6. Kansas State looks awfully “peak Collin Klein” Kansas State
As is Bill Snyder’s preference, the Wildcats have begun with tuneups. They outscored Central Arkansas and Charlotte by a combined 110-26, showing flashes of their best run game since Klein was behind center.
Yes, you should be able to push UCA and Charlotte around, but the Wildcats are second in the country in opportunity rate (frequency of rushes of at least five yards), third in success rate, and ninth in stuff rate. Quarterback Jesse Ertz is averaging 6.5 yards per carry, and top backs Alex Barnes and Dalvin Warmack are averaging 5.7. You’d love to see a little more explosiveness, but right now that’s coming from the passing game: Ertz is completing 70 percent of his passes at 19.7 yards per completion.
KSU doesn’t move backward and connects on deep passes. That’s a lovely combination. But something will have to give when the Wildcats face Vanderbilt this weekend, because ...
6. The Commodores are knocking you backward
Dare Odeyingbo (34)
Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images
That Vandy is 2-0 isn’t a total surprise, but the way the Dores have accomplished it is.
Despite all-world linebacker Zach Cunningham, they ranked just 55th in havoc rate (tackles for loss, passes defensed, and forced fumbles per play) in 2016.
Early in 2017, they are an easy No. 1 in havoc right now at 31 percent. Hell, their front seven alone (20.8 percent) would rank in the top 30 overall.
Linebacker Charles Wright and end Dare Odeyingbo each has 4.5 TFLs already, and corner Tre Herndon has broken up three passes. A havoc rate of over 30 percent is unsustainable, but we’ve seen clear signs of improved aggression here, and that makes Saturday’s visit from Kansas State maybe the most underrated game of Week 3.
As is Bill Snyder’s preference, the Wildcats have begun with tuneups. They outscored Central Arkansas and Charlotte by a combined 110-26, showing flashes of their best run game since Klein was behind center.
Yes, you should be able to push UCA and Charlotte around, but the Wildcats are second in the country in opportunity rate (frequency of rushes of at least five yards), third in success rate, and ninth in stuff rate. Quarterback Jesse Ertz is averaging 6.5 yards per carry, and top backs Alex Barnes and Dalvin Warmack are averaging 5.7. You’d love to see a little more explosiveness, but right now that’s coming from the passing game: Ertz is completing 70 percent of his passes at 19.7 yards per completion.
KSU doesn’t move backward and connects on deep passes. That’s a lovely combination. But something will have to give when the Wildcats face Vanderbilt this weekend, because ...
6. The Commodores are knocking you backward
Dare Odeyingbo (34)
Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images
That Vandy is 2-0 isn’t a total surprise, but the way the Dores have accomplished it is.
Despite all-world linebacker Zach Cunningham, they ranked just 55th in havoc rate (tackles for loss, passes defensed, and forced fumbles per play) in 2016.
Early in 2017, they are an easy No. 1 in havoc right now at 31 percent. Hell, their front seven alone (20.8 percent) would rank in the top 30 overall.
Linebacker Charles Wright and end Dare Odeyingbo each has 4.5 TFLs already, and corner Tre Herndon has broken up three passes. A havoc rate of over 30 percent is unsustainable, but we’ve seen clear signs of improved aggression here, and that makes Saturday’s visit from Kansas State maybe the most underrated game of Week 3.
