Kansas Gameday

OFFENSE

Questionable play calling the last few weeks kept Jake Sharp from putting up more impressive numbers. With Kansas State ranked 105th out of 119 teams in stopping the run, expect Sharp to get plenty of carries Saturday. Sharp is averaging more than 90 yards per game in Big 12 play and had consecutive 100-yard games against Colorado and Oklahoma before a limited workload kept him to 80 yards on the ground against Texas Tech.

Rating: 3/5

DEFENSE

Changes were made to the secondary last week in an attempt to fix some glaring problems in the pass defense. Chris Harris was moved from corner to safety, and Justin Thornton was switched from safety to corner. Freshman wide receiver Daymond Patterson was also switched to cornerback — but none of the changes seemed to work. Texas Tech scored 63 points and was the second straight team to have more than 400 passing yards against the Jayhawks,

Rating: 2/5

SPECIAL TEAMS

Marcus Herford and Jocques Crawford split time returning kicks Saturday against Texas Tech. The Jayhawks still remain dead last, 119th out of 119 teams, in yards per kick return. Jacob Branstetter has made nine of 11 field goal attempts and punter Alonzo Rojas has averaged 41 yards per punt and had a 77-yard bomb against Colorado.

Rating: 3/5

COACHING

Coach Mark Mangino and offensive coordinator Ed Warinner have had some questionable play calling the past few games. After pulling Jake Sharp in Oklahoma when they trailed just 31-24 in the third quarter, the Jayhawks again went away from Sharp against Texas Tech. They tried to fix the secondary by making some personnel changes, but the changes didn’t work out like they had hoped.

Rating: 2/5

MOMENTUM

After suffering the worst home loss in more than six years, Kansas doesn’t have much momentum coming into the Sunflower Showdown against Kansas State. It’s a rivalry game, which helps the Jayhawks, as does the Jayhawks’ need for another win to become bowl eligible.

Rating: 2/5

AT A GLANCE

Players who referred to Saturday’s game as “must win” weren’t far off in their assumptions. The Jayhawks remain one win away from being bowl eligible and the K-State game appears to be the most winnable game remaining on the schedule. A win over the in-state rival is always big as well.

BY THE NUMBERS

(2008 Averages and National Rank)

32nd - scoring offense (32.3 ppg)

8th - passing offense (312.8 ypg)

75th - rushing offense (129.88 ypg)

76th - scoring defense (27.00 ppg)

111th - passing defense (271.4 ypg)

31st - rushing defense (113.25 ypg)

PLAYER TO WATCH

Todd Reesing.

The Austin native had the worst performance of his college career on Saturday, throwing three interceptions and passing for only 154 yards. He was offered a scholarship by K-State, but decided to become a Jayhawk instead.

QUESTION MARKS

Will the pass defense improve? The KU defense is coming off two of the worst statistical games in the history of the school and now must face one of the nation’s top scoring offenses in Kansas State. If the pass defense doesn’t improve, it could be a third straight loss for the Jayhawks.

Will Kansas become bowl eligible? If the Jayhawks can win, they will become bowl eligible for the third time in the last four years. A 6-6 record will likely get the Jayhawks a bowl invitation, meaning it would be the first time in school history that Kansas goes to bowls in two straight seasons.

Kansas State Gameday

OFFENSE

Josh Freeman, Kansas State’s 6-foot-6, 250-pound signal-caller, will be an NFL quarterback, but that hasn’t exactly translated into Wildcat wins. In the preseason, Freeman took offense to reporters’ questions about the absence of Jordy Nelson. He said his offense was about more than one player. While that’s true, this offense sure doesn’t look the same without the do-everything wide receiver who’s now suiting up for the Green Bay Packers. Freeman is Kansas State’s best rusher and he thrives on being able to bowl over linebackers. That won’t be easy against Kansas’ linebacking unit.

Rating - 3/5

DEFENSE

Kansas State’s defense has a few really good players, like defensive end Ian Campbell and linebacker Ulla Pomele, but it’s terrible as a unit. The Wildcats surrender 441.6 total yards per game, which is good for last in the Big 12 and 109th in the country. Last week against Oklahoma, Kansas State gave up 55 points in less than 30 minutes. Kansas State’s offense often puts its defense into difficult situations with turnovers at bad times, but the defense must still fight that from time-to-time.

Rating - 1/5

SPECIAL TEAMS

Beamer ball is famous at Virginia Tech, but coach Ron Prince’s special teams units have been close to that level for a while. Like the Hokies, the Wildcats are notorious for coming up with key special teams plays, like a fake punt or blocked field goal. Prince’s team has pulled off a few of those tricks in the last year and a half, and it makes opponents preparation much more difficult. As far as traditional special teams, kick returners Aubrey Quarles and Deon Murphy each average more than 20 yards per return.

Rating - 4/5

COACHING

Following a legend like Bill Snyder isn’t easy, but every year coach Ron Prince picks up one marquee victory to push his program forward. Last year he defeated No. 7 Texas in Austin, 41-21, and in 2006 he topped the No. 4 Longhorns, 45-42. It was enough for the athletic administration to give Prince an extension at the beginning of this season. However, Prince’s plot to bring in junior college players and not miss a beat hasn’t worked out too well.

Rating - 2/5

MOMENTUM

Last week’s blowout loss was embarrassing, but the heart-breaking defeat was the previous week in Boulder. Kansas State lost 14-13 at Colorado, and that one point could turn out to be the difference between playing in a bowl game and watching them on TV. The Wildcats lost three of their last four games, and last year they were the No. 24 team heading into this matchup. There’s not much mojo in Manhattan right now.

Rating - 1/5

AT A GLANCE

Kansas has separate rivalry against Missouri, but for Kansas State this is the only one with any meaning right now. These teams simply don’t like each other and Kansas State is eager to reclaim its dominance in this series. This game is often close, and the key for the Wildcats is to avoid the big turnovers that have cost them dearly in recent games. The trash talking started as soon as the Oklahoma game was over and now it’s time for Kansas State to back it up.

BY THE NUMBERS

(2008 Averages and National Rank)

13th - scoring offense (38.5 ppg)

13th - passing offense (291.9 ypg)

69th - rushing offense (134.3 ypg)

98th - scoring defense (31.4 ppg)

93rd - passing defense (240.8 ypg)

105th - rushing defense (200.9 ypg)

PLAYER TO WATCH

Junior wide receiver/punt returner Deon Murphy.

Murphy started the verbal assault against Kansas when he guaranteed to return a punt or kick “to the crib.” That comment alone is enough to keep your eyes on Murphy. Not only to see if he backs up his words and scores a touchdown, but also to see if any Jayhawk defenders do their talking with an extra hard hit on him.

QUESTION MARKS

Will the defense keep Todd Reesing under 300 passing yards? In four Big 12 games, Kansas State has surrendered an average of 375 passing yards per game. The Wildcats can ill-afford to do that in Lawrence, so look to see if they challenge the Jayhawk receivers early.

Will the rushing game show up? In its four losses, Kansas State averaged 80 yards per game on the ground. In their four victories, the Wildcats ran for 189 yards per contest. Without a running game, this team doesn’t stand much chance in any game.

MEMORIAL STADIUM WILL ROCK IF…

Kansas figures out its secondary and is able to slow down the K-State offense. The Wildcats boast one of the top scoring offenses in the nation, and the KU defense has had two its worst games in recent memory. If the KU defense can turn it around, they should be able score enough points to win.

GALE SAYERS WILL WEEP IF…

Jake Sharp continues to see limited carries and the Jayhawks are unable to run the ball. K-State has one of the worst run defenses in the nation, meaning Kansas needs to pound the ball on the ground with Sharp. If they stay away from Sharp as they have in recent game, Kansas could lose its third game in a row.

PREDICTION:

Kansas 42, Kansas State 30