YTD CFB 0-0
California +28 (Pinnacle) 108/100
1 Unit Play. All plays will be from 1 and 10 Units.
Because I post irrelevant info etc. etc. and I am the real dildo.
Keep in mind that HC Bill Snyder's right hand man Ron Hudson who wore the OC and QB coach hat and was largely responsible for nurturing QB El Roberson is now the HC at Kentucky. He has elevated 2 assistants Greg Peterson and Del Miller as CO-offensive coordinators. That to me is never a great idea. While "Mein Bill" will always have the final say, I for one wonder what Roberson's comfort level will be with 2 different men calling his plays and how many of his checkoffs will be different. It is never a seamless transition, regardless if the coach is from inside or out.
Now they are breaking in 3 new starters on the OL and are without important TE Thomas Hill who is out with injury. Because KSU runs more of a pro option type of offense, it will also take awhile for those guys to get their timing down and correct reads as well. While they do return WR James Terry who made a big showing in the Holiday Bowl, the rest of those guys are unproven. It takes a while and more than summer 7 on 7 passing drills and a spring of practice to get your timing down with guys. Furthermore with all the hype that Mr Roberson is receiving keep in mind he still completed only 52% of his passes.
Kansas State All Big 12 Guard Nick Leckey is now playing Center. The guy is a tremendous football player, but when you go from that type of comfort to a new position, it can create some problems as well.
Their kicking game is a huge question mark. PK Joe Rheem returns, but that is no bonus. He has a very weak leg. They will also have a new punter in Jared Brite. Darren Sproles looks to return kicks and keep the tradition going of great KSU punt returners, but until he takes one to the house it is still an unkown to me.
Defensively this group is solid, and should be dominating again by the end of the year. Bill Snyder's plug and play style of filling holes has worked nicely.
DC Bob Elliot picked up right where Phil Bennet left off last year. However 3 very key ingredients are missing from this year's defense.
1. No shut down corner. While Randy Jordan and Lou Lavender are quality players, they are NOT Terrence Newman and the guarantee that one half of the field is not open.
2. Starting DT Andrew Bulman has a broken leg. Not likely to play with that. IN addition, KSU is missing the big gap stuffing run swallowers from recent years past. Justin Montgomery, Derek Marso and Jermaine Berry are not in that mold or that caliber of player of Reese or the departed Tagoai.
They will be very good on the perimeter, as their Outside LB'ers in Buhl and Hickman are outstanding, heady and sure tacklers and play makers. But how good will they be this year with a weaker middle?
The DE's are nice. Shull and Houchin especially. Yet, with a weaker bunch of DT's you can neutralize speed rushers.
Last year on Natural Grass, KSU was 2-1 vs. the Spread. Their speed on the Wagner Field turf is much more prevalent. They hammered Missouri, land didnt' cover vs. ASU and Baylor should NOT count. On field turf vs. Colorado they lost on the road 35-31. Most option I oriented teams do not play nearly as well on grass or field turf.
One other thing about Bill Snyder, while he does like to run up the score if he gets out to a comfortable margin, do you forsee him keeping Sproles, Roberson and other regulars in this early in a meaningless non-conference game? I also have to feel that he will keep his game plan somewhat limited, because they open up Big 12 play at Texas and have an interesting game with Marshall before that. Therefore, he can't let too many powercats out of the bag.
While I feel this will be a very good team and contender at year's end, I also believe they will be overpriced with all their hype early in the season. Back-to-back games with Texas and Okie State (which are both road tilts) will make their season. They also have formidable end of season games with Nebraska and Missouri.
I will explain Cal in a minute, but I truly don't see the Cats scoring more than 35 points. Unless their defense or special teams blows it up and I think Cal will have some success moving the ball and score 10-14 points.
Again, not a huge play but it warrants a look for me. Good luck in whatever you decide anyway...
California +28 (Pinnacle) 108/100
1 Unit Play. All plays will be from 1 and 10 Units.
Because I post irrelevant info etc. etc. and I am the real dildo.
Keep in mind that HC Bill Snyder's right hand man Ron Hudson who wore the OC and QB coach hat and was largely responsible for nurturing QB El Roberson is now the HC at Kentucky. He has elevated 2 assistants Greg Peterson and Del Miller as CO-offensive coordinators. That to me is never a great idea. While "Mein Bill" will always have the final say, I for one wonder what Roberson's comfort level will be with 2 different men calling his plays and how many of his checkoffs will be different. It is never a seamless transition, regardless if the coach is from inside or out.
Now they are breaking in 3 new starters on the OL and are without important TE Thomas Hill who is out with injury. Because KSU runs more of a pro option type of offense, it will also take awhile for those guys to get their timing down and correct reads as well. While they do return WR James Terry who made a big showing in the Holiday Bowl, the rest of those guys are unproven. It takes a while and more than summer 7 on 7 passing drills and a spring of practice to get your timing down with guys. Furthermore with all the hype that Mr Roberson is receiving keep in mind he still completed only 52% of his passes.
Kansas State All Big 12 Guard Nick Leckey is now playing Center. The guy is a tremendous football player, but when you go from that type of comfort to a new position, it can create some problems as well.
Their kicking game is a huge question mark. PK Joe Rheem returns, but that is no bonus. He has a very weak leg. They will also have a new punter in Jared Brite. Darren Sproles looks to return kicks and keep the tradition going of great KSU punt returners, but until he takes one to the house it is still an unkown to me.
Defensively this group is solid, and should be dominating again by the end of the year. Bill Snyder's plug and play style of filling holes has worked nicely.
DC Bob Elliot picked up right where Phil Bennet left off last year. However 3 very key ingredients are missing from this year's defense.
1. No shut down corner. While Randy Jordan and Lou Lavender are quality players, they are NOT Terrence Newman and the guarantee that one half of the field is not open.
2. Starting DT Andrew Bulman has a broken leg. Not likely to play with that. IN addition, KSU is missing the big gap stuffing run swallowers from recent years past. Justin Montgomery, Derek Marso and Jermaine Berry are not in that mold or that caliber of player of Reese or the departed Tagoai.
They will be very good on the perimeter, as their Outside LB'ers in Buhl and Hickman are outstanding, heady and sure tacklers and play makers. But how good will they be this year with a weaker middle?
The DE's are nice. Shull and Houchin especially. Yet, with a weaker bunch of DT's you can neutralize speed rushers.
Last year on Natural Grass, KSU was 2-1 vs. the Spread. Their speed on the Wagner Field turf is much more prevalent. They hammered Missouri, land didnt' cover vs. ASU and Baylor should NOT count. On field turf vs. Colorado they lost on the road 35-31. Most option I oriented teams do not play nearly as well on grass or field turf.
One other thing about Bill Snyder, while he does like to run up the score if he gets out to a comfortable margin, do you forsee him keeping Sproles, Roberson and other regulars in this early in a meaningless non-conference game? I also have to feel that he will keep his game plan somewhat limited, because they open up Big 12 play at Texas and have an interesting game with Marshall before that. Therefore, he can't let too many powercats out of the bag.
While I feel this will be a very good team and contender at year's end, I also believe they will be overpriced with all their hype early in the season. Back-to-back games with Texas and Okie State (which are both road tilts) will make their season. They also have formidable end of season games with Nebraska and Missouri.
I will explain Cal in a minute, but I truly don't see the Cats scoring more than 35 points. Unless their defense or special teams blows it up and I think Cal will have some success moving the ball and score 10-14 points.
Again, not a huge play but it warrants a look for me. Good luck in whatever you decide anyway...
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