Kansas State Football: Conference should be the apple of Wildcats eye
By John McCarty
Everyone else is gone
Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Texas Tech all replace their quarterbacks for the 2018 season. Both Oklahoma and Oklahoma State lost starters all along their roster in addition to their quarterback. Perhaps no team was hit harder than Oklahoma State, losing both their starting wide receivers along with their signal caller.
Texas lost a slew of players last season to the draft, including their punter, who happened to win the MVP of their bowl game. Iowa State has momentum. Kansas is still terrible and is likely playing out the final season of the David Beaty era.
Run the ball, and run the ball, and run the ball
Kansas State can run the football and everyone knows it. In a day and age and especially a league that emphasizes passing the football at full speed, the Wildcats do everything they can to slow the game down and run the ball. In 2017, the Cats ran for 2,584 yards (198.8/game) and passed for 2,259 yards (173.7/game). With Barnes and Silmon back as the main ball carriers along with the returning offensive line, expect the Cats to run the ball early and often in 2018.
Snyder appears healthy and running at full speed
Last offseason’s headlines were filled with questions and concerns about the ball coaches health after a cancer scare. This season, there appear to be no such concerns.
When Snyder is healthy and going at full speed, the Cats are a dangerous team. While questions will persist about the coach’s long term plans (he is 78 years old) for at least 2018, Snyder and company appear fully ready to go. With experience and talent, Snyder can work wonders.