You can never take too much from one game (good or bad), but I just feel really good about K-State's defense. This year's defense "might be" the best defense that K-State has had since 2003 (yes, better than the 2012 group). 2012 had a very solid defense, but wasn't exactly dominant.
Of course it's hard to be dominant in the Big 12 with all of the high flying offenses... but this year's defense "could" get there.
It all starts up front:
If Jordan Willis has improved just a little bit over last season, he will be a force this season.
Will Geary appears to have only gotten better (missed him big-time in last year's bowl game).
Tanner Wood played very well and I like Reggie Walker's speed/ quickness... between the two, I see measurable improvement at the right end spot.
Dishon should only get better each week... played well in his first start.
Hard to blow Dishon (6'2" - 305) and Geary (6'0" - 298) out of the hole ... they are low to the ground ... very hard for an offensive lineman to get their pads under these guys.
Linebackers:
This unit is top notch. Lee appeared to play much faster (game has slowed down for him).
Mike Moore is going to have a big senior season.
Will Davis is fundamentally & assignment sound...
And the CATS have a number of youngsters pushing these guys.
D-Backs:
A couple of corners that you can trust in man coverage when you want to dial up a blitz.
Shelley should on be better after gaining a year of experience.
I expect DJ to quickly adjust to D-1 ball.
Kendall Adams looked very good... like Shelley, the year of experience last season was big.
Lastly, K-State has the luxury of having perhaps the best Safety in the Big 12... Barnett was directing traffic like a coach out there.
What helped the 2012 defense that finished the year with #45 total defense (#28 scoring defense) was an offense that generated first downs and chewed up the clock.
That's the X-FACTOR for this year's defense. Will K-State's offense be able to generate first downs on ball controll drives and score points. A defense is a lot more fired up (& rested) to take the field after the offense has just chewed up some clock and scored points.
GO STATE !
Of course it's hard to be dominant in the Big 12 with all of the high flying offenses... but this year's defense "could" get there.
It all starts up front:
If Jordan Willis has improved just a little bit over last season, he will be a force this season.
Will Geary appears to have only gotten better (missed him big-time in last year's bowl game).
Tanner Wood played very well and I like Reggie Walker's speed/ quickness... between the two, I see measurable improvement at the right end spot.
Dishon should only get better each week... played well in his first start.
Hard to blow Dishon (6'2" - 305) and Geary (6'0" - 298) out of the hole ... they are low to the ground ... very hard for an offensive lineman to get their pads under these guys.
Linebackers:
This unit is top notch. Lee appeared to play much faster (game has slowed down for him).
Mike Moore is going to have a big senior season.
Will Davis is fundamentally & assignment sound...
And the CATS have a number of youngsters pushing these guys.
D-Backs:
A couple of corners that you can trust in man coverage when you want to dial up a blitz.
Shelley should on be better after gaining a year of experience.
I expect DJ to quickly adjust to D-1 ball.
Kendall Adams looked very good... like Shelley, the year of experience last season was big.
Lastly, K-State has the luxury of having perhaps the best Safety in the Big 12... Barnett was directing traffic like a coach out there.
What helped the 2012 defense that finished the year with #45 total defense (#28 scoring defense) was an offense that generated first downs and chewed up the clock.
That's the X-FACTOR for this year's defense. Will K-State's offense be able to generate first downs on ball controll drives and score points. A defense is a lot more fired up (& rested) to take the field after the offense has just chewed up some clock and scored points.
GO STATE !
