View from the Cheap Seats-Kansas

[echeese]

View from the Cheap Seats-Kansas​

It's Kansas

Let's temper the excitement just a bit.  This might be the worst Power 5 team going . ..frankly in the running for worst FBS team going.  This is a team playing a very talented but true freshman QB who started the year #4 on their depth chart.   Kansas started 11 freshmen last night.   So not to throw a wet blanket on a game our team seriously needed to win . . .just saying let's not put too much stock in it just yet.

One might think either common sense overwhelmed the staff or they have been sneaking peaks at the Cheap Seats.  For the 1st time this season D'Onte Foreman logged more carries than J Gray.  We saw a Kirk Johnson sighting. . . though if their pulled his redshirt for Kansas . . . what-a-waste of a season.  Team ran well, 1 yard short of 300 on the night and passed for almost 300.

Offensive gameplan had far more in common with OU or OSU than it did with ISU.  Good job by Norvell. . . . And we saw our younger players actually seeing the field.   Warrick with 4 catches, Newsome with 3.  And we saw Norvell trying to put Heard in a good place to succeed, we even saw the slant being used.  Hard to let last week go but where was this in Ames?  Not sure where it's been but glad to see it and hope it's the trend of the future. 

Have we seen a preview of the 2016 OL?   While we saw plenty of substitutions, we also seemed to get heavy doses of Williams Perkins Raulerson Vahe and Nickleson from left to right.  Certainly hope that is the case.  OLs more than any position group need snaps together to grow and develop as a group.   Saw the same thing on the defensive side with PJ Locke seeing extended time as well.  Have to say, this secondary is going to be VERY GOOD VERY SOON.   DBU isn't back yet but you can see it from here.

Now the ability of TEXAS to make explosive plays was certainly on display. . an 84 yard bomb to Burt . .beautiful pass too. . . in front of the WR which means he didn't have to break stride . . .40 yarder to A Foreman. . . D Foreman with a 93 yard run . . . Swoopes with a 44 yard scamper and Heard with a 23. 

The Cheap Seats cannot figure out our D.   At times you see a dominate front 4 wrecking havoc on their opponents.   But Kansas logged 23 1st downs and was only 1 3rd down conversion under 50% . .. not good.   We still miss too many tackles.  ..too many chances to make big negative plays.  .this after missing 4 sacks vs ISU.

Summation

End of the day . . .more good than bad in what was a glorified scrimmage.   TEXAS/CFS now need to win 2 of the next 3 vs WVU on the road . .TT at home and Baylor in their new Toilet Bowl (hey.  .that's what it looks like).   Based on this week's play. . .each team is beatable. . including TEXAS.   This will be no easy task for CFS and I'd love to see us go into Baylor with a bowl bid in our back pocket and nothing to play for but screwing up Baylor's season. . . .more on that in Around the BigXII.   Both sides of the ball are going to need to be more consistent.   Keep in mind, that Defense and special teams effectively handed the offense 21 points.   Unlike we see a 4-1 turnover margin

Tale of the Tape

Turnovers   Kansas 4  TEXAS 1

Points off turnovers   Kansas 0   TEXAS 21    Key stat of the game.

1st down  Kansas 23  TEXAS 20

3rd down conversion rate   Kansas 9 of 20   TEXAS 6 of 13

Total offense

Kansas 426

TEXAS  598

We gave up a ton of yardage to Kansas

Those stats are of concern.  .part of our lack of 1st downs was chunk plays but 3rd down conversions needs to be higher vs a team with such a weak defense.   And we are unlikely to enjoy a 4-1 turnover margin in the future.

Around the Big XII

Okie Light made a monster statement.    They took TCU out behind the wood shed.  This team is getting better every week. . .which sucks as it's the game we gave away.   Today I would not be shocked if Bedlam isn't for the BigXII title.   OU continues to play well. . now that they realized their strength is running the ball. . .which has set up their passing game.  Baylor's heavily back loaded schedule is going to give them problems.  Today Baylor OU and OSU all control their fate. . .. while TCU needs OSU to lose twice.  .

Bowl bids

Baylor

OSU

TCU

OU

All bowl eligible

TT needs to win 1 of it's next 2 games with KSU or TEXAS to go bowling

TEXAS needs to win 2 of it's next 3 with WVU TT and Baylor

WVU needs to win 2 of it's next 4. . . TEXAS Kansas ISU and KSU

ISU needs to win out and go 3-0 while KSU needs to win 3 of their next 4

Playoff

If I have a vote based solely on play through this weekend

Clemson

tOSU

Okie Lite

Bama

Next 4

ND

Baylor

Stanford

Navy    OK, homer pick in honor of my Canoe U friends . .. actually hard pressed to pick the final spot

 

[MikeV73]

Kirk Johnson has been playing on ST all season, so RS burned a long time ago. Good to see him getting some position work finally. Nice right up Cheese.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Kirk Johnson is going to be a very good back for us.

Good write up echeese

 

[Bear19]

Good write up cheese. I would put Baylor and maybe Iowa ahead of Alabama and Notre Dame.

 

[MikeV73]

Good write up cheese. I would put Baylor and maybe Iowa ahead of Alabama and Notre Dame.

I'll bet Iowa would destroy Bama!😜. I like Iowa doing well, Clemson as well, good to see some new blood in the top 10.

 

[J.B. TexasEx]

KJ needs to work on protecting the football, but I like what I see so far!

And D'Onta Foreman? Good grief, why isn't he starting ahead of Gray already? Should be a no-brainer for the coaching staff unless he just doesn't know all the plays or pass protections.

 

[TeamMayhall]

I enjoyed this write up Cheese.