This might not be a popular thread given the thoughts on the offensive coordinator for the Cats, but I've done 11 of these so I thought I might as well finish the season. In typical Messingham fashion, there was a pretty good string of play calling in the 1st and 2nd quarters when K-State scored 17 points over the course of 4 drives after starting the game with a 3 and out. It all fell apart in the 2nd half with 0 points on 6 drives and those calls on short yardage that have been well discussed.
The play calling was run heavy and for much of the game it was effective. The stretch power scheme was really good, netting 7 successful snaps in 8 tries (2 of the WR runs were Knowles on stretch power after motioning to the backfield). 65 yards on 8 snaps for over 8 yards per is a pretty good scheme, but again the question then becomes why didn't we see more of it.
K-State ran power on 7 snaps and it produced a really nice 16 yard run to start the 2nd half, but overall it was pretty ineffective from the running back spot. It was a typical duo day, solid success rate, 4.9 yards per snap, but duo scheme out of a heavy double TE, H back, FB, wildcat formation was stuffed twice when it counted most.
That leads to the QB run game which produced the game's most explosive play, but nothing else. Many of the QB runs looked to be set up well, but they didn't produce and after Howard's 71 yard run 5 other called QB runs gained 9 yards.
The passing game was safe, but never threatened the Longhorns. The success rate was 46.7%, but the 4.5 yards per play speak loudly. The Cats did try a couple of down field throws on play action, but Howard wasn't really close on either one. Plus Howard missed badly on a few throws with open receivers. The lack of a successful passing game was magnified as the game progressed.
1st Quarter
The heavy wildcat package was sprinkled throughout the game, and this early power play was the most successful of the day. In total K-State ran out of this set 5 times for 13 yards with a pair of successful snaps. The blocking on this power was pretty good, getting the edge sealed enough for Deuce to bounce it late for 9 yards.
One of Messingham's staples, duo run off jet motion, was pretty good overall as well, gaining 21 yards on 3 snaps. Here K-State gets the edge sealed allowing Deuce to have the cutback and bounce it for 9 yards.
K-State used the I formation on 5 snaps, gaining 44 yards. Granted, the one time it was stopped on 3rd and 1 was one of the 2 key drives in the 4th quarter. This zone/duo lead was another play that got Deuce on the edge for a 19 yard gain.
The Cats run the bubble screen to Brooks 3 times, but this was the only successful version, but it does show what happens when Messingham is mixing plays well. Going from duo off jet, to 2 back lead, to bubble screen had Texas on their heals on this drive. It just doesn't happen enough to produce more than an average Big 12 offense (and yes, the offense is average, not well below that).
K-State finished the drive off with the stretch power concept out of double tights and good enough edge blocking from Lenners, Dineen, and Johnson to get Vaughn outside for the 9 yard TD run.
The play calling was run heavy and for much of the game it was effective. The stretch power scheme was really good, netting 7 successful snaps in 8 tries (2 of the WR runs were Knowles on stretch power after motioning to the backfield). 65 yards on 8 snaps for over 8 yards per is a pretty good scheme, but again the question then becomes why didn't we see more of it.
K-State ran power on 7 snaps and it produced a really nice 16 yard run to start the 2nd half, but overall it was pretty ineffective from the running back spot. It was a typical duo day, solid success rate, 4.9 yards per snap, but duo scheme out of a heavy double TE, H back, FB, wildcat formation was stuffed twice when it counted most.
That leads to the QB run game which produced the game's most explosive play, but nothing else. Many of the QB runs looked to be set up well, but they didn't produce and after Howard's 71 yard run 5 other called QB runs gained 9 yards.
The passing game was safe, but never threatened the Longhorns. The success rate was 46.7%, but the 4.5 yards per play speak loudly. The Cats did try a couple of down field throws on play action, but Howard wasn't really close on either one. Plus Howard missed badly on a few throws with open receivers. The lack of a successful passing game was magnified as the game progressed.
1st Quarter
The heavy wildcat package was sprinkled throughout the game, and this early power play was the most successful of the day. In total K-State ran out of this set 5 times for 13 yards with a pair of successful snaps. The blocking on this power was pretty good, getting the edge sealed enough for Deuce to bounce it late for 9 yards.
One of Messingham's staples, duo run off jet motion, was pretty good overall as well, gaining 21 yards on 3 snaps. Here K-State gets the edge sealed allowing Deuce to have the cutback and bounce it for 9 yards.
K-State used the I formation on 5 snaps, gaining 44 yards. Granted, the one time it was stopped on 3rd and 1 was one of the 2 key drives in the 4th quarter. This zone/duo lead was another play that got Deuce on the edge for a 19 yard gain.
The Cats run the bubble screen to Brooks 3 times, but this was the only successful version, but it does show what happens when Messingham is mixing plays well. Going from duo off jet, to 2 back lead, to bubble screen had Texas on their heals on this drive. It just doesn't happen enough to produce more than an average Big 12 offense (and yes, the offense is average, not well below that).
K-State finished the drive off with the stretch power concept out of double tights and good enough edge blocking from Lenners, Dineen, and Johnson to get Vaughn outside for the 9 yard TD run.
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