D
Derek Young
Guest
FIRST DOWN: DESERVED TO LOSE
I don’t know how else to explain it. Kansas State deserved to lose. They were not the better team. Arkansas State was the better team and there really isn’t an argument for the Wildcats, to be quite honest.
It could have been worse, frankly. The Red Wolves had a punt blocked that resulted in a score for K-State. They threw an interception. They fumbled the ball away when driving for another score. They dropped a ball that could have turned into a touchdown.
I know that Kansas State coughed away chances, too, particularly in the vertical passing game, but I think Arkansas State gave away even more and were inches from making this a more comfortable win, even after trailing 21-7 at one point.
They didn’t blink.
SECOND DOWN: BEST PLAYERS WEREN’T THEIR BEST
One thing that was always drilled in me when I first became a sports analyst, is that a team’s best players have to be their best players if they want to succeed. That just didn’t happen on this Saturday for K-State.
Skylar Thompson has to be better and he wasn’t. While he had a few great throws, including his first touchdown toss to Phillip Brooks, a strike to Sammy Wheeler in the middle of the field while under pressure and his scoring throw to Briley Moore, there were a number that he fell short on, and the bad outweighed the good.
Thompson missed Chabastin Taylor a few times that would have netted Kansas State six. A throw to Malik Knowles, that was miraculously caught, also should have been a score if thrown accurately.
Malik Knowles wasn’t his best, either. He dropped a well-thrown ball down the field from Thompson in the second half.
Wyatt Hubert has played better football, too. He was ineffective versus the run and wasn’t as much of a threat as he typically is. A.J. Parker was probably the best player in the secondary, but that isn’t saying a whole lot on a day where they were torn apart.
There were also several missed tackles, and that is probably predictable for a season opener, but it was particularly evident today from some of what is expected to be their top players in Elijah Sullivan and Parker.
At the end of the day, the Wildcats surrendered almost 500 yards and couldn’t rush for 100 yards against a Group of Five opponent that was probably without more starters than they were,, actually.
THIRD DOWN: TROUBLE IN THE SECONDARY
They had no answer for Jonathan Adams, Jr. and that is putting it lightly. He had 8 catches for 98 yards and 3 touchdowns, and it could have been worse than that.
Kiondre Thomas didn’t have a great debut. Lance Robinson was picked on a bit. Parker had an up and down game, as did Will Jones. Jones blocked a punt and picked off a pass, but also blew a coverage and also fell victim to Adams a couple times.
The safeties were a vulnerable spot and that is a nice way of describing it. Jahron McPherson started but had to leave the game due to injury. Wayne Jones also had to leave the game later in the second half after what appeared to be a very concerning injury.
Jones had some issues with tackling before the injury. Ryan Henington was a reserve and was exposed a bit in coverage, particularly on a fake punt when he was matched up with Adams. Brock Monty didn’t turn in a sterling performance, either.
Frankly, the safety position is concerning moving forward after injuries to McPherson and Jones and not necessarily being impressed with the replacements against a Sun Belt team that had already lost to Memphis by multiple scores.
FOURTH DOWN: TIME FOR DEUCE
Kansas State true freshman running back Deuce Vaughn was simply one of the lone bright spots for the Wildcats. He made every touch count. He made every touch matter.
When he got the ball, he made things happen. Vaughn was dynamic, made defenders miss, ran hard and proved to be an effective weapon out of the backfield. There just wasn’t another offensive player that made himself as tough to defend.
In a day with a lot of negatives, he was a positive.
An honorable mention should probably also be given to the defensive tackles, Justin Hughes, Chabastin Taylor, Will Jones and Briley Moore.
I don’t know how else to explain it. Kansas State deserved to lose. They were not the better team. Arkansas State was the better team and there really isn’t an argument for the Wildcats, to be quite honest.
It could have been worse, frankly. The Red Wolves had a punt blocked that resulted in a score for K-State. They threw an interception. They fumbled the ball away when driving for another score. They dropped a ball that could have turned into a touchdown.
I know that Kansas State coughed away chances, too, particularly in the vertical passing game, but I think Arkansas State gave away even more and were inches from making this a more comfortable win, even after trailing 21-7 at one point.
They didn’t blink.
SECOND DOWN: BEST PLAYERS WEREN’T THEIR BEST
One thing that was always drilled in me when I first became a sports analyst, is that a team’s best players have to be their best players if they want to succeed. That just didn’t happen on this Saturday for K-State.
Skylar Thompson has to be better and he wasn’t. While he had a few great throws, including his first touchdown toss to Phillip Brooks, a strike to Sammy Wheeler in the middle of the field while under pressure and his scoring throw to Briley Moore, there were a number that he fell short on, and the bad outweighed the good.
Thompson missed Chabastin Taylor a few times that would have netted Kansas State six. A throw to Malik Knowles, that was miraculously caught, also should have been a score if thrown accurately.
Malik Knowles wasn’t his best, either. He dropped a well-thrown ball down the field from Thompson in the second half.
Wyatt Hubert has played better football, too. He was ineffective versus the run and wasn’t as much of a threat as he typically is. A.J. Parker was probably the best player in the secondary, but that isn’t saying a whole lot on a day where they were torn apart.
There were also several missed tackles, and that is probably predictable for a season opener, but it was particularly evident today from some of what is expected to be their top players in Elijah Sullivan and Parker.
At the end of the day, the Wildcats surrendered almost 500 yards and couldn’t rush for 100 yards against a Group of Five opponent that was probably without more starters than they were,, actually.
THIRD DOWN: TROUBLE IN THE SECONDARY
They had no answer for Jonathan Adams, Jr. and that is putting it lightly. He had 8 catches for 98 yards and 3 touchdowns, and it could have been worse than that.
Kiondre Thomas didn’t have a great debut. Lance Robinson was picked on a bit. Parker had an up and down game, as did Will Jones. Jones blocked a punt and picked off a pass, but also blew a coverage and also fell victim to Adams a couple times.
The safeties were a vulnerable spot and that is a nice way of describing it. Jahron McPherson started but had to leave the game due to injury. Wayne Jones also had to leave the game later in the second half after what appeared to be a very concerning injury.
Jones had some issues with tackling before the injury. Ryan Henington was a reserve and was exposed a bit in coverage, particularly on a fake punt when he was matched up with Adams. Brock Monty didn’t turn in a sterling performance, either.
Frankly, the safety position is concerning moving forward after injuries to McPherson and Jones and not necessarily being impressed with the replacements against a Sun Belt team that had already lost to Memphis by multiple scores.
FOURTH DOWN: TIME FOR DEUCE
Kansas State true freshman running back Deuce Vaughn was simply one of the lone bright spots for the Wildcats. He made every touch count. He made every touch matter.
When he got the ball, he made things happen. Vaughn was dynamic, made defenders miss, ran hard and proved to be an effective weapon out of the backfield. There just wasn’t another offensive player that made himself as tough to defend.
In a day with a lot of negatives, he was a positive.
An honorable mention should probably also be given to the defensive tackles, Justin Hughes, Chabastin Taylor, Will Jones and Briley Moore.
