by Ross Coleman - Contributing Editor
September 17, 2009 22:26
This Saturday the Bruins take on the Wildcats of Kansas State. The Wildcats have been less than wild this year under new/former head coach Bill Snyder. But that is no reason to take them lightly. If you look at recent history for the Bruins, there is a tendency to have a let down after big games. The loss to Florida State in the Emerald Bowl after the 13-9 upset of the Trojans in 2006, the 44-6 loss to Utah in 2007 after beating a talentedBYU team, and most recently the 59-0 loss to BYU last year after beating Tennessee.
This game will be harder, from a personal standpoint, than any game so far this season. Not only is Kevin Prince out with a broken jaw, but also sophomorecornerback Courtney Viney, freshman runningback Milton Knox, freshman tight end Morrell Presely, and freshman wide receiver Randall Carroll are all suspended for breaking team rules. Viney is the biggest blow of the bunch because he was starting in place of an injured Aaron Hester. Viney's suspension inserts a true freshman Sheldon Price into the starting lineup at a position that is already challenged for depth.
Knox is also going to be a blow for the offense. He had shown some great things in the first two games and was looking to get more carries. Now he will be missing a game where the running game will most likely be used a lot.
Looking at Kansas State, the two games they have played this season were against less than stellar opponents. In week one they barely beat the University of Massachusetts which is aFCS (formerly division 1-aa ) team. In week two they lost to Louisiana-Lafayette in a tight game. The loss was a blow to a team that was returning a number of starters from a team that went 5-7 a year ago.
The difference this year is that Snyder runs a form of the single wing offense and relies heavily on the run. The Bruin defense has shown that they are at their best when they are going against the run. Look for the Bruins to feast off theKSU runningbacks. Despite averaging almost 400 yards of offense a game, the Wildcats are only averaging 18 points per game.
The Kansas State defense has also had a very difficult time getting to the quarterback, amassing only one sack in two games. If the Bruins line gives RichardBrehaut or Kevin Craft any time to find an open receiver, the Bruins will be successful.
However, with Prince out, I think Norm Chow will be relying heavily on the running game. If the Bruins are able to average four yards a rush, the game will never be in doubt. If they need to have Craft orBrehaut bail out the offense by passing, the game will be close and it is possible for the Bruins to lose at home.
I think it would be hard to pick the Wildcats in this game even with the injuries and suspensions suffered by the Bruins. However, it is still possible for the Bruins to get bit in this game. So I, for one, will be watching rather nervously, although I think the Bruins will win.