed the answer at left tackle this week. Hayden Gillum is quick and athletic, but his snaps scared me a bit last week. And how does he play versus someone much larger across the line of scrimmage? It’s a big moment for Hadley Panzer, as he replaces Poitier. We’ll learn a lot about this group.
2. THROW GAME: They won’t defeat Missouri if they throw for 53 yards again. Then again, perhaps Mother Nature will tell me to hold her beer. They have to learn that they have a competent passing attack and can trust the arm of Martinez, the mind of Collin Klein and the experienced receivers that seem prepared to handle the majority of the snaps.
SATURDAY STARS
Adrian Martinez: Drinkwitz is no dummy. He will force Martinez to make plays to win. Is he up to the task?
Felix Anudike-Uzomah: It is just a very, very good matchup for Anudike-Uzomah. The Tigers are forced into playing their back-up right tackle in Zeke Powell, and he has struggled for much of his career despite the experience that he possesses. If they have to devote more help to that side of the line, it could even expose them in other areas.
Seth Porter: As alluded to earlier, Missouri has an excellent kicker in Harrison Mevis. Not only is he excellent on field goals, he’s a weapon in producing touchbacks as well. That eliminates the kick return game for the Wildcats. That’s why Seth Porter on the punt block teams, after nearly getting three in the opener, is the special teams player to watch.
PREDICTION
If Kansas State plays up to their standard, they should win on Saturday when the regional rivalry with Missouri is re-booted. The matchup plays in their favor, as long as they defend the run and the offensive line holds up versus the Tigers’ pass-rushers.
I anticipate seeing much more from the passing game. Martinez should be cut loose and show off his wide skill-set in a way that we didn’t see a week ago. Missouri will force him to do so, and he is the kind of dynamic and explosive athlete with both his arm and legs to make them pay for it.
Although the Tigers defended the run beautifully against Louisiana Tech, it was a struggle for them most of last season. That plays to K-State’s advantage. On the flip side, I’m not a believer in the Missouri passing game, and that also works out in favor of the Wildcats.
I’m a little concerned about the passing windows that they surrendered versus South Dakota, though that could have been only a first game issue and they were without a few starters on that side of the ball as well.
Missouri wants to run the ball more than anything, and the Kansas State defensive line should be built to stop it in its tracks. But it will require discipline from the likes of Anudike-Uzomah, Nate Matlack, Khalid Duke and Brendan Mott on the edge.
K-State moves to 2-0 on the year with a 28-17 victory.
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