Rapid Recap: Kansas State ready for first business trip
Kansas State wrinkles
For those that believe we know everything there is to know about the Kansas State defense and the plans, including me, it may be time to think again. Defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman certainly provided a few hints on Thursday that the Wildcats may only be scratching the surface.
He acknowledged that they threw out a bit of a four-down package in the second half versus Troy, and he was honest about wanting to be multiple, versatile and complicate game plans for opposing offenses. And those might not be the only wrinkles.
Klanderman also dipped his toes in the water of finding more and more different ways to use speed rushers like Khalid Duke and Tobi Osunsanmi. They may have only allowed 13 points thus far, but he believes they have the potential to be much better.
Not only can they become more creative with their looks, disguise more of their packages and effectively, K-State can unleash more weapons in different ways. Additionally, their depth is full of young players that will be significantly better in a month.
Business trip
A first road game can present challenges, especially for a young team. Kansas State may not be that young, especially when referring to the ones. But they do have a lot of guys on the second line and in the rotation that have yet to participate in an away game or make a trip.
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Klanderman noted that but was confident that the overwhelming amount of maturity they possess as a team will override some of that inexperience. The K-State roster knows that they are not “going there just to eat skittles and steak” said the defensive coordinator. It is a business trip.
Team speed
They have not tried to hide the fact that they have much more team speed on defense for this season. And Kansas State has showed that through the first two contests. It has allowed them to mask some of the mistakes.
When you play fast and hard, some of the errors are not as visible, or at least not as detrimental. That’s what you get with the K-State defense. And more than anything, it has shown up on the defensive line, according to Klanderman.
All of the tackles for loss, havoc and disruption that has been caused by the Kansas State front is a product of them being much more athletic, twitchy and quick.
