Game 11 Preview: Cincinnati at Kansas State
The last month hasn't gone as planned for Scott Satterfield and the Bearcats.
After starting the season 5-2, Cincinnati entered week nine with a chance to crack the top 25 with a road win at Colorado. The Bearcats lost that game 34-23 and have dropped their last two games to West Virginia (31-24) and Iowa State (34-17).
In their most recent loss to Iowa State, the Bearcats turned a three-point deficit into a 17-point loss in the matter of minutes.
"When I look back at last week, I was obviously disappointed in the last four minutes of that game. I thought our guys hung in the game well for the first 55 minutes, and it wasn't perfect, but we were still in the game," Satterfield told media Tuesday.
"We got the deficit down to three points with 11 minutes to go, and then we gave up a 3rd-and-10, 3rd-and-9, 3rd-and-7, 3rd-and-2, and a 4th-and-1 on that same drive. At the end of that drive, the quarterback ran in a touchdown on a bad snap, which was unfortunate, but then it kind of unraveled from there."
Things don't get much easier for Cincinnati in week 11 when they travel to Manhattan, Kansas for an 8 pm kickoff against Kansas State.
(Photo: Austin Van Meter / K-State Athletics)
Like Iowa State last week, Kansas State enters Saturday night looking to rebound from consecutive losses after falling at Houston (24-19) two weeks ago and at home to Arizona State (24-14) last week.
"This week is very similar to last week," said Satterfield.
"We are going to the Midwest, playing a really good football team on the road at eight o'clock. The two programs, Iowa State and Kansas State, are very similar, and they are two of the best programs in the Big 12. They are coached very well, and their kids play hard. They are coming off a couple of losses, but so was Iowa State last week, so it's very similar."
Cincinnati struggled to get anything going through the air against Iowa State as Brendan Sorsby completed just 10-of-18 passes for 66 yards.
The one bright spot in UC's 34-17 loss to Iowa State was a dominant run game.
Brendan Sorsby accounted for a career-high 143 yards on the ground and running back Corey Kiner added 120 yards on 18 carries. The 287 rushing yards by Cincinnati were a season best.
If Cincinnati is going to end their three-game losing streak, they will have to have similar success running the football. Kansas State currently ranks second in the Big 12 in sacks (2.6 per game) and third in TFLs (6.6 per game).
The Wildcats are allowing just 101.8 yards per game on the ground and have the best fourth-down defense in the Big 12 (36.8%). K-State has scored TDs on a blocked punt, a punt return, a fumble recovery and an INT return.
Scott Satterfield described the similarities defensively between Iowa State and Kansas State.
“Their defense is similar. They are a little bit more aggressive, though. The big difference is that I think their (Kansas State) run defense is really good. So as kind of a flip really, with Iowa State, they are very pressure-oriented, keeping everybody close to the line of scrimmage. They are playing a lot more man coverage in the back end so they can get more hats to stop the run. So, I think in that regard, it's a little bit different, but structurally very similar. So, 3-3-5, defense. They can drop eight, you see that on film, but they also can bring a lot more pressure, and they feel more comfortable doing that as well. It's an outstanding defense. They have a lot of good players.”
Leading the K-State defense are linebackers Austin Romaine (66 tkls, 4 sacks, 2 TFL) and Desmond Purnell (33 tkls, 6 TFL, 3.5 sacks).
Their ability to get in the backfield starts up front with the pressure that defensive lineman Brendan Mott is able to put on an offensive line.
"We've got a lot of really good rush men. We've got some guys that can get after it. We design pressures and things enough to manipulate protections where he doesn't get (double teams). We see a lot more max protection stuff than most other teams see." K-State defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman told media Thursday.
Mott currently leads the Big 12 in sacks, with eight, and also has 7.5 tackles for loss.
On the back end, Marquez Sigle has three interceptions, as well as three pass-deflections to go with 40 tackles and four tackles for loss..
"We have a lot of competitors. We talk a lot about how we never let our circumstances dictate how we show up. It's frustrating circumstances right now, so we're really being tested in that ethos right now," said Klanderman.
For Kansas State, their team success rests heavily on the shoulders of dual-threat quarterback Avery Johnson, as well as running back DJ Giddens.
Johnson has struggled during the last two games with four interceptions to just one touchdown, but the sophomore quarterback has still thrown for 2,150 yards and completed 177-of-291 passing attempts this season.
Running back DJ Giddens has been a perfect compliment to Johnson's dual-threat ability, rushing for 1,128 yards and five TDs on 176 carries.
KSU is averaging 202.9 rush ypg - No. 2 in the Big 12 and No. 18 in the FBS.
“Another good running back in the Big 12 ," said Satterfield.
"These guys are already over 1,000 yards. (Giddens is) a really good running back. They have a good offensive line too. They blocked really well. I think the quarterback, he's tall, can really run, has a big arm.... I think now they're probably getting healthy, and they probably feel like (Johnson) gives them a good chance. Let's try to run them a little bit more. So, we'll probably see some of that as well.”
Johnson is currently averaging 5.2 yards per carry and has rushed for 412 yards on 79 carries.
Out wide, K-State is led by 6-foot sophomore Jayce Brown (38 rec, 642 yds, 3 TDs).
Brown had six catches for 121 yards and two touchdowns during K-State's October 12th win at Colorado.
Final Thoughts:
For Cincinnati to win Saturday, the recipe on offense is pretty straight forward.
"We have to be able to, in the passing game, do a much better job in that and getting the ball down the field. We all feel like that. That's certainly something that we have to get better at," said Satterfield.
Brendan Sorsby has four turnovers over the past two games. The Bearcats' quarterback will have to do a better job taking care of the football and limiting mistakes.
"If you go back and look at a lot of these games, Kansas State the last two weeks, the turnovers are what keeps you from winning. I mean, it's just the bottom line. And so you got to take care of the football," Satterfield continued.
UC is tied for last in the Big 12 with just four interceptions. The Bearcats will have to try to find a way to force turnovers and gain extra possessions, especially in a game that could be shortened with K-State wanting to rely heavily on their run game.
Special teams also has to better.
During Cincinnati's three game losing streak, opponents have an average starting field position at their own 43.
For comparison, Cincinnati's average field position start is their own 20.
Covering during the kick game will have to improve.
How to watch:
8:00
ESPN2