The CATS kick off the Coach Klieman era with a home tilt against Nicholls State. The Colonels beat ku in over-time last year and won their first FCS play-off game before falling to Eastern Washington. Nicholls returns their starting QB among other starters.
The Colonels might be a tad or two better than K-State’s second opponent, Bowling Green (BG is coming off a dismal 3 & 9 season).
Then it gets real.
Will Coach Klieman win his first BIG game at Kansas State in Starkville, Mississippi on Sept. 14?
Not to say winning his "first game" at K-State against Nicholls, won't be big.
So what about Mississippi State?
This just in = the Bulldogs have a TON to replace on defense.
Defense: Miss State has 7 starters to replace on defense.
3 starting DBs graduated (or eligibility expired).
One of the D-backs, a safety (Abram), was selected #26 in the 1st round of the NFL draft.
Additionally, the Bulldogs lost a 4th DB that started 2 games (played in all 13 games).
2 starting D-Lineman graduated. Sweat was selected #27 in the 1st round of the draft.
AND a junior starting DL (Simmons) was taken #19 in the 1st round of the draft.
The Bulldogs also lost good depth -- 2 other senior D-lineman started at least one game last season and played in all 13 games.
That’s 3 starting D-lineman (including 2 first round draft picks) – and – quality depth.
1 starting LB graduated (started all 13 games) – was taken in the 6th round of the draft.
4 of their top 5 tacklers from 2018 are gone.
To recap on defense: the Bulldogs have 7 starters to replace, 3 players that were selected in the first round of the NFL draft (& one player in the 6th round), plus some quality depth.
Note: 4 defensive players for Mississippi Statate that were not drafted signed free agent contracts.
Miss State recruits well, but the Bulldogs aren’t exactly Alabama or Clemson. And even with good talent ready to step up, it can take time for the new starters to gel.
On offense: Miss State has 5 starters to replace on offense.
Starting QB graduated, though it’s worth noting that the Bulldogs have a QB with starting experience ready to step-up.
2 starting O-lineman (both started every game). One of the O-lineman was selected in 2nd round (3 picks behind Risner).
Starting TE (started all 13 games).
1 starting WR.
Note3: three offensive players for Mississippi State that were not drafted, signed free agent contracts (QB, OL, TE).
In comparison to K-State:
On Defense: K-State has to replace Duke Shelley, Kendal Adams, & Eli Walker on defense.
Shelley missed the last 5 games of the season.
Adams & Walker missed starts last season due to injury.
In short, K-State started to adjust to life without these players last season.
Would have been nice to have had Shelley for TCU & Iowa State games (Duke was a quality player on defense –and- special teams).
Depending upon how you look at it -- if you look at the end of last season, K-State has 1 or 2 starters to replace on defense (Eli / Kendall).
Though with the season ending injury to Justin Hughes this spring, you could add Justin to the starter list to replace at the end of last season. Justin’s injury really really stinks.
Not a starter, but Sizelove graduated. Sam received more playing time last season because of injuries (Patton & Sullivan).
On Offense:
Alex Barnes’ early exit is the biggest loss on offense (in case you didn’t know..ha).
Two O-line starters are also gone (Beechum & Risner).
Kaltmayer & Rivas are expected to replace Beech & Risner (both have starting experience). Rivas started 2 games last season. Of course, Dalton is a big loss, but Kaltmayer has stepped in for Dalton before and done a good job.
The new coaching staff is high on K-State’s O-line.
Zach Reuter = part time starting WR. If Zach was back for 2019, I doubt that he would be a starter.
3 starters on offense need to be replaced. If you consider Rivas and Beechum a wash, just 2 = Barnes & Risner.
++++++++++++++++++++
The “Big” question mark for K-State on offense = running back.
I don’t know about the quality of the players, but the new staff has brought in a bevy of RBs (including two grad transfers). You would like to think that 1 or 2 will separate from the pack.
O-line, TE, WR, QB = All Good
The big question mark on defense is the LB position and really the concern is as much about Patton and Sullivan staying healthy (quality depth is the biggest problem).
It’s time for Daniel Green to make a splash (especially given Justin’s season ending injury).
D-Line and Secondary = all good
The new coaching staff likes the d-secondary players >> AJ Parker, Walter Neil, Denzel Goolsby, Lance Robinson, Wayne Jones, Kevion McGee (to name a few). And a sleeper at safety – Jahron McPherson.
+++++++++++++
In stating the obvious, Miss State was a better team than K-State last year. BUT I’m not ready to throw in the towel on this year’s game in Starkville.
K-State has a lot of returning starters and hopefully the new coaching staff will have a positive impact.
It’s time for Skylar Thompson to seize the opportunity and have a break-out year.
For some of you that are already counting this game as a loss – Man Up – EMAW !
Expect to Win Baby ! #Win the Dang Day
GO STATE !
The Colonels might be a tad or two better than K-State’s second opponent, Bowling Green (BG is coming off a dismal 3 & 9 season).
Then it gets real.
Will Coach Klieman win his first BIG game at Kansas State in Starkville, Mississippi on Sept. 14?
Not to say winning his "first game" at K-State against Nicholls, won't be big.
So what about Mississippi State?
This just in = the Bulldogs have a TON to replace on defense.
Defense: Miss State has 7 starters to replace on defense.
3 starting DBs graduated (or eligibility expired).
One of the D-backs, a safety (Abram), was selected #26 in the 1st round of the NFL draft.
Additionally, the Bulldogs lost a 4th DB that started 2 games (played in all 13 games).
2 starting D-Lineman graduated. Sweat was selected #27 in the 1st round of the draft.
AND a junior starting DL (Simmons) was taken #19 in the 1st round of the draft.
The Bulldogs also lost good depth -- 2 other senior D-lineman started at least one game last season and played in all 13 games.
That’s 3 starting D-lineman (including 2 first round draft picks) – and – quality depth.
1 starting LB graduated (started all 13 games) – was taken in the 6th round of the draft.
4 of their top 5 tacklers from 2018 are gone.
To recap on defense: the Bulldogs have 7 starters to replace, 3 players that were selected in the first round of the NFL draft (& one player in the 6th round), plus some quality depth.
Note: 4 defensive players for Mississippi Statate that were not drafted signed free agent contracts.
Miss State recruits well, but the Bulldogs aren’t exactly Alabama or Clemson. And even with good talent ready to step up, it can take time for the new starters to gel.
On offense: Miss State has 5 starters to replace on offense.
Starting QB graduated, though it’s worth noting that the Bulldogs have a QB with starting experience ready to step-up.
2 starting O-lineman (both started every game). One of the O-lineman was selected in 2nd round (3 picks behind Risner).
Starting TE (started all 13 games).
1 starting WR.
Note3: three offensive players for Mississippi State that were not drafted, signed free agent contracts (QB, OL, TE).
In comparison to K-State:
On Defense: K-State has to replace Duke Shelley, Kendal Adams, & Eli Walker on defense.
Shelley missed the last 5 games of the season.
Adams & Walker missed starts last season due to injury.
In short, K-State started to adjust to life without these players last season.
Would have been nice to have had Shelley for TCU & Iowa State games (Duke was a quality player on defense –and- special teams).
Depending upon how you look at it -- if you look at the end of last season, K-State has 1 or 2 starters to replace on defense (Eli / Kendall).
Though with the season ending injury to Justin Hughes this spring, you could add Justin to the starter list to replace at the end of last season. Justin’s injury really really stinks.
Not a starter, but Sizelove graduated. Sam received more playing time last season because of injuries (Patton & Sullivan).
On Offense:
Alex Barnes’ early exit is the biggest loss on offense (in case you didn’t know..ha).
Two O-line starters are also gone (Beechum & Risner).
Kaltmayer & Rivas are expected to replace Beech & Risner (both have starting experience). Rivas started 2 games last season. Of course, Dalton is a big loss, but Kaltmayer has stepped in for Dalton before and done a good job.
The new coaching staff is high on K-State’s O-line.
Zach Reuter = part time starting WR. If Zach was back for 2019, I doubt that he would be a starter.
3 starters on offense need to be replaced. If you consider Rivas and Beechum a wash, just 2 = Barnes & Risner.
++++++++++++++++++++
The “Big” question mark for K-State on offense = running back.
I don’t know about the quality of the players, but the new staff has brought in a bevy of RBs (including two grad transfers). You would like to think that 1 or 2 will separate from the pack.
O-line, TE, WR, QB = All Good
The big question mark on defense is the LB position and really the concern is as much about Patton and Sullivan staying healthy (quality depth is the biggest problem).
It’s time for Daniel Green to make a splash (especially given Justin’s season ending injury).
D-Line and Secondary = all good
The new coaching staff likes the d-secondary players >> AJ Parker, Walter Neil, Denzel Goolsby, Lance Robinson, Wayne Jones, Kevion McGee (to name a few). And a sleeper at safety – Jahron McPherson.
+++++++++++++
In stating the obvious, Miss State was a better team than K-State last year. BUT I’m not ready to throw in the towel on this year’s game in Starkville.
K-State has a lot of returning starters and hopefully the new coaching staff will have a positive impact.
It’s time for Skylar Thompson to seize the opportunity and have a break-out year.
For some of you that are already counting this game as a loss – Man Up – EMAW !
Expect to Win Baby ! #Win the Dang Day
GO STATE !
