Kansas State Question of the Week: Can the Wildcats run the ball against Missouri?

After three years with Deuce Vaughn at running back, Kansas State is back to a timeshare approach at the position.

While both DJ Giddens and Treshaun Ward have proven to be talented ball carriers, the rushing attack has lacked early. Pair that with a Missouri defense that stuffs the run, it begs the question, can the Wildcats run the ball successfully on Saturday?

A quick look at total rushing numbers for K-State wouldn’t paint the full picture. While the Wildcats have run for 187.5 yards per game and nearly five yards per carry in 2023, there have been lulls during both games against SEMO and Troy.

Most recently against Troy, Kansas State managed just 3.9 yards per carry.

The duo of Giddens and Ward was bottled up, with neither reaching 60 yards on the ground. Blame for the lack of potency in the run game is not only on the running backs. The K-State offensive line play is in question after two games.

The Wildcats have had to try different lineups during the first two weeks of 2023 due to the absence of Christian Duffie. Most notably, All-American guard Cooper Beebe has been yanked between the interior and exterior parts of the Kansas State line.

Beebe played right tackle versus Troy when the Wildcats had early success running the ball. Shuffling the line constantly has made it difficult to produce later in the game, when the balance of run and pass needs to be established.

But it is a necessity until Duffie comes back, as his replacement Carver Willis has been the second-worst run-blocking lineman, according to Pro Football Focus.

The concern for running the ball against Missouri is not only due to the struggles of the K-State offensive line, though.

Missouri has stood tall against the run through two games this season. Opponents South Dakota and Middle Tennessee have averaged just 58.5 yards on the ground. In 2022, the Tigers had the fourth-best run defense in the SEC behind Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama.

Kansas State’s chance to buck their trend in the run game could get a boost on Saturday. Head coach Chris Klieman said on Tuesday that Duffie could beback for the game with Missouri. The Wildcats are also waiting on the possible return of John Pastore, who would be another body to try on the line.

I am skeptical that the K-State run game will improve in Saturday’s battle with Missouri. I have confidence in the backs, but I need to see it to believe it with the offensive line. It may not matter for the Wildcats though, if they can be successful in the passing attack.

But the Tiger defense is a real test and Darius Robinson is an All-SEC candidate on the Missouri line. If Duffie is back in the lineup, it could provide a major improvement to Kansas State’s run game. Duffie was the Wildcats’ second-best run blocker on last year’s offensive line, behind Beebe.

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