‘You’re Only as Good as Your Last Snap’
Sep 17, 2024 | Football, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
No. 13 Kansas State made a splash with a dominant win over an Arizona team that was No. 20 in the Associated Press Top 25 and entered Friday's primetime contest with the nation's longest winning streak.
Exactly how are the Wildcats, 3-0, handing their success and national notoriety since the big win?
"It's still early in the season," K-State head coach Chris Klieman said. "I don't think of it as handling success. Handling expectations is harder than handling success and failure."
Outside expectations suggest K-State will be a major player in the race for a berth in the 2024 Big 12 Championship Game.
The Wildcats got after Arizona, 2-1, and snapped its nine-game winning streak. Arizona averaged 42 points and K-State allowed it into the end zone one time — on the game's first possession. Meanwhile, sophomore quarterback Avery Johnson came alive with his best game yet, and sophomore running back Dylan Edwards returned a punt 71 yards for a touchdown to earn Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
K-State looked to be at its best against Arizona after managing a come-from-behind 34-27 win at Tulane. K-State posted its first regular-season non-conference win against a ranked team in Manhattan since 2002.
Klieman was named The Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week, the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl announced Monday.
"Handling expectations is what got us a little bit early on," Klieman said at his weekly news conference. "That and the chemistry and getting guys playing together. You're only as good as your last snap, period. What we did yesterday pales in comparison to what we can do today."
Today, K-State prepares for another stiff test as it opens the Big 12 season at BYU, 3-0, in Saturday's 9:30 p.m. (CT) kickoff on ESPN from LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah.
While K-State was picked second in the Big 12 in the preseason, BYU was picked 13th. The Cougars opened the season with a win over Southern Illinois (41-13) before capturing road victories at SMU (18-15) and Wyoming (34-14) the last two weeks.
"If we think we've arrived, we're going to go there and get absolutely throttled," Klieman said. "That's our job as coaches, to make sure we stay grounded. I think we have a bunch of humble kids, a bunch of hungry guys, and a bunch of guys that know they are blue-collared dudes that have not arrived.
"We've won three games, which is awesome, but we haven't done anything yet."
Here are a few things Klieman mentioned in his weekly news conference:
K-State is preparing for the higher elevation in Provo, Utah
The elevation of Provo, Utah, is 4,551 feet. The elevation of Manhattan is 1,020 feet. While Provo boasts beautiful mountains and a gorgeous backdrop for college football, the thinner air could be a factor as the game wears on.
K-State isn't taking any chances. Players are apparently taking extra steps with the hope that they might lessen any thin-air effects.
"Two weeks ago, we were talking about humidity and heat and now we're talking about being cool and elevated. What a crazy league we're in," Klieman said.
Later, he added, "It's interesting because you look at the forecast, and it'll be an o-lineman's dream because it's probably going to be in the 50s by kickoff. (Higher elevation) is something that we're aware of, and we're doing some things with our guys, but it'll be another element we have to handle."
How will K-State handle its time in Provo, Utah, prior to the night kickoff?
K-State got practice dealing with a night-game routine against Arizona prior to its 7 p.m. kickoff Friday. There's obviously a lot that transpires behind the scenes prior to games and endless hours of planning and preparation. Klieman indicated that the Wildcats found a winning formula and will take that to the Big 12 opener on the road.
"I thought we had a really good plan for this Friday," Klieman said. "Granted we were at home. We're going to kind of take that plan on the road to Provo. That's what I'm counting on, and I'm pretty confident in the leaders we have will make sure we take that plan that we had on Friday – that was as good of a day as you could've had prior to 7 p.m. — to Provo and do it on Saturday. It's just going to be a little bit later."
Klieman is pleased with his tight end production
While wide receiver Jayce Brown has been steady with a team-high nine catches for 148 yards and running back DJ Giddens has seven catches or 69 yards and a touchdown, it's interesting to note the production of the Wildcats' tight ends coming off the loss of Ben Sinnott to the NFL.
Brayden Loftin is tied for third on the squad with six catches for 86 yards and a team high-tying two touchdowns, and Will Swanson had four catches for 24 yards and a team high-tying two touchdowns.
Of Avery Johnson's six touchdown passes this season, four have been to his tight ends.
"I think they're doing a good job of selling some run fakes and getting open," Klieman said. "We have similar actions that we're running the football out of some of those wheel routes that's Loftin's caught, and Swanny caught the one on a scramble rule. They're doing a really good job of selling run. They're doing a really good job of finding windows and being big targets for Avery. Avery has a lot of confidence in those guys, too."
K-State coaches continue to look at their offensive snap count in games
After running a total of 56 plays from scrimmage in each of its first two games, K-State had 64 offensive plays against Arizona. These totals come after K-State ran 71, 70 and 74 total plays in each of its first three games a year ago.
Either way, K-State has been generally effective. The Wildcats have scored at least 28 points in 11 straight games, the longest stretch since between the 1998 and 1999 seasons.
However, the more plays the better.
"We're still looking at it," Klieman said. "We have a few more plays this week, but the value of possessions, that's one of many factors which made us go for it on fourth-and-1 that early in the (Arizona) game, the fact that they took eight minutes off the clock, and you couldn't give it right back to them as well as making those red-zone possessions count. We haven't had a ton of opportunities to go for it on fourth down. We've had a couple, whether that or kicking a field goal.
"The team we're going to play is going to go for it on fourth down. BYU has done a really good job on fourth down. Without a doubt with the clock not stopping after first downs except for the final two minutes, the game is going by quicker."
Klieman called K-State's defensive success against high-scoring Arizona "really impressive"
It's worth repeating that Arizona averaged 42 points per game this season, and it averaged 39.3 points per contest during its nation-leading nine-game winning streak coming to Manhattan.
After K-State was ineffective in pass defense by allowing 342 yards through the air at Tulane, questions swirled regarding how the Wildcats might fare against a dangerous Arizona offense that boasted a talented quarterback and potential first-round draft pick at wide receiver.
K-State and defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman responded with a defining effort.
The Wildcats allowed Arizona to score exactly one time, and Arizona didn't score on any of its final eight possessions of the game.
"It was really impressive against that type of an offense and how explosive they are," Klieman said. "I didn't realize that they had maybe the longest winning streak in college football. You don't do that by accident. You do that by playing really good defense and scoring a lot of points, and they'd been doing that. There's a lot of veterans on that team, which made it all the more impressive.
"What we did defensively, limiting the run really helped us. After that first drive, we really limited their success rushing the football, which allowed us to play a lot more people in coverage or pressure the passer. We had a lot of pressure and put some hits on him that made it difficult for them to sustain drives."
K-State held Arizona to 56 rushing yards on 19 attempts. Arizona's only score came on a 1-yard touchdown run on the game's first possession.
Klieman nods at entire punt-return team as Dylan Edwards captures weekly Big 12 honor
On a football play from Friday's game that went viral, K-State sophomore Dylan Edwards caught a couple key blocks, including a key block from Donovan McIntosh, and blew past Arizona on a 71-yard punt-return touchdown that turned the tide for the Wildcats.
Edwards was named Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday.
"What a great award for him and for our punt-return team, and he would tell you that, because there were some really good blocks on that punt return," Klieman said. "We all know you just give Dylan a little bit of a crease and some green grass and he's going to make some things happen. We blocked extremely well. That was a total team effort on that return. Great return and great job circling the coverage by Dylan and a really good job sustaining blocks."
No. 13 Kansas State made a splash with a dominant win over an Arizona team that was No. 20 in the Associated Press Top 25 and entered Friday's primetime contest with the nation's longest winning streak.
Exactly how are the Wildcats, 3-0, handing their success and national notoriety since the big win?
"It's still early in the season," K-State head coach Chris Klieman said. "I don't think of it as handling success. Handling expectations is harder than handling success and failure."
Outside expectations suggest K-State will be a major player in the race for a berth in the 2024 Big 12 Championship Game.
The Wildcats got after Arizona, 2-1, and snapped its nine-game winning streak. Arizona averaged 42 points and K-State allowed it into the end zone one time — on the game's first possession. Meanwhile, sophomore quarterback Avery Johnson came alive with his best game yet, and sophomore running back Dylan Edwards returned a punt 71 yards for a touchdown to earn Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
K-State looked to be at its best against Arizona after managing a come-from-behind 34-27 win at Tulane. K-State posted its first regular-season non-conference win against a ranked team in Manhattan since 2002.
Klieman was named The Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week, the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl announced Monday.
"Handling expectations is what got us a little bit early on," Klieman said at his weekly news conference. "That and the chemistry and getting guys playing together. You're only as good as your last snap, period. What we did yesterday pales in comparison to what we can do today."
Today, K-State prepares for another stiff test as it opens the Big 12 season at BYU, 3-0, in Saturday's 9:30 p.m. (CT) kickoff on ESPN from LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah.
While K-State was picked second in the Big 12 in the preseason, BYU was picked 13th. The Cougars opened the season with a win over Southern Illinois (41-13) before capturing road victories at SMU (18-15) and Wyoming (34-14) the last two weeks.
"If we think we've arrived, we're going to go there and get absolutely throttled," Klieman said. "That's our job as coaches, to make sure we stay grounded. I think we have a bunch of humble kids, a bunch of hungry guys, and a bunch of guys that know they are blue-collared dudes that have not arrived.
"We've won three games, which is awesome, but we haven't done anything yet."
Here are a few things Klieman mentioned in his weekly news conference:
K-State is preparing for the higher elevation in Provo, Utah
The elevation of Provo, Utah, is 4,551 feet. The elevation of Manhattan is 1,020 feet. While Provo boasts beautiful mountains and a gorgeous backdrop for college football, the thinner air could be a factor as the game wears on.
K-State isn't taking any chances. Players are apparently taking extra steps with the hope that they might lessen any thin-air effects.
"Two weeks ago, we were talking about humidity and heat and now we're talking about being cool and elevated. What a crazy league we're in," Klieman said.
Later, he added, "It's interesting because you look at the forecast, and it'll be an o-lineman's dream because it's probably going to be in the 50s by kickoff. (Higher elevation) is something that we're aware of, and we're doing some things with our guys, but it'll be another element we have to handle."
How will K-State handle its time in Provo, Utah, prior to the night kickoff?
K-State got practice dealing with a night-game routine against Arizona prior to its 7 p.m. kickoff Friday. There's obviously a lot that transpires behind the scenes prior to games and endless hours of planning and preparation. Klieman indicated that the Wildcats found a winning formula and will take that to the Big 12 opener on the road.
"I thought we had a really good plan for this Friday," Klieman said. "Granted we were at home. We're going to kind of take that plan on the road to Provo. That's what I'm counting on, and I'm pretty confident in the leaders we have will make sure we take that plan that we had on Friday – that was as good of a day as you could've had prior to 7 p.m. — to Provo and do it on Saturday. It's just going to be a little bit later."
Klieman is pleased with his tight end production
While wide receiver Jayce Brown has been steady with a team-high nine catches for 148 yards and running back DJ Giddens has seven catches or 69 yards and a touchdown, it's interesting to note the production of the Wildcats' tight ends coming off the loss of Ben Sinnott to the NFL.
Brayden Loftin is tied for third on the squad with six catches for 86 yards and a team high-tying two touchdowns, and Will Swanson had four catches for 24 yards and a team high-tying two touchdowns.
Of Avery Johnson's six touchdown passes this season, four have been to his tight ends.
"I think they're doing a good job of selling some run fakes and getting open," Klieman said. "We have similar actions that we're running the football out of some of those wheel routes that's Loftin's caught, and Swanny caught the one on a scramble rule. They're doing a really good job of selling run. They're doing a really good job of finding windows and being big targets for Avery. Avery has a lot of confidence in those guys, too."
K-State coaches continue to look at their offensive snap count in games
After running a total of 56 plays from scrimmage in each of its first two games, K-State had 64 offensive plays against Arizona. These totals come after K-State ran 71, 70 and 74 total plays in each of its first three games a year ago.
Either way, K-State has been generally effective. The Wildcats have scored at least 28 points in 11 straight games, the longest stretch since between the 1998 and 1999 seasons.
However, the more plays the better.
"We're still looking at it," Klieman said. "We have a few more plays this week, but the value of possessions, that's one of many factors which made us go for it on fourth-and-1 that early in the (Arizona) game, the fact that they took eight minutes off the clock, and you couldn't give it right back to them as well as making those red-zone possessions count. We haven't had a ton of opportunities to go for it on fourth down. We've had a couple, whether that or kicking a field goal.
"The team we're going to play is going to go for it on fourth down. BYU has done a really good job on fourth down. Without a doubt with the clock not stopping after first downs except for the final two minutes, the game is going by quicker."
Klieman called K-State's defensive success against high-scoring Arizona "really impressive"
It's worth repeating that Arizona averaged 42 points per game this season, and it averaged 39.3 points per contest during its nation-leading nine-game winning streak coming to Manhattan.
After K-State was ineffective in pass defense by allowing 342 yards through the air at Tulane, questions swirled regarding how the Wildcats might fare against a dangerous Arizona offense that boasted a talented quarterback and potential first-round draft pick at wide receiver.
K-State and defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman responded with a defining effort.
The Wildcats allowed Arizona to score exactly one time, and Arizona didn't score on any of its final eight possessions of the game.
"It was really impressive against that type of an offense and how explosive they are," Klieman said. "I didn't realize that they had maybe the longest winning streak in college football. You don't do that by accident. You do that by playing really good defense and scoring a lot of points, and they'd been doing that. There's a lot of veterans on that team, which made it all the more impressive.
"What we did defensively, limiting the run really helped us. After that first drive, we really limited their success rushing the football, which allowed us to play a lot more people in coverage or pressure the passer. We had a lot of pressure and put some hits on him that made it difficult for them to sustain drives."
K-State held Arizona to 56 rushing yards on 19 attempts. Arizona's only score came on a 1-yard touchdown run on the game's first possession.
Klieman nods at entire punt-return team as Dylan Edwards captures weekly Big 12 honor
On a football play from Friday's game that went viral, K-State sophomore Dylan Edwards caught a couple key blocks, including a key block from Donovan McIntosh, and blew past Arizona on a 71-yard punt-return touchdown that turned the tide for the Wildcats.
Edwards was named Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday.
"What a great award for him and for our punt-return team, and he would tell you that, because there were some really good blocks on that punt return," Klieman said. "We all know you just give Dylan a little bit of a crease and some green grass and he's going to make some things happen. We blocked extremely well. That was a total team effort on that return. Great return and great job circling the coverage by Dylan and a really good job sustaining blocks."
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