K-State's offense started with 2 TDs and finished with a FG and in between were 5 punts and a lost fumble. After progressing steadily for 3 straight games, the running game took a big step backwards in Austin. The Cats couldn't get a consistent running game going all day long, but after early success the passing game also began to falter. It was simply an inconsistent game for Messingham and his offense with execution and scheme issues mixed together in what was also a tough match up against a pretty good Texas front 7.
1st Quarter
One of K-State's biggest plays of the season was likely a result of great film study while calling the right play at the right time. If you paid any attention to Ian Boyd going into this game, one of the major issues for the Texas defense was dialing up blitzes in 3rd down situations and not getting to the QB, often resulting in huge plays for the offense. This is exactly what happened as K-State motioned from a doubles formation with 4 WR and brought Knowles into a split back position. Then K-State simply ran a wheel route concept with the bottom 2 WRs in the formation running slant/pick routes while Knowles ran a quick wheel. He caught the ball in the flat with no one around him and then made one Texas defender miss to take it 70 yards for the score. Good scheme combined with miscommunication and poor coverage by Texas.
K-State used quick motions a lot early to check the Texas coverage and here Gill motions in and back out to a 3 trips formation and 3 WR combo that has been successful lately for K-State. K-State again catches UT in a missed coverage as 2 UT defenders end up on Gill in the flat. The UT linebacker tries to wall Schoen across the middle, but he clears and catches on the crosser for a nice gain. Again, good scheme while catching a UT defensive mistake.
Messingham used this scheme with a lot of success at NDSU from a variety of formations, but it hasn't really hit for K-State this year. Here we're in diamond and the play action leads to a clear route by the bottom WR, a wheel from the near back, a flat by the far back, and a late follow/seam by the pistol back. One issue is that Brown ends up running into a blitzer for UT and by the time he gets out on his route there is too much pressure for Thompson to make the throw and he is forced to throw the ball away.
One of the best things K-State did in Austin was dial up good 3rd down routes to beat the UT blitzes. Once again Thompson finds Schoen on a post route as he clears the late dropping UT linebacker while getting enough protection to get the ball out.
Here K-State uses jet motion with a WR and runs a gun version of A gap power away from the motion. Here is an example of what the Cats battled all day; UT defensive lineman defeating a block and making a play. This isn't likely to break big, but if the UT defender doesn't get a hand on Brown in the hole, he likely gets downhill for a 5-7 yard gain in between closing defenders.
Another blitz beating route, this time from 2 back spread with play action. K-State does a great job of using a smash route combo to the same side of the field that UT sends a blitz. Thompson has enough time even though the blitzer comes free to find Gill on the corner route for the TD. The problem is, this would be one of the last play call wins against the blitz for the rest of the ball game.
This was by far K-State's best power run of the day with A gap power. Here K-State wins the line of scrimmage and gets a key block on the UT outside LB while Trotter bounces the play outside. However, this would be one of just a few battles K-State would win the rest of the day against UT's defensive front 7.
Messingham likes to go unbalanced several times a game and here K-State is in balanced quads, with an H back aligned to the trips. Brown motions out for a quick screen and a nice gain thanks to some good blocking in space by K-State's WRs.
Pick routes against man are a good combo, but here K-State's WR and TE are simply not on the same page. Lenners seems to be the intended target for Thompson, but he's the guy setting the pick for Schoen and ends up being called for pass interference. Probably an odd call into the boundary, but even worse execution.
More coming in this thread.
1st Quarter
One of K-State's biggest plays of the season was likely a result of great film study while calling the right play at the right time. If you paid any attention to Ian Boyd going into this game, one of the major issues for the Texas defense was dialing up blitzes in 3rd down situations and not getting to the QB, often resulting in huge plays for the offense. This is exactly what happened as K-State motioned from a doubles formation with 4 WR and brought Knowles into a split back position. Then K-State simply ran a wheel route concept with the bottom 2 WRs in the formation running slant/pick routes while Knowles ran a quick wheel. He caught the ball in the flat with no one around him and then made one Texas defender miss to take it 70 yards for the score. Good scheme combined with miscommunication and poor coverage by Texas.
K-State used quick motions a lot early to check the Texas coverage and here Gill motions in and back out to a 3 trips formation and 3 WR combo that has been successful lately for K-State. K-State again catches UT in a missed coverage as 2 UT defenders end up on Gill in the flat. The UT linebacker tries to wall Schoen across the middle, but he clears and catches on the crosser for a nice gain. Again, good scheme while catching a UT defensive mistake.
Messingham used this scheme with a lot of success at NDSU from a variety of formations, but it hasn't really hit for K-State this year. Here we're in diamond and the play action leads to a clear route by the bottom WR, a wheel from the near back, a flat by the far back, and a late follow/seam by the pistol back. One issue is that Brown ends up running into a blitzer for UT and by the time he gets out on his route there is too much pressure for Thompson to make the throw and he is forced to throw the ball away.
One of the best things K-State did in Austin was dial up good 3rd down routes to beat the UT blitzes. Once again Thompson finds Schoen on a post route as he clears the late dropping UT linebacker while getting enough protection to get the ball out.
Here K-State uses jet motion with a WR and runs a gun version of A gap power away from the motion. Here is an example of what the Cats battled all day; UT defensive lineman defeating a block and making a play. This isn't likely to break big, but if the UT defender doesn't get a hand on Brown in the hole, he likely gets downhill for a 5-7 yard gain in between closing defenders.
Another blitz beating route, this time from 2 back spread with play action. K-State does a great job of using a smash route combo to the same side of the field that UT sends a blitz. Thompson has enough time even though the blitzer comes free to find Gill on the corner route for the TD. The problem is, this would be one of the last play call wins against the blitz for the rest of the ball game.
This was by far K-State's best power run of the day with A gap power. Here K-State wins the line of scrimmage and gets a key block on the UT outside LB while Trotter bounces the play outside. However, this would be one of just a few battles K-State would win the rest of the day against UT's defensive front 7.
Messingham likes to go unbalanced several times a game and here K-State is in balanced quads, with an H back aligned to the trips. Brown motions out for a quick screen and a nice gain thanks to some good blocking in space by K-State's WRs.
Pick routes against man are a good combo, but here K-State's WR and TE are simply not on the same page. Lenners seems to be the intended target for Thompson, but he's the guy setting the pick for Schoen and ends up being called for pass interference. Probably an odd call into the boundary, but even worse execution.
More coming in this thread.
