Why Kansas State’s passing attack may (or may not) show signs of rust in opener
Kansas State football fans couldn’t have asked for much more from Skylar Thompson and the Wildcats’ receivers when they took the field for the first time under Chris Klieman last year.
Thompson came out of the metaphorical chute with the energy of a bucking bull and completed 16 of 22 passes for 212 yards and a touchdown as he led the way to a 49-14 victory over Nicholls that propelled K-State to a flawless run through its nonconference games.
K-State is hoping for a repeat performance on Saturday when Thompson and Klieman begin another season together at 11 a.m. against Arkansas State at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, but it’s safe to say the Wildcats aren’t expecting perfection from any of their players in Game 1.
Following an unprecedented offseason of delays and distractions, style points can be thrown out the window. Nowhere is that more true than in the Wildcats’ passing game, where receivers missing practice have prevented Thompson from building strong chemistry with his top playmakers.
“It’s a challenge,” Klieman said earlier this week. “There’s no question. It’s a challenge, because we’ve had guys in and out of the lineup. Because our numbers were down for a period of time, we didn’t practice three consecutive days very often. We’d be on for two and then off for one just because our numbers at certain spots were a little bit low. I don’t think we had a chance to get a lot of cohesiveness going between the quarterbacks and receivers.”
There is good news for the Wildcats, though. The situation is getting better.
At one point during preseason camp, coaches began preparing cornerbacks and running backs to line up at receiver and run routes just in case they were needed as emergency options on gameday. But it now seems like position changes won’t be necessary, as several receivers were able to return to K-State practice this week.
Expect Malik Knowles, Chabastin Taylor, Phillip Brooks and others to be out there making plays.
“It’s gotten better,” K-State offensive coordinator Courtney Messingham said Thursday. “I feel like the last four, five, six days (are better) as far as everybody we thought was going to be in the game plan being back and ready to go. I feel really good about the running back position, I feel good about the receiver spots, the tight ends ... We have to go out and execute now.”
That’s not to say the Wildcats will be at full strength for this game. But limited numbers won’t be an excuse. Every team is dealing with the same problems.
“I don’t think it is going to affect us very much,” Messingham said. “I think we are really in pretty good shape personnel wise to be able to go out and play.”
More good news for K-State: Its opening opponent is far from a juggernaut on defense. The Red Wolves allowed Memphis quarterback Brady White to complete 26 of 36 passes for 275 yards and four touchdowns last week in a 37-24 victory for the Tigers. His favorite target was tight end Sean Dykes, who caught 10 balls for 137 and two scores.
Even if Thompson and his receivers show signs of rust coming off a turbulent offseason, they will have an opportunity to make some big plays together.
“My approach is whoever we have out there, whoever is available to play, we’re going to be ready to go play, we’re going to be ready to go and compete,” Thompson said. “I’m going to make sure whoever I have with me that they’re going to be ready and they’re going to be confident. A lot of that is our work throughout the week and leading up to the game, in practice and watching film together. All those types of things are going to be a big emphasis for me as far as building confidence and building trust and continuity as much as we can.”
This story was originally published September 11, 2020 at 11:55 AM with the headline "Why Kansas State’s passing attack may (or may not) show signs of rust in opener."