SE: The Big 12 is Filled with Quarterback Talent
Oct 18, 2021 | Football, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
Shortly after Kansas State left the field following a 33-20 loss against Iowa State, sophomore defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah discussed a proud defense's difficulties against another premier Big 12 Conference quarterback, this time Iowa State's Brock Purdy.
K-State dropped to 3-3 overall and 0-3 in the Big 12, with losses at Oklahoma State and against Oklahoma and Iowa State – the first two ranked in the top 8 of the Associated Press Top 25, and the later who was ranked there in the preseason. Already the Wildcats faced Spencer Sanders, Spencer Rattler and Purdy — 3 of the 7 most-efficient quarterbacks in the league — with Texas Tech senior Henry Colombi to come Saturday. The Wildcats visit the Red Raiders in an 11 a.m. kickoff at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas.
"Depth in quarterback talent in the Big 12? It's pretty big," Anudike-Uzomah said. "They can hit you with the passing game and they can scramble really good. (Purdy) scrambles and pump fakes, and that's something we try to practice against, but we've got to put that in the trash and now prepare for Colombi. We went against Sanders and Rattler, and we're going to go against more guys in the future. Dual-threat is pretty common, and we've got to work on how to defeat that."
Overall, Big 12 quarterbacks are completing 77% of their passes against the Wildcats. That's the highest completion percentage against any Big 12 defense in league play.
"They're three pretty good quarterbacks," K-State head coach Chris Klieman said. "We just have to make some plays in man coverage, and we have to be able to get off and rush the passer. It's a little difficult when we don't have probably our best couple of pass rushers out there. Bottom line, that's the hand we're dealt. We've got to go back to the drawing board and find some ways to rush the passer and find a way to play better in man coverage."
One of the most difficult aspects facing the Wildcats is their third-down defense. In six games, opposing quarterbacks have completed 33 of 47 (70.2%) third-down passes and have converted 22 third downs through the air.
One instance where that was a factor was the 18-play, 93-yard, third-quarter touchdown drive by Iowa State that consumed 10 minutes, 2 seconds — the longest drive allowed by the Wildcats since at least 1999. The Cyclones converted five third downs and Purdy was perfect on all three of his third-down passing attempts, including an 11-yard touchdown pass to 6-foot-6, 220-pound wide receiver Sean Shaw for a 27-7 lead.
"This is my first time playing in the Big 12, but its quarterbacks do a pretty good job of being efficient," senior defensive back Reggie Stubblefield said. "We just have to do a better job as a defense making those plays and getting those guys rattled and getting them uncomfortable. When you get these quarterbacks in this conference the ability to sit in the pocket, they're going to make their plays."
The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Colombi has completed 78 of 119 (65.5%) passes for 1,066 yards with 4 touchdowns and 3 interceptions this season. His best game arrived when he went 17 of 23 passing for 324 yards with 3 touchdowns and 1 interception in the Big 12 opener at Texas. He went 14 of 20 for 124 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception in a 41-14 win at Kansas this past Saturday.
After facing Colombi, the Wildcats go against TCU's Max Duggan (13 TD, 2 INT), Kansas' Jason Bean (932 passing yards, 303 rushing yards this season), and West Virginia's Jarret Doege (Big 12 leader with 240.7 passing yards per game). The Wildcats then wrap up the regular season against Baylor's Gerry Bohanon (12 TD, 1 INT) and Texas' Casey Thompson (15 TD, 5 INT).
"There are a lot of seasoned guys who make a lot of plays," Klieman said. "There are some really good offenses in this league and there are a few really good defenses, but right now people have trigger guys, they have some quarterbacks who can beat you with their arm and beat you with their feet, and the schemes are very good.
"There's a big talent level on offense and we've got to find some ways to control that."
Shortly after Kansas State left the field following a 33-20 loss against Iowa State, sophomore defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah discussed a proud defense's difficulties against another premier Big 12 Conference quarterback, this time Iowa State's Brock Purdy.
K-State dropped to 3-3 overall and 0-3 in the Big 12, with losses at Oklahoma State and against Oklahoma and Iowa State – the first two ranked in the top 8 of the Associated Press Top 25, and the later who was ranked there in the preseason. Already the Wildcats faced Spencer Sanders, Spencer Rattler and Purdy — 3 of the 7 most-efficient quarterbacks in the league — with Texas Tech senior Henry Colombi to come Saturday. The Wildcats visit the Red Raiders in an 11 a.m. kickoff at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas.
"Depth in quarterback talent in the Big 12? It's pretty big," Anudike-Uzomah said. "They can hit you with the passing game and they can scramble really good. (Purdy) scrambles and pump fakes, and that's something we try to practice against, but we've got to put that in the trash and now prepare for Colombi. We went against Sanders and Rattler, and we're going to go against more guys in the future. Dual-threat is pretty common, and we've got to work on how to defeat that."
Overall, Big 12 quarterbacks are completing 77% of their passes against the Wildcats. That's the highest completion percentage against any Big 12 defense in league play.
"They're three pretty good quarterbacks," K-State head coach Chris Klieman said. "We just have to make some plays in man coverage, and we have to be able to get off and rush the passer. It's a little difficult when we don't have probably our best couple of pass rushers out there. Bottom line, that's the hand we're dealt. We've got to go back to the drawing board and find some ways to rush the passer and find a way to play better in man coverage."
One of the most difficult aspects facing the Wildcats is their third-down defense. In six games, opposing quarterbacks have completed 33 of 47 (70.2%) third-down passes and have converted 22 third downs through the air.
One instance where that was a factor was the 18-play, 93-yard, third-quarter touchdown drive by Iowa State that consumed 10 minutes, 2 seconds — the longest drive allowed by the Wildcats since at least 1999. The Cyclones converted five third downs and Purdy was perfect on all three of his third-down passing attempts, including an 11-yard touchdown pass to 6-foot-6, 220-pound wide receiver Sean Shaw for a 27-7 lead.
"This is my first time playing in the Big 12, but its quarterbacks do a pretty good job of being efficient," senior defensive back Reggie Stubblefield said. "We just have to do a better job as a defense making those plays and getting those guys rattled and getting them uncomfortable. When you get these quarterbacks in this conference the ability to sit in the pocket, they're going to make their plays."
The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Colombi has completed 78 of 119 (65.5%) passes for 1,066 yards with 4 touchdowns and 3 interceptions this season. His best game arrived when he went 17 of 23 passing for 324 yards with 3 touchdowns and 1 interception in the Big 12 opener at Texas. He went 14 of 20 for 124 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception in a 41-14 win at Kansas this past Saturday.
After facing Colombi, the Wildcats go against TCU's Max Duggan (13 TD, 2 INT), Kansas' Jason Bean (932 passing yards, 303 rushing yards this season), and West Virginia's Jarret Doege (Big 12 leader with 240.7 passing yards per game). The Wildcats then wrap up the regular season against Baylor's Gerry Bohanon (12 TD, 1 INT) and Texas' Casey Thompson (15 TD, 5 INT).
"There are a lot of seasoned guys who make a lot of plays," Klieman said. "There are some really good offenses in this league and there are a few really good defenses, but right now people have trigger guys, they have some quarterbacks who can beat you with their arm and beat you with their feet, and the schemes are very good.
"There's a big talent level on offense and we've got to find some ways to control that."
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