Keys to the Game: Kansas State @ Texas

The Kansas State Wildcats (2-1) come to DKR for a Saturday night kick on ABC to face the reeling Texas Longhorns (1-2).  Kansas State has historically owned the Longhorns, with the last UT win coming in 2003. Forecast models currently disagree about whether the rain will end early tomorrow or continue to Sunday, so the playing surface may be a bit slick. Barring any changes, it appears Texas QB David Ash will start, and the Longhorns will be without WR Mike Davis. Can Texas win this game? Absolutely they can, and here is the blueprint for finally beating the Purple Wizard and trying to hit the most critical OU game of Mack Brown’s tenure at .500

Line: Currently at Texas -5.5

1. Tackling Tackling Tackling Fundamentals Fundamentals Fundamentals

At this point, I really hoped I wouldn’t have to still be saying this, but we haven’t seen it yet. The problems of the last couple seasons are still right at the forefront. Hold your blocks. Keep contain on the return units. Wrap up and make a tackle. For the third consecutive week, the Horns must play solid 7th grade football to make this a ballgame. Whiff on Hubert or Sams and its done.

2. Stop the Kansas State rushing attack

The worst run defense among AQ schools is Texas, and they will face a bevy of talented Wildcat ball carriers, led by Hubert and Sams. New KSU QB Jake Walters is not Collin Klein or Robert Griffin III, and if Texas can follow the North Dakota State blueprint and shut down the Wildcats running attack, they can win this game with the secondary. The Bison held Kansas State to just 41 yards rushing, so it is possible to do this, even for Texas. Expect to see much more of the dual threat Sams at QB, so lets just hope after three weeks Greg Robinson has figured out how to get his team to stop the read option. Texas LB Timothy Cole should get snaps, so we may see the “fastest” set of LBs on the field for the Longhorns in a couple seasons. Lets hope Cole is up to the task.

3. A receiver has to step up and be the man

With Davis likely out or severely limited, and exactly zip coming from the TE spot, it is going to be critical for guys like Kendall Sanders, Marcus Johnson, or John Harris to step up and help Jaxon Shipley. Everyone of these guys has the size and speed to cause Kansas State trouble, but they’ve got to put a complete game together on the field.

4. The Offensive Line needs to get nasty

Whether its injury or benching, this is the second week of rumblings about the playing time of Mason Walters. Kennedy Estelle and Sedrick Flowers will get more playing time after being thrown into the fire last week. Dominic Espinoza and Mason Walters are what we think they are, and that wont change. It’s time for guys like Estelle, Walters, and Harrison to take this thing and be the guys. I guarentee you, if the Texas offensive line comes out and takes the fight to the Wildcats, big things will happen. This years KSU team is not one which excels at playing from behind.

5. Jalen Overstreet needs the ball

I checked just now, and confirmed Jalen Overstreet is still on the Texas team, so the coaches need to USE him. We all know his pedigree and what he can bring to the table, someone just needs to let him go eat.

6. Don’t lose the game before kickoff

Texas is in a bad place right now. There is a civil war going on behind the scenes regarding the ouster of Mack Brown. Reports indicate practices haven’t been like Brown said they are. The team has been emasculated in consecutive weeks, and everyone knows they cant beat KSU.  These are all true statements, but ones the guys must put out of their minds. The team, and this is sad to say because of what expectations were, still has a chance at 6-6 or 7-5 and a bowl game. Every goal except that is or will be lost in the next couple weeks, but the chance to end a decade of futility against the Wildcats is right here, right now.

Prediction: I think the psyche of this team is damaged, I believe the defense wont be able to stop the run, and the downward spiral will continue. Kansas State 41, Texas 27.