Rapid Recap: Short-yardage situations hamper Kansas State

TIME TO CUT IT LOOSE

The most tangible part of the press conference from Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman following the Wildcats being upset at home by Tulane was his insistence that they need to have quarterback Adrian Martinez cut it loose.

While the quarterback himself reiterated that he doesn’t feel hesitant on the field or reluctant to take chances downfield, it is clear that the coaches feel that may need to be addressed. Klieman doesn’t want him to play afraid of making mistakes.

That is the same thing that K-State offensive coordinator Collin Klein mentioned during both fall camp and once again last week when he met with the media on Thursday.

When explaining where the shortcomings were on that side of the ball, Klieman did state the obvious and that was that they needed to be more explosive in the passing game. It will also help to have Deuce Vaughn available for the full 60 minutes, but they have to learn how to be competent without him.

SHORT-YARDAGE SITUATIONS FOR KANSAS STATE

Klieman began his press conference by calling it a disappointing loss for Kansas State and crediting Tulane head coach Willie Fritz for how prepared the Green Wave and how hard they played. He also identified the main problem as third and fourth down efficiency for the Wildcats.

I couldn’t agree more. As the K-State head coach shared, they were a combined 3 of 20 on third and fourth down and most of that was in short-yardage situations. Klieman said that it’s on him as a head coach and he still believes in his guys and in offensive coordinator Collin Klein.

But a lot of it was due to execution errors, which has been a bit of a theme this year. He noted that they made the wrong cut on a few of the runs and flat out didn’t block well enough up front. The penetration by Tulane gave his offensive line fits. The Green Wave got after them on the line of scrimmage.

An offensive line is up against the 8-ball naturally when the opposing defense doesn’t have to honor the vertical passing game whatsoever, but the offensive line met its match, too. They were not good enough, and that showed up in short-yardage situations where they got little to no push on a consistent basis.

VERDICT ON ROBINSON

KSO has hinted at it in recent updates, but it is official that Shawn Robinson has left the team. His Kansas State career never begins. Before a game is played, he has chosen to step away after spending all offseason with the Wildcats.

It is not behavior-related and it is under his own volition. He has opted to hang up the cleats.