Each week during the season, Joel Buchsbaum highlights
key college games. In this issue, Buchsbaum previews Kansas State vs. Oklahoma. He breaks
down each team, provides a scout’s perspective on key players and picks a final
score.
| Kansas State vs.
Oklahoma |
Saturday, Sept. 29
at Norman, Okla. |
|
Sooners LB
Rocky Calmus
|
For decades before Bill Snyder arrived on campus, Kansas State was one of the worst
teams, if not the worst, in the Big Eight. Manhattan, Kan., was known as a coaches’
graveyard, and there was even talk of kicking Kansas State out of the conference.
Now under Snyder, the Wildcats are a perennial top 20 team that makes annual trips to
bowl games.
The Sooners dominated the country for decades with great recruiters such as Bud
Wilkinson, Chuck Fairbanks and Barry Switzer heading the program, but from the time
Switzer left until recently, when Bob Stoops took over, they struggled. However, while
John Blake was the worst coach the Sooners had in decades, he was a very good recruiter
who left Stoops with a group of underachieving but talented players. Stoops got the
players to play up to and beyond their potential and won the national championship last
season with only two of his recruiting classes.
In order to play for all the marbles last season, Oklahoma had to beat Kansas State in
the Big 12 championship game, and it just did, winning 27-24. This year’s game also
could be very competitive, despite Kansas State losing 15 starters. The Wildcats no longer
rebuild, they just reload. Oklahoma did not lose many players, but it did lose a Heisman
runner-up in QB Josh Heupel, who was the key to the offense. This year’s Sooners team
is a lot stronger in most areas than last year’s team, but it must get better play
from the QB position than it got earlier in the season to have any chance to repeat as
national champions.
Quarterbacks — Since replacing Heupel, Georgia transfer Nate Hybl
has not looked bad, but he has not looked special either. If he does not improve, Jason
White could replace him, but Stoops has given White plenty of time as well, and he has not
lit it up either. Both quarterbacks are bigger, stronger, faster and more athletic than
Heupel and have stronger arms, but they are not Troy Aikman-type talents, and they lack
experience. Kansas State also has a new quarterback in Ell Roberson, an athlete similar to
Michael Bishop who plays a schoolyard-type game like Bishop did. However, Roberson is not
the big-play maker or passer Bishop was, and against Kansas State’s only quality
opponent to date, Southern Cal, his passing was pathetic, as he averaged under 2.0 yards
per pass attempt and under 4.0 yards per completion. Kansas State was able to rush for 340
yards, but Roberson often had one-on-one coverage and nine USC defenders lined up in the
box. Roberson’s backup, Marc Dunn, is a better pure passer and a much more structured
player. But unlike Roberson, who ran for 119 yards against USC, he is no threat to beat an
opponent with his feet.
Running backs — In Josh Scobey, Kansas State has a very good back
— but not a great back — who has NFL potential. Scobey is a great worker who
runs north-south and runs hard, but he lacks great moves and cutting ability and is not
used that much in the passing game. He was very effective against USC, running for 165
yards. The wild card could be Joe Hall, a 290-pound tailback with surprisingly quick feet.
For Oklahoma, 5-6 fireplug Quentin Griffin really benefits from playing in a spread
offense, but he also continues to get better and better. He is more of an Archie Griffin
(a mini-tank with north-south quickness) than a Mack Herron (elusive jitterbug) type.
Receivers — The Sooners may not have any All-Americans, but they
are loaded with good receivers. So good, in fact, that they can loan their most gifted
athlete, WR Andre Woolfolk, to the defense whenever they want. Kansas State’s
big-play maker and home-run hitter is Aaron Lockett, one of the fastest athletes in the
entire country. Lockett is also a dangerous return man, but at 5-7 and 165 pounds, he is
not going to catch over the middle. Brandon Clark has the size Lockett lacks and is a
great worker, but he is not a real natural receiver and struggles to get open. TE Nick
Warren is a large target who needs to step it up in his fifth year, or else he will have
to move on to law school without so much as a training-camp invite by the NFL. In some
games, the Sooners will use their tight end, Trent Smith, as a featured receiver, and in
others, he will be a nonfactor based on what the defense gives them. Smith will beat most
linebackers like a drum.
Offensive linemen — The thing that stood out about the Kansas
State line that started against USC was how small it was. Nevertheless, the Wildcats’
run blocking was superb. With four senior starters, it is a veteran line that knows a few
tricks. Oklahoma’s strength is its undersized but pretty athletic tackles. Frank
Romero is the much better of the two now, but converted OG Howard Duncan could be every
bit as good if he realizes his potential. Everyone else up front for the Sooners is
starting for the first time this year.
Defensive linemen — NT Jerry Togiai is the key for Kansas State.
Last season he was almost a nonfactor until the end of the year and had by far and away
his best game against the Sooners with the Big 12 championship on the line. A second key
is the type of pressure the rest of the line can put on the Oklahoma quarterback. A season
ago, the Sooners had hard-working overachievers who protected Torrance Marshall and Rocky
Calmus from blockers up front. This year they are younger and much more athletic with a
potential superstud freshman, Tommie Harris, leading the charge.
Linebackers — Oklahoma’s Calmus was a unanimous preseason
All-American and a very good college player, but he is no Dan Morgan. Calmus is very
instinctive but not that gifted in terms of size-speed numbers or take-on power. Kansas
State’s Ben Leber is a very active, athletic player who tests out well and does
everything you ask of him, but he may be too disciplined.
Defensive backs — Oklahoma’s best defensive player is SS Roy
Williams, who will generally line up in the box and play more like a linebacker. He can
dominate. Derrick Stait is a big-time cornerback coming off a terrific freshman year, and
Woolfolk also can excel in this area. However, he may be able to spend more time on
offense if the Sooners’ last two recruiting classes pan out. For Kansas State, Jon
McGraw looks like the perfect fit at free safety on paper and is a good football player.
But he is not a great one and does not fully translate his wonderful weight-room numbers
and classroom smarts onto the field. CB Terence Newman may be the only player in the
conference who can run with teammate Aaron Lockett. DeMarcus Faggins, last year’s
third corner, gets this year to impress the scouts, as does SS Milton Proctor.
Special teams — Lockett had a great year returning punts for
Kansas State in 2000, averaging 22.8 yards per return with three scores. However, the
Wildcats are going with two sophomore kickers, and PK Jared Brite is unproven. Oklahoma
has two solid, veteran senior kickers in PK Tim Duncan and P Jeff Ferguson who showed they
could handle the heat and come through in the championship game.
Summary — Oklahoma has a little bit too much talent and
experience for Kansas State to handle, with the one wild card being the quarterbacks in
this one. Both clubs have two relatively unproven signal callers who have never been in a
game of this magnitude.
Prediction: Oklahoma 31, Kansas State 20 |
