| Each week during the season, Joel Buchsbaum spotlights key college games.
This week, he previews the Big 12 championship game, Kansas State vs. Oklahoma. He breaks
down each team, provides a scout’s perspective on top players and picks a final
score.
| Kansas State vs.
Oklahoma |
Saturday, Dec. 2
at Arrowhead Stadium
Kansas City, Mo. |
 |
Kansas State WR
Quincy Morgan
|
The fact these two teams are battling for the Big 12 championship is a great tribute to
the players’ will to win and the coaching brilliance of the two staffs involved. If
pure talent dictated who met in this game, there is no question it would be a matchup
between Texas and Nebraska. However, Oklahoma beat both of those teams and Kansas State on
its way to a perfect season to this point, and Kansas State edged Nebraska by a point with
the right to play Oklahoma again at stake. If Oklahoma wins this game, the Sooners will
play in the national championship and go into the game ranked No. 1 in the nation. On the
other hand, a Kansas State win puts it in a major bowl and gives the Wildcats a lot of
respect, but they will not play for the national championship. The Sooners already have
beaten Kansas State, and while the final score was 41-31, they really dominated much more
than that score indicates. One key and often overlooked factor is that the game will be
played outdoors, at night, in December and in a cold-weather venue, which tells you how
much some people feel about the good and health of the players and fans involved —
and how they feel about getting the maximum amount of money for the game. A second key is
the Wildcats have two weeks to prepare for the Sooners and may have learned a few things
by watching how teams defensed Oklahoma in recent weeks. In limiting Oklahoma to just 12
points in the season finale, Oklahoma State generally dropped seven to eight men into
coverage and let the Sooners dink and dunk short but kept everything underneath the
coverage. On the other hand, Texas, Nebraska and Kansas State all rushed and blitzed the
Sooners and gave up nearly 150 points between them.
Quarterbacks — In the words of one scout, "Oklahoma’s
Josh Heupel lacks arm strength, compounds the problem by throwing too many passes off his
back foot, and when off balance, makes some ill-advised throws and has a funky delivery.
However, the son of a gun seems to see the whole field, does a great job of playing within
the system, makes a lot of terrific reads and makes the plays that put his team in
position to win the games. I might not even draft the guy, but I would give him my vote
for the Heisman." Nevertheless, in Oklahoma’s last three games, with everyone
dropping seven and eight players and forcing Oklahoma to throw underneath, Heupel had a
3-to-6 TD-interception ratio. Kansas State’s Jonathan Beasley is a big-play/bad-play
quarterback with average talent. He has run for a lot of touchdowns and thrown quite a few
long TD passes, but he only completes about 37 percent of his passes against ranked
opponents. He also is prone to throwing ill-advised interceptions. Edge: Oklahoma
Running backs — It appears as if the speedy Josh Scobey has
replaced injury-prone David Allen as the Wildcats’ No. 1 runner, but both will play a
lot, and both are capable of making the big play. However, neither is a special back with
great power. Oklahoma spreads everyone out, which makes it much easier for the
Sooners’ backs to find running room. While 5-6 bowling ball Quentin Griffin is not a
blue-chip type runner, he runs very low to the ground, finds the hole and is a very
effective goal-line runner who scores a lot of touchdowns. Edge: Even
Receivers — Oklahoma is loaded with talented young receivers who
seem to make big play after big play and step up in big games. However, most of them also
will drop some very catchable balls. The only reason Kansas State is in this game is that
after an erratic and somewhat disappointing senior year, Quincy Morgan stepped up and had
a monster game to almost single-handedly beat Nebraska. Aaron Lockett is a smurf who
dropped too many passes this year, but he has the quickness and speed to break the game
open and plays with a lot of heart. Like Allen, he is also a top return man. Kansas State
could have a secret weapon in unheralded blue-collar TE Shad Meier. Edge: Even
Offensive linemen — If you were to rate Oklahoma’s line on
paper, you would give it an average grade at best. However, the group is very efficient
blocking in this scheme. Kansas State’s line is a lot like Oklahoma’s but not as
good. Edge: Oklahoma
Defensive linemen — The Sooners have a very short and undersized
line, but all their linemen do a great job of keeping blockers off their two inside
linebackers so they can run free and make plays on the ball and rush the passer. Kansas
State has a big, strong, quick, active, run-stuffing tackle in Mario Fatafehi and two
quick, undersized pass rushing ends in Monty Beisel and Chris Johnson. Edge: Even
Linebackers — The Wildcats do not have a star in the Gary
Spani/Mark Simoneau mold, but they have a workmanlike group. Oklahoma has an All-American
in Rocky Calmus and a second All-Big 12 linebacker in Torrance Marshall in the middle,
with Calmus generally lining up on the weak side. Calmus has top instincts and
anticipation and is the leader of the defense. Marshall is very fast, very explosive and
has really developed over the course of the year. However, opponents can use his
aggressiveness against him at times. He is a good rusher, especially when he rushes off
the edge. Edge: Oklahoma
Defensive backs — Oklahoma started three freshmen and a sophomore
vs. Texas A&M. All are big, young, very athletic and talented, and none get
intimidated. Kansas State has an overrated but pretty solid group, led by hard-hitting SS
Jarrod Cooper, who will blow players up but will also miss tackles. Edge: Oklahoma
Special teams — Kansas State’s special teams are generally
superb, but they had major breakdowns vs. Nebraska that almost cost the Wildcats the game.
Allen and Lockett are top return men, and Jamie Rheem is a very reliable placekicker. The
Sooners have done a great great job of blocking kicks and blocking for their kick
returners. However, PK Tim Duncan has not always been Mr. Automatic. Slight Edge:
Kansas State
Coaching — Under Barry Switzer, Oklahoma won by recruiting better
and having more talent than other teams. Under Bob Stoops and his superb group of aides,
Oklahoma now wins by outschemeing and outcoaching teams, but the great talent is on the
way back to Norman if Stoops’ first two recruiting classes are any indication of what
is ahead. All Kansas State’s Bill Snyder has done is turn a place where nobody could
win into a place where the team is always in the top 20 and a bowl game. Give Oklahoma a
slight edge off this year because it seems like Stoops and his staff are on a roll in
which they can do no wrong. Edge: Oklahoma
Prediction: Oklahoma 21, Kansas State 19
Also see: PFW's College Top 10 |
