Kansas State mailbag: Bye week thoughts on the Wildcats

1. Has Kansas State played their best or worst game yet this year?

DY: Probably not, to be honest. They definitely have not played their best football game. Kansas State can’t do that if they haven’t gotten the best game out of quarterback Will Howard yet. They haven’t been to the most healthy group, either.

Oklahoma State could be in danger of playing K-State with it all coming together again, though, just like last year. That would be poor timing for Mike Gundy and company. I don’t think I’ll predict that, but it’s not impossible.

In terms of a bad game, I don’t think the Wildcats have had a flat game yet and just about every team does during a season. Even the good ones.

2. Will any of the true freshmen receivers make a difference this season?

DY: For what Kansas State needs, Jayce Brown is probably more of the answer because he possesses more speed than Tre Spivey. The latter does have a bit more ball skills and size to him though if that ever comes into the decision.

I think it is more likely that guys get better in the rotation than the rotation changes on a considerable note. That is especially the case if Keagan Johnson can take a step forward in his recovery and really let it rip.

3. For K-State to repeat as the Big 12 champions, which position has to make the biggest leap forward?

DY: In general, the K-State secondary just has to improve in terms of their read and their eye discipline. That will come with more experience and seeing more pictures that provides them with the knowledge to have better instincts.

Explosive plays are the one thing that has ailed them. Everything else has been strong for the most part on the defensive side of the ball. Even with the chunks of yardage that they surrendered versus UCF, Kansas State didn’t allow a point after giving up a touchdown with 13:40 on the clock. The Knights also still only got to 2.4 points per drive.

4. What is the level of concern regarding the kicking situation?

DY: It definitely creeped into the neighborhood of it being something to watch again for K-State. That some of that is just because Chris Tennant also booted a kickoff out of bounds and missed an extra point in the conference opener.

Technically, he’s only mis-fired on two field goals so far this season and one was a deep ball where he surprisingly came up short. That’s not to say to not be concerned, but I am not of the mind-set that the cord already needs cut.

5. Are the issues in the Kansas State secondary what would be considered quick fixes?

DY: Honestly, no. It is what we have said for weeks. The issues are breakdowns in communication and poor eye discipline. Both the Kansas State coaches and players have been transparent about that, and that’s just a sign and clear symptoms of inexperience.

It will get better with time. Nobody is going to have good feelings about the defense until the final quarter of the regular season, in my estimation. Even then, as alluded to above, some of the numbers aren’t even all that lackluster.

Avery Johnson/USA Today

6. Under what circumstances does Avery Johnson see the field again this season?

DY: There is a bunch of them. I’d be shocked if K-State quarterback Avery Johnson didn’t play again this season. In fact, as I’ve shared elsewhere, I’m still of the understanding that the true freshman signal caller will not redshirt.

7. Rank the speed of Jake Clifton, Daniel Green, Desmond Purnell and Austin Moore.

DY: From fastest to slowest – Jake Clifton, Desmond Purnell, Daniel Green, Austin Moore. To be fair, that is a bit of a naked guess from seeing them on the field and not necessarily a measurement that I’m aware of that they have conducted.

8. Does K-State lose a game because of the kicker?

DY: I’ll be optimistic and say no. But to give a better answer, I’ll list Kansas State games where something like that could come into play. Ones that could be decided in that way include at Texas Tech, home versus TCU and at Kansas.

9. When will Patrick Ngongba make his college choice?

DY: That would likely be reflective of his official visit schedule.

Patrick Ngongba has already seen Michigan, will be at Kentucky this weekend, added a trip to UConn for the weekend of October 13, and closes that month out with a few days at Duke and a return stop in Manhattan to re-connect with K-State.

With Signing Day just around the corner after that, it won’t take much longer after that for him to announce his college choice.

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