Archive for the ‘Carson Coffman’ Category
Scouting Kansas State: Offense
Here’s the problem in a nutshell for Bill Snyder Part Deux at Kansas State: He needs Ell Roberson and Darren Sproles clones to make his offense go. Instead, he’s got Carl Straw and Michael Smith clones.
Fact is, the talent on both sides of the ball at Kansas State is a lot closer to the 1989 mess Snyder inherited than the team he left in 2005, thanks to the F5 tornado named Ron Prince who swept through Manhattan in three years, leveling the once-proud program.
It's 1989 again, Bill.
There’s not even Josh Freeman, the error-prone Chris Simms clone who was arguably the most overrated Big 12 player in the conference’s brief history. Instead, it’s Carson Coffman, Brandon “De Plane, Boss. De Plane” Banks and a cast of “Who’s he?” that Snyder will attempt to rebuild around.
Make no mistake about it, though: Kansas State will be better on offense, if for no other reason than the cache of assistants Snyder is bringing back to Manhattan.
Plus, it’s a typical pussified Snyder non-conference schedule, including such titans as UMass, Tennessee Tech and Louisiana Home for the Aged and Infirm. Unfortunately, the UCLA game is on the west coast, depriving Slick Rick Neuheisel of the chance to pick up some underhanded tips from the growing club of experts in Manhattan.
Coffman is a competent player. But does anyone feel confident handing the ball off to Keithen Valentine, Kansas small high school wunderkind Logan Dold or Jarrell Childs? Dold was so impressive toting the rock that Snyder gave him a big look at safety in the spring.
Banks was the Big 12 offensive newcomer of the year, which is made even more impressive by the fact that he’s 3-foot-7. The only other name among the receiving corps, Deon Murphy, was shitcanned by Snyder in the spring. You’ll recall that Snyder was almost Tom Osborne-like in his loyalty to players in trouble with the law who could do good things with the football.
Banks is rested and ready for 2009.
The Wildcat offensive line, a sieve under the former offensive lineman Prince, should probably be better this fall, although I’m sure they’ll miss Prince’s tips on how to negotiate contracts. Seniors Nick Stringer and Brock Unruh anchor that group.
The Wildcats won’t be quite as offensive with the football under Snyder, because they’ll be better fundamentally. But if you’re expecting this group to put up enough points to compete week in and week out in the Big 12, forget it.
