Pinstripe Bowl Match-ups
It’s finally arrived. After three long weeks of waiting, it’s Bowl Week! Kansas State fans have begun their trips across the eastern United States ready to land in the Empire State with plenty of purple to show off. And here at Jug of Snyder, it’s time to unleash our Pinstripe Bowl matchups. Today we’re focusing on the offense and breaking down the QBs, Backfield, and Receiving corp. Hit the jump for more.
Quarterbacks
Kansas State:
Collin Klein…
Passing: 15.3 yds/game, 11-18 for the season, 138 total yards passing, 1 TD, 0 INT,
Rushing: 47.8 yds/game, 430 total rushing yards, 5.7 yds/carry, 6 TD
Carson Coffman…
Passing: 166.5 yds/game, 64.2% completion, 1832 total yards, 12TD, 7INT
Rushing: 11.9 yds/game, 131 yds total, 1.3 yds/carry, 9TD
Just how do you describe this epic battle for leadership of the Kansas State offensive machine?! Ali vs. Frazier? David vs. Goliath? More like Beiber vs. Miley. We all have seen the ups and downs of the quarterback rotation that started early and has never been decided. Looking at the stats, it’s clear we have one guy who can use his legs, and one who can use his arm. Combine them into a single player and we might have had something! Carson Coffman has been a steady player all year long. He lacks any mobility in the pocket and isn’t a threat to take off for any amount of yards but his decision making and passing ability has seemed to steadily improve through the season. It holds true that he hasn’t lost any games for Kansas State because of mistakes, but I don’t know that he has won them either outside of the USF game which is one of his best. Collin Klein has good ability in the zone read game and provides a real threat in the back field alongside Daniel Thomas. I’ve noticed he does an incredible job of reading the defense and holding the ball until the last possible second on his reads which opens up some solid lanes. He also makes great decisions about when to give and when to keep. The scary unknown is his passing game. It’s hard to accurately judge whether or not Klein is a capable passing quarterback. He has only thrown the ball 18 times this season. I remember his first few attempts were pretty off but I don’t feel like he has had a real shot at proving his ability. I don’t figure this bowl game is going to be his chance either. Against Syracuse whose defense gave up a middle of the rankings 137 rushing yds/game, I would love to see Klein get the start and a heavy dose of the zone read. If it all goes well, he won’t need to pass.
Syracuse:
Ryan Nassib…
Passing: 175 yds/game, 56% completion, 2100 total yds, 16TD, 8INT
Rushing: -.9 yds/game, -55 yds total (183 gained 238 lost = net -55)
Nassib seems to be an efficient throwing quarterback who can manage the game and keep things moving along for the Orange. He has had games with decent numbers at times and is 4th in the Big East in yards per game this season. He will most likely see a normal amount of attempts in an offense that looks pretty balanced in their attack. While he has thrown 16 touchdowns this season, none of those came in the final two games for the Orange which were both loses. He has thrown 8 interceptions this season as well. I couldn’t find anything speaking about an incredible arm or the ability to run so I figure Nassib is an average quarterback that does fine but is exactly what you would expect on a 7-5 team.
Advantage: Push
Backfield
Kansas State
RB Daniel Thomas… 1495 yds, 275 attempts, 5.4 yds/carry, Avg 124.6/game 16TD, 7Fumble
FB Braden Wilson… 4 yds, 5 attempts, 1TD, 7 receptions for 63 yards
The D-Train started with a bang, slowed through the middle, and finished with a huge showing against North Texas. He wasn’t quite the freight express we witnessed all last season, but there is no doubt in my mind that in his final game for Kansas State, and as an audition for his future in the NFL, we can trust him to carry whatever load is placed on him. The SU rush defense has given up 137 yds per game which makes them #42 in the nation in rush defense. That might be a better than reality ranking and it looks like it might be attributed to their schedule and their lack of big time opponents this year. I see this as an area that Daniel Thomas could excel in, especially if Klein gets the start and we see a heavy dose of the zone read. I’m hoping for a 200+ yard game for Thomas and maybe 3 rushing TDs. That will be made possible in part by the Full Back. Although Braden Wilson doesn’t have any yards to mention, I wanted to be sure and include him in this position breakdown. Wilson is the definition of a guy who does his job and gets no praise. Watch him block at times during the game. Trust me. (P.S. The return of WeePo?!)
Syracuse:
RB Delone Carter… 1060 yds, 204 attempts, 5.1 yds/carry, Avg 86.2/game , 7TD,
RB Antwon Bailey… 519 yds, 107 attempts, 4.7 yds/carry, Avg 42/game, 2 TD
FB Adam Harris… 21 yds, 8 attempts
Delone Carter is the main back for the Orange but Antwon Bailey saw action in every game this year as well. Together they averaged 128 yds/game and scored 9 rushing TD. The story on these guys is the same as Nassib. They are efficient but nothing spectacular. Carter was injured in the season finale for Syracuse but he is said to be healthy and ready for the bowl game. The only thing that could make these guys the game changers is our own defense but that’s a story for another day we are all too familiar with. Expect an above average performance for the Orange rushing attack against our defense, and pray for nothing that rewrites any record books. If… and that’s a big if… Kansas State can control this unit and limit production, the game should be easily in hand.
Advantage: Kansas State
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Kansas State:
WR Adrian Hilburn… 17.9 ypg, 215 total, 1 TD
WR Chris Harper… 22.8 ypg, 274 total, 3 TD
WR Aubrey Quarles… 57.1 ypg, 685 total, 5 TD
WR Tremaine Thompson… 36.9 ypg, 258 total, 0 TD
TE Travis Tannahill… 8.2 ypg, 98 total, 1TD
TE Andre McDonald… 6.3 ypg, 76 total, 1 TD
This unit hasn’t lived up to what could have been from the start of the season but a couple of key injuries and indecision at the QB position has majorly hindered performance. Broderick Smith was done early in the year, but there have been rumors of having everyone else return for the bowl game. That would be a welcome sight. What this unit does in the game is completely determined by who HCBS puts in at quarterback. If Coffman gets the start, they should have a chance to produce some yards. If Klein gets the nod, these guys will be expected to block for the zone read and be distractions, which is what the TEs have been doing all season anyway. My biggest hope is that the last three weeks Klein has found his ability to pass and will provide an honest threat to the Syracuse pass defense. If that happens, they will have to pick their poison which leaves the doors wide open for one unit to have a big day.
Syracuse:
WR Van Chew… 50.9 ypg, 611 total, 5TD
WR Alec Lemon… 34.3 ypg, 377 total, 4TD
WR Marcus Sales… 24.2 ypg, 242 total, 1TD
RB Antwon Bailey… 23.1 ypg, 277 total, 3TD
TE Nick Provo… 29.7 ypg, 356 total, 1TD
Welcome to the mirror image of Kansas State’s receivers. This group of players fulfills a role and produces average results. Van Chew has the numbers that show he has been the most productive receiver of the bunch, but a late season injury makes his return in time for this Thursday’s game questionable. The other WR have the stats you would expect from a balanced offense. What piqued my interest was the production of RB Antwon Bailey and TE Nick Provo. Bailey saw action in every single game this year and I suppose he is a third down/passing situation back with some hands. Provo obviously gets a bit of action in the passing attack but lacks any TDs to show for it. If we have our usual time with rush defense, I shudder to think about what a decent receiving back and tight end could do out of some play action sets. But let’s not fret too much. All together, this unit only totaled 16 total TDs and 4 of those came against the mighty Colgate Red Raiders. Take that anomaly out and we are looking at a passing attack that averaged a little over 1 passing TD per game. Of course, Kansas State averages a little under 1 passing TD per game so uggghh.
Advantage: Push
Tomorrow check back for the match up of the OL, DL, and Special Teams