SE: K-State Focused on Execution in Homecoming Battle with No. 9 Oklahoma
Oct 20, 2017 | Football, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
After watching film from last Saturday's 26-6 loss to then-No. 6 TCU, the Wildcats know they were not far off from a much different result.
K-State's execution in key moments, a major ingredient to beating highly-ranked teams, was somewhat lacking. After film review, the Wildcats (3-3, 1-2) look to hone in on their execution when they host No. 9 Oklahoma on Saturday at 3 p.m.
"We know after watching the film that we should've been better," sophomore Dalton Schoen said of last week's loss. "If we had just executed a little bit better in certain areas, we could have had a much different outcome in the game because if you make those plays early on, it gets the momentum building and the whole dynamic of the game is different."
For example, TCU's first touchdown came on a third-and-goal from the 7-yard line. In the second quarter, the Wildcats had a touchdown called off because of a pass interference penalty and lost a fumble on the next play. In the third quarter, K-State moved the ball inside the Horned Frogs' 10-yard line before coming up short on a fourth-and-1 attempt.
"There were a ton of plays where we were one block away from a huge play, or we had a missed read and if we had just gone to that other spot, it's a big play. We were close on a lot of plays," Schoen said. "If we just tighten up our execution a little bit, we definitely have an opportunity to be successful."
K-State's execution must improve in a few key areas, namely third down success on offense and defense, as well as red zone efficiency on offense.
After converting 2-of-15 third down chances against TCU, K-State's third-down conversion rate sits at 29.6 percent for the year, well below last year's mark of 45 percent that ranked 26th nationally.
K-State head coach Bill Snyder pointed out that the first step to increasing his team's effectiveness on third down is to get better on first and second down.
The numbers would certainly agree.
When K-State has needed five yards or less on third down this season, the Wildcats have converted 55.6 percent (15 of 27) of the time. When they have needed more than five yards, their success rate falls to 13.6 percent (6 of 44).
"If you are on the offensive side of the ball," Snyder said, "that first down is very significant."
Added Schoen: "A big thing for us is definitely is winning on first and second down, getting into those third-and-2, third-and-3 situations where we can run or pass and be successful. And you just have to make plays on third down, bottom line."
The same idea, reversed, also goes for K-State's defense that is allowing opponents to convert 42 percent of their third down tries. TCU, with the best third-down percentage in the country (56.7), converted 9-of-18 tries on third down.
"Just executing whatever call we're given," senior linebacker Jayd Kirby said of improving K-State's third down defense. "Everybody needs to be focused on doing their job, just carrying out your responsibility."
Back to the offensive side of things, K-State's red zone efficiency has taken a dip from years past. It is currently at 84-percent, a number the Wildcats are confident they can improve toward the norm that has seen K-State rank in the top-15 nationally for red zone offense for the last three seasons.
"It's a mentality, I think. We just have to realize once we're in the red zone, we have to score and we can't settle for less," sophomore quarterback Alex Delton said. "Matt (McCrane) does a great job saving us and bailing us out sometimes, but we have to think touchdown."
At the midway point of the season, the Wildcats are done thinking about what's happened so far this season. Once the corrections are made, Delton said it's important to turn the page.
"You can't let TCU beat you twice," Delton said. "TCU was a good ball club. It's unfortunate what happened. They beat us, they got us pretty good. We learned from our mistakes (Monday), did some corrections and now our focus is on Oklahoma, and we can't really look back on the past and let that affect how we practice or play this Saturday."
"We've lost three games now but it's not the end of the world. We still have every opportunity in front of us to do some special things this season," added Schoen. "We can't let those games get us down. We have to move forward."
After watching film from last Saturday's 26-6 loss to then-No. 6 TCU, the Wildcats know they were not far off from a much different result.
K-State's execution in key moments, a major ingredient to beating highly-ranked teams, was somewhat lacking. After film review, the Wildcats (3-3, 1-2) look to hone in on their execution when they host No. 9 Oklahoma on Saturday at 3 p.m.
"We know after watching the film that we should've been better," sophomore Dalton Schoen said of last week's loss. "If we had just executed a little bit better in certain areas, we could have had a much different outcome in the game because if you make those plays early on, it gets the momentum building and the whole dynamic of the game is different."
For example, TCU's first touchdown came on a third-and-goal from the 7-yard line. In the second quarter, the Wildcats had a touchdown called off because of a pass interference penalty and lost a fumble on the next play. In the third quarter, K-State moved the ball inside the Horned Frogs' 10-yard line before coming up short on a fourth-and-1 attempt.
"There were a ton of plays where we were one block away from a huge play, or we had a missed read and if we had just gone to that other spot, it's a big play. We were close on a lot of plays," Schoen said. "If we just tighten up our execution a little bit, we definitely have an opportunity to be successful."
K-State's execution must improve in a few key areas, namely third down success on offense and defense, as well as red zone efficiency on offense.
After converting 2-of-15 third down chances against TCU, K-State's third-down conversion rate sits at 29.6 percent for the year, well below last year's mark of 45 percent that ranked 26th nationally.
K-State head coach Bill Snyder pointed out that the first step to increasing his team's effectiveness on third down is to get better on first and second down.
The numbers would certainly agree.
When K-State has needed five yards or less on third down this season, the Wildcats have converted 55.6 percent (15 of 27) of the time. When they have needed more than five yards, their success rate falls to 13.6 percent (6 of 44).
"If you are on the offensive side of the ball," Snyder said, "that first down is very significant."
Added Schoen: "A big thing for us is definitely is winning on first and second down, getting into those third-and-2, third-and-3 situations where we can run or pass and be successful. And you just have to make plays on third down, bottom line."
The same idea, reversed, also goes for K-State's defense that is allowing opponents to convert 42 percent of their third down tries. TCU, with the best third-down percentage in the country (56.7), converted 9-of-18 tries on third down.
"Just executing whatever call we're given," senior linebacker Jayd Kirby said of improving K-State's third down defense. "Everybody needs to be focused on doing their job, just carrying out your responsibility."
Back to the offensive side of things, K-State's red zone efficiency has taken a dip from years past. It is currently at 84-percent, a number the Wildcats are confident they can improve toward the norm that has seen K-State rank in the top-15 nationally for red zone offense for the last three seasons.
"It's a mentality, I think. We just have to realize once we're in the red zone, we have to score and we can't settle for less," sophomore quarterback Alex Delton said. "Matt (McCrane) does a great job saving us and bailing us out sometimes, but we have to think touchdown."
At the midway point of the season, the Wildcats are done thinking about what's happened so far this season. Once the corrections are made, Delton said it's important to turn the page.
"You can't let TCU beat you twice," Delton said. "TCU was a good ball club. It's unfortunate what happened. They beat us, they got us pretty good. We learned from our mistakes (Monday), did some corrections and now our focus is on Oklahoma, and we can't really look back on the past and let that affect how we practice or play this Saturday."
"We've lost three games now but it's not the end of the world. We still have every opportunity in front of us to do some special things this season," added Schoen. "We can't let those games get us down. We have to move forward."
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