Kansas State Offense vs. Rutgers Defense
Kansas State's play calling has been fairly balanced thus far but offensive coordinator James Franklin should show a strong commitment to the run, especially early. First off, freshman QB Josh Freeman appears to press at times and he threw three interceptions in the regular-season finale. Establishing the ground game should help take some pressure off him and reduce the Wildcats' chances of turning the ball over. Secondly, Franklin has good talent and the depth in the backfield. Leon Patton is a dangerous open field runner who can make defenders miss and James Johnson is a tough runner who has enough quickness to get outside. Franklin's ability to spread the carries around should help keep both backs fresh. However, running the ball effectively should prove tough against a Rutgers' defense that has given up an average of just three yards per carry. The Scarlet Knight front seven makes up for its lack of size with quickness and aggressiveness. The front four excels at getting into gaps and the linebackers swarm to the ball. It's essential that Pattton, who is a true freshman, and Johnson are decisive and hit the hole hard. If they hesitate or dance in the backfield, they could find themselves surrounded by defenders. In addition, the front five should have to fire off just as the ball is snapped and avoid taking any false steps.
Kansas State vs. Rutgers
When: Dec. 28, 8 p.m. ET (NFL Network )
Where: Houston, Texas
As is the case with most young quarterbacks, Freeman will throw the ball up for grabs rather than throwing it away or taking a sack. He is prone to making critical mistakes when he doesn't get enough time to break down the coverage and go though his reads or the space to step into his throws. Kansas State can't afford to lose the turnover battle so sound pass protection should be critical but there is reason to believe it won't hold up. As good as Rutgers' front four is at stopping the run, it's even better rushing the passer. DEs Jamaal Westerman and William Beckford explode upfield and close well. Freeman should have trouble stepping up in the pocket to avoid the pressure from the outside either. DTs Ramel Meekins and Eric Foster are quick and generally get good pressure up the middle. That said Freeman should look for WR Jordy Nelson when the the protection holds up. DCs Derek Roberson and Jason McCourty have the quick feet and burst to stay with Nelson when their footwork is sound. However, Nelson is a crisp route runner who is substantially bigger than both corners and has the strong hands to make the tough catch in traffic.
Rutgers Offense vs. Kansas State Defense
Rutgers' significantly run-heavy offense takes full advantage of one of the most talented backfields in the nation and it should continue to do so in this game. While RB Ray Rice has the balance, quickness and speed to break spectacular runs, FB Brian Leonard is an efficient blocker who can also pick up some tough yards between the tackles. Two important characteristics they share are vision and balance that allows them to bounce off arm tackles. That should have Kansas State fans concerned because the Wildcats' run defense has been caught out of position far too much this year. Though Kansas State flies to the ball and can deliver some big hits, they overrun holes and fail to wrap up far too often. If they don't play with sound discipline and tackle well, Rice and Leonard could both have big games. In addition, the ability of the Wildcat front seven to get off blocks should play a big part in their ability to slow Leonard and Rice. The Scarlet Knight offensive line is an experienced and cohesive unit. It generally does a good job of reaching assignments and works hard to sustain blocks once in position.
The hope for Rutgers' fans is QB Mike Teel is able to build on a strong performance against West Virginia in the regular-season finale because he has been inconsistent -- at best -- for most of the year. In fact, he has thrown more interceptions than touchdowns. Getting him into rhythm early should be important and the Scarlet Knights could run a lot of three-step drops with that in mind. WRs Kenny Britt and Tiquan Underwood have good size, making them almost impossible to defense when Rutgers runs quick slants. They also can get inside leverage on the corner. Teel should get Leonard and TE Clark Harris involved, as both are reliable short-to-intermediate receivers. However, it should be the ability of the Scarlet Knights to keep one of the best pass rushes in the nation at bay that plays the biggest part in how well Teel performs. As a result, keep an eye on the matchup between ROT Jeremy Zuttah and LDE Ian Campbell. Campbell makes up for his lacks of size with his initial burst and athletic ability. He will have his work cut out for him against the quick and agile Zuttah but he is capable of wining some of the battles between the two. If he starts getting past Zuttah early, Rutgers should have to use a blocker that could release on a route or help in another area to aid Zuttah.
Special Teams
Kansas State's Jeff Snodgrass got off to an inconsistent start but settled in after the second game. He hasn't missed a field goal attempt inside 40 yards since. He has also connected on three of his four field goal attempts beyond 50 yards. Though Snodgrass has shown better range when kicking off, backup Jared Parker gets adequate distance on his kicks and he handled the kickoff duties during the Wildcats' last two regular-season games. P Tim Reyer possesses above-average range and he has the touch to pin opponents deep. However, he has had two of his punts blocked and Rutgers has blocked four punts this year. If he doesn't get rid of the ball and/or the blocking in front of him isn't sound, the Scarlet Knights' punt return unit could supply its offense with quality starting field position or even points. Kansas State's return units have been stellar this year. Yamon Figurs returned a punt 81 yards for a touchdown in the season opener and he is a threat to go the distance every time he touches the ball. In fact, Rutgers may try to limit his production by kicking away from him. As if Figurs' explosiveness isn't enough for opposing special teams coaches to worry about, three different players have returned kickoffs for touchdowns. Rutgers hasn't done a good job of covering kickoffs or punts so the Wildcats should have a substantial edge in the return game.
Rutgers' Jeremy Ito missed a 52-yard field goal that would have put the Scarlet Knights ahead of West Virginia with just seven seconds left in the regular-season finale and likely given them the Big East title. It will be interesting to see if he can bounce back but there is reason to be optimistic, as he has flashed the ability to connect from that range and he connected on four other field attempts in that game. Ito also kicks off and 26 of his 69 kickoffs have resulted in touchbacks. P Joe Radigan is one of the best in the nation. He has excellent range and he can place the ball inside the opponent's 20-yard line. A Kansas State unit that has blocked three punts this year should try to rattle him and force him to get rid of the ball quickly. The problem is that's a lot easier said than done because Radigan is a senior who shows good poise and hasn't had a punt blocked this year. Though Rutgers' kickoff return unit has been mediocre and the punt return unit has been just slightly better, return man Willie Foster is dangerous. He can make the first defender miss and he has the second gear to outrun defenders when he gets a seam. Kordell Young has also gotten some opportunities to return kickoffs and he too is a dangerous open field runner. As a result, Kansas State can't afford any breakdowns when covering kicks.
Matchups
? Rutgers RB Ray Rice vs. Kansas State WLB Brandon Archer
? Rutgers ROT Jeremy Zuttah vs. Kansas State DE Ian Campbell
? Kansas State LOG Caleb Handy vs. Rutgers DT Ramel Meekins
Scouts' Edge
Kansas State has some playmakers on both sides of the ball but it simply doesn't match up well with Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights will exploit an average Wildcat run defense by regularly handing the ball off to Rice and Leonard. With the ground game keeping Kansas State's front four on its heels and Teel out of a lot of situations with pass-heavy tendencies, Teel should be productive enough to help Rutgers sustain some long scoring drives. On the defensive side of the ball, the quick front four will slow the Wildcat ground game and force Freeman to shoulder the bulk of the offensive load. Freeman should be fun to watch, as he has the athletic ability to elude pass rushers and the arm strength to make spectacular throws on the run. However, his youth and over eagerness to make big plays will shine through at times. The result will be some errant throws and/or poor decisions that end drives.
Prediction: Scarlet Knights 24, Wildcats 14
Kansas State's play calling has been fairly balanced thus far but offensive coordinator James Franklin should show a strong commitment to the run, especially early. First off, freshman QB Josh Freeman appears to press at times and he threw three interceptions in the regular-season finale. Establishing the ground game should help take some pressure off him and reduce the Wildcats' chances of turning the ball over. Secondly, Franklin has good talent and the depth in the backfield. Leon Patton is a dangerous open field runner who can make defenders miss and James Johnson is a tough runner who has enough quickness to get outside. Franklin's ability to spread the carries around should help keep both backs fresh. However, running the ball effectively should prove tough against a Rutgers' defense that has given up an average of just three yards per carry. The Scarlet Knight front seven makes up for its lack of size with quickness and aggressiveness. The front four excels at getting into gaps and the linebackers swarm to the ball. It's essential that Pattton, who is a true freshman, and Johnson are decisive and hit the hole hard. If they hesitate or dance in the backfield, they could find themselves surrounded by defenders. In addition, the front five should have to fire off just as the ball is snapped and avoid taking any false steps.
Kansas State vs. Rutgers
When: Dec. 28, 8 p.m. ET (NFL Network )
Where: Houston, Texas
As is the case with most young quarterbacks, Freeman will throw the ball up for grabs rather than throwing it away or taking a sack. He is prone to making critical mistakes when he doesn't get enough time to break down the coverage and go though his reads or the space to step into his throws. Kansas State can't afford to lose the turnover battle so sound pass protection should be critical but there is reason to believe it won't hold up. As good as Rutgers' front four is at stopping the run, it's even better rushing the passer. DEs Jamaal Westerman and William Beckford explode upfield and close well. Freeman should have trouble stepping up in the pocket to avoid the pressure from the outside either. DTs Ramel Meekins and Eric Foster are quick and generally get good pressure up the middle. That said Freeman should look for WR Jordy Nelson when the the protection holds up. DCs Derek Roberson and Jason McCourty have the quick feet and burst to stay with Nelson when their footwork is sound. However, Nelson is a crisp route runner who is substantially bigger than both corners and has the strong hands to make the tough catch in traffic.
Rutgers Offense vs. Kansas State Defense
Rutgers' significantly run-heavy offense takes full advantage of one of the most talented backfields in the nation and it should continue to do so in this game. While RB Ray Rice has the balance, quickness and speed to break spectacular runs, FB Brian Leonard is an efficient blocker who can also pick up some tough yards between the tackles. Two important characteristics they share are vision and balance that allows them to bounce off arm tackles. That should have Kansas State fans concerned because the Wildcats' run defense has been caught out of position far too much this year. Though Kansas State flies to the ball and can deliver some big hits, they overrun holes and fail to wrap up far too often. If they don't play with sound discipline and tackle well, Rice and Leonard could both have big games. In addition, the ability of the Wildcat front seven to get off blocks should play a big part in their ability to slow Leonard and Rice. The Scarlet Knight offensive line is an experienced and cohesive unit. It generally does a good job of reaching assignments and works hard to sustain blocks once in position.
The hope for Rutgers' fans is QB Mike Teel is able to build on a strong performance against West Virginia in the regular-season finale because he has been inconsistent -- at best -- for most of the year. In fact, he has thrown more interceptions than touchdowns. Getting him into rhythm early should be important and the Scarlet Knights could run a lot of three-step drops with that in mind. WRs Kenny Britt and Tiquan Underwood have good size, making them almost impossible to defense when Rutgers runs quick slants. They also can get inside leverage on the corner. Teel should get Leonard and TE Clark Harris involved, as both are reliable short-to-intermediate receivers. However, it should be the ability of the Scarlet Knights to keep one of the best pass rushes in the nation at bay that plays the biggest part in how well Teel performs. As a result, keep an eye on the matchup between ROT Jeremy Zuttah and LDE Ian Campbell. Campbell makes up for his lacks of size with his initial burst and athletic ability. He will have his work cut out for him against the quick and agile Zuttah but he is capable of wining some of the battles between the two. If he starts getting past Zuttah early, Rutgers should have to use a blocker that could release on a route or help in another area to aid Zuttah.
Special Teams
Kansas State's Jeff Snodgrass got off to an inconsistent start but settled in after the second game. He hasn't missed a field goal attempt inside 40 yards since. He has also connected on three of his four field goal attempts beyond 50 yards. Though Snodgrass has shown better range when kicking off, backup Jared Parker gets adequate distance on his kicks and he handled the kickoff duties during the Wildcats' last two regular-season games. P Tim Reyer possesses above-average range and he has the touch to pin opponents deep. However, he has had two of his punts blocked and Rutgers has blocked four punts this year. If he doesn't get rid of the ball and/or the blocking in front of him isn't sound, the Scarlet Knights' punt return unit could supply its offense with quality starting field position or even points. Kansas State's return units have been stellar this year. Yamon Figurs returned a punt 81 yards for a touchdown in the season opener and he is a threat to go the distance every time he touches the ball. In fact, Rutgers may try to limit his production by kicking away from him. As if Figurs' explosiveness isn't enough for opposing special teams coaches to worry about, three different players have returned kickoffs for touchdowns. Rutgers hasn't done a good job of covering kickoffs or punts so the Wildcats should have a substantial edge in the return game.
Rutgers' Jeremy Ito missed a 52-yard field goal that would have put the Scarlet Knights ahead of West Virginia with just seven seconds left in the regular-season finale and likely given them the Big East title. It will be interesting to see if he can bounce back but there is reason to be optimistic, as he has flashed the ability to connect from that range and he connected on four other field attempts in that game. Ito also kicks off and 26 of his 69 kickoffs have resulted in touchbacks. P Joe Radigan is one of the best in the nation. He has excellent range and he can place the ball inside the opponent's 20-yard line. A Kansas State unit that has blocked three punts this year should try to rattle him and force him to get rid of the ball quickly. The problem is that's a lot easier said than done because Radigan is a senior who shows good poise and hasn't had a punt blocked this year. Though Rutgers' kickoff return unit has been mediocre and the punt return unit has been just slightly better, return man Willie Foster is dangerous. He can make the first defender miss and he has the second gear to outrun defenders when he gets a seam. Kordell Young has also gotten some opportunities to return kickoffs and he too is a dangerous open field runner. As a result, Kansas State can't afford any breakdowns when covering kicks.
Matchups
? Rutgers RB Ray Rice vs. Kansas State WLB Brandon Archer
? Rutgers ROT Jeremy Zuttah vs. Kansas State DE Ian Campbell
? Kansas State LOG Caleb Handy vs. Rutgers DT Ramel Meekins
Scouts' Edge
Kansas State has some playmakers on both sides of the ball but it simply doesn't match up well with Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights will exploit an average Wildcat run defense by regularly handing the ball off to Rice and Leonard. With the ground game keeping Kansas State's front four on its heels and Teel out of a lot of situations with pass-heavy tendencies, Teel should be productive enough to help Rutgers sustain some long scoring drives. On the defensive side of the ball, the quick front four will slow the Wildcat ground game and force Freeman to shoulder the bulk of the offensive load. Freeman should be fun to watch, as he has the athletic ability to elude pass rushers and the arm strength to make spectacular throws on the run. However, his youth and over eagerness to make big plays will shine through at times. The result will be some errant throws and/or poor decisions that end drives.
Prediction: Scarlet Knights 24, Wildcats 14
