Wrap up
Against Louisville, the Wildcats gave up several runs of 10 yards or more. K-State could have minimized those big runs. Several times the Wildcats had a chance to tackle Cardinal ball carriers for no gain or a loss. However, poor fundamentals in tackling resulted in K-State giving up several big rushes. Louisiana-Lafayette’s quarterback, Michael Desormeaux, and running back, Tyrell Fenroy, have the ability to rush for 100 yards.
Assignment sound
While the tackling against Louisville was atrocious, it was made even worse by linemen and linebackers playing out of position. Every defender has an area that they need to control. When one of those players goes the wrong way or is pushed out of the way, it creates wide cutback lanes for running backs.
If you can’t rush here, you can’t rush anywhere
Louisiana-Lafayette has the second worst rush defense in the nation, giving up about 282 yards a game. The Wildcats average only 124 rushing yards. This is the perfect opportunity for the running backs and offensive linemen to gain some confidence.
Get Freeman back on track
Against Louisville, Freeman was involved with all three of the Wildcats’ turnovers. Those were his only three turnovers of the season. With K-State’s weak running game and weaker defense, Freeman must play nearly perfect to give his team a shot.
Help the defense
Time of possession has not been a strong area for the Wildcats. Their opponents have controlled the ball for an average of five more minutes a game. Against Louisville, the Cardinals had possession for twice as long as the Wildcats. The defense needs some rest.