A Smashmouth Football Mindset
Sep 05, 2022 | Football, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
Just a few days from the start of the 2022 season, Kansas State defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman admitted that he was "extremely excited" about his group but added that "it's still potential right now."
"Until we actually put it on the grass," he said, "I don't want to say anything."
It'll be interesting to hear what Klanderman has to say this week after K-State pitched a largely dominant performance in a 34-0 shutout of South Dakota in the Wildcats' season opener at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
After K-State last season held opponents to their fewest points (21.0) since 2003 and limited foes to their fewest total yards (344.0) per contest since 2009, the unit that relies upon a hardened 3-3-5 defensive alignment and this year features several new faces was largely dominant for three quarters during its debut, conjuring timeworn memories of hard-hitting groups that also prided themselves on hanging goose eggs on opponents.
"It's going to be smashmouth football with us," said Kobe Savage, a safety who transferred from Tyler (Texas) Junior College prior to spring practice. "Everybody is going to have to bring it, regardless who you are — SEC, FCS, FBS, it doesn't matter."
K-State held South Dakota to 270 total yards on 69 plays, allowing just 3.9 yards per snap, and limited the Coyotes to just 99 total yards in the first half. K-State was particularly staunch on third and fourth down, as South Dakota converted just 5 of 16 third-down opportunities and was stopped short on each of its four fourth-down situations. The Wildcats recorded 10 tackles for a loss, including four sacks, while safety Cincere Mason recorded the team's first interception of the season.
It was the 5-foot-11, 206-pound Savage who showed among the most emotion on the field. In a contest in which College Football Hall of Fame linebacker Mark Simoneau and 2022 Ring-of-Honor inductee Darren Howard were recognized, Savage became the first K-State player in 2022 to throw up the legendary Mob sign following one on-field stop, drawing cheers from the crowd of 50,469 inside the stadium.
The Mob gesture isn't to be taken lightly. Savage did his homework.
"I did a little research and saw the Mob and how much they were doing on defense and how they were flying around and attacking the ball," Savage said. "I throw it up in practice, but I don't know, it just meant the world to me to do it, because we all move like the Mob, we're a unit, and we take it with pride.
"We don't throw it up to throw it up. When we throw it up, we mean it for real."
The defensive prowess certainly drew the attention of everyone on the sideline.
"Our defense was flying around out there," Preseason All-American running back Deuce Vaughn said. "They had me excited just with the way they were flying around, playing together, communicating. There were big hits, interceptions, man, it was big time. It was cool to see."
K-State, which led 27-0 at halftime, substituted liberally, particularly in the second half, allowing second- and third-string reserves an opportunity to get into the action.
"Our team knows we're a good team and we believe in each other," said junior defensive end Brendan Mott, who collected his first-career sack. "I wouldn't say it's surprising, but it was great to go out there and execute some things. There are things to work on, but we'll get that done during the week in watching film and in practice and be better.
"We just have some good leaders. It's awesome to have Eli Huggins back as a sixth-year guy, and Daniel Green, Julius Brents, Felix Anudike-Uzomah and Kobe Savage — just some ballers."
Seven of South Dakota's 13 possessions failed to gain 10 yards. K-State allowed the Coyotes to travel into its territory just three times on their first 12 possessions. However, things changed late in the game. That's when South Dakota put together a 14-play, 71-yard drive. But K-State stopped the Coyotes three times inside the 10-yard line.
On fourth-and-4 at the K-State 5-yard line, South Dakota running back Mike Mansaray was met by reserve defensive end Cartez Crook-Jones at the four. K-State took over possession with 58 seconds remaining in the game. All that was left was for the K-State marching band to play the fight song.
"(A shutout) is really rare anymore in college football," K-State head coach Chris Klieman said. "I'm so excited for the younger guys that had the opportunity on that last drive. Yes, their starters moved it against a lot of our younger guys, but in the same respect, our younger guys found a way to get a stop. I'm so pleased for those young guys because it was the older guys during the timeouts saying, 'Preserve the shutout.' And they did."
Thus sets the stage for an awaited showdown against former Big 12 Conference member Missouri, which throttled Louisiana Tech 52-24 in its season opener while racking up 558 total yards, including 323 on the ground. K-State last played Missouri on October 8, 2011, and the Wildcats posted a 24-17 victory in Manhattan.
"I'm excited to play some SEC football," Savage said. "I'm going to treat Missouri like they're Alabama. There's not going to be any drop off from this game — probably more juice."
Just a few days from the start of the 2022 season, Kansas State defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman admitted that he was "extremely excited" about his group but added that "it's still potential right now."
"Until we actually put it on the grass," he said, "I don't want to say anything."
It'll be interesting to hear what Klanderman has to say this week after K-State pitched a largely dominant performance in a 34-0 shutout of South Dakota in the Wildcats' season opener at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
After K-State last season held opponents to their fewest points (21.0) since 2003 and limited foes to their fewest total yards (344.0) per contest since 2009, the unit that relies upon a hardened 3-3-5 defensive alignment and this year features several new faces was largely dominant for three quarters during its debut, conjuring timeworn memories of hard-hitting groups that also prided themselves on hanging goose eggs on opponents.
"It's going to be smashmouth football with us," said Kobe Savage, a safety who transferred from Tyler (Texas) Junior College prior to spring practice. "Everybody is going to have to bring it, regardless who you are — SEC, FCS, FBS, it doesn't matter."
K-State held South Dakota to 270 total yards on 69 plays, allowing just 3.9 yards per snap, and limited the Coyotes to just 99 total yards in the first half. K-State was particularly staunch on third and fourth down, as South Dakota converted just 5 of 16 third-down opportunities and was stopped short on each of its four fourth-down situations. The Wildcats recorded 10 tackles for a loss, including four sacks, while safety Cincere Mason recorded the team's first interception of the season.
It was the 5-foot-11, 206-pound Savage who showed among the most emotion on the field. In a contest in which College Football Hall of Fame linebacker Mark Simoneau and 2022 Ring-of-Honor inductee Darren Howard were recognized, Savage became the first K-State player in 2022 to throw up the legendary Mob sign following one on-field stop, drawing cheers from the crowd of 50,469 inside the stadium.
The Mob gesture isn't to be taken lightly. Savage did his homework.
"I did a little research and saw the Mob and how much they were doing on defense and how they were flying around and attacking the ball," Savage said. "I throw it up in practice, but I don't know, it just meant the world to me to do it, because we all move like the Mob, we're a unit, and we take it with pride.
"We don't throw it up to throw it up. When we throw it up, we mean it for real."
The defensive prowess certainly drew the attention of everyone on the sideline.
"Our defense was flying around out there," Preseason All-American running back Deuce Vaughn said. "They had me excited just with the way they were flying around, playing together, communicating. There were big hits, interceptions, man, it was big time. It was cool to see."
K-State, which led 27-0 at halftime, substituted liberally, particularly in the second half, allowing second- and third-string reserves an opportunity to get into the action.
"Our team knows we're a good team and we believe in each other," said junior defensive end Brendan Mott, who collected his first-career sack. "I wouldn't say it's surprising, but it was great to go out there and execute some things. There are things to work on, but we'll get that done during the week in watching film and in practice and be better.
"We just have some good leaders. It's awesome to have Eli Huggins back as a sixth-year guy, and Daniel Green, Julius Brents, Felix Anudike-Uzomah and Kobe Savage — just some ballers."
Seven of South Dakota's 13 possessions failed to gain 10 yards. K-State allowed the Coyotes to travel into its territory just three times on their first 12 possessions. However, things changed late in the game. That's when South Dakota put together a 14-play, 71-yard drive. But K-State stopped the Coyotes three times inside the 10-yard line.
On fourth-and-4 at the K-State 5-yard line, South Dakota running back Mike Mansaray was met by reserve defensive end Cartez Crook-Jones at the four. K-State took over possession with 58 seconds remaining in the game. All that was left was for the K-State marching band to play the fight song.
"(A shutout) is really rare anymore in college football," K-State head coach Chris Klieman said. "I'm so excited for the younger guys that had the opportunity on that last drive. Yes, their starters moved it against a lot of our younger guys, but in the same respect, our younger guys found a way to get a stop. I'm so pleased for those young guys because it was the older guys during the timeouts saying, 'Preserve the shutout.' And they did."
Thus sets the stage for an awaited showdown against former Big 12 Conference member Missouri, which throttled Louisiana Tech 52-24 in its season opener while racking up 558 total yards, including 323 on the ground. K-State last played Missouri on October 8, 2011, and the Wildcats posted a 24-17 victory in Manhattan.
"I'm excited to play some SEC football," Savage said. "I'm going to treat Missouri like they're Alabama. There's not going to be any drop off from this game — probably more juice."
Players Mentioned
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