2022 Weeks 2/3, 2022 Large Dozen

[Bundy]

I was busy at work this past week so this week you'll get Double Dozen ? maybe this will be a more regular way of doing this column.

 

Large Dozen

The Big 12's relativelyWeekly Recap Show

We have a LOT to talk about in this edition of Large Dozen III. Two weeks of games have happened, and conference play is set to begin next week!

 

When I lived near and worked in Madison, WI in 2015 when I was first thrust into the world of the post-college "gap year" experience. I was really struggling with life in general. And then I rediscovered Pretty Lights, and listened to a TON of his music on my rides to and from work. It was good, healing. Now I may get heat from John Denver faithful, but if you click the above title, it'll take you to a Pretty Lights remix of Country Roads that was a staple in keeping me tethered to reality.

 

Now that I've gotten that out of the way, someone getting the WVU Mountaineers tethered to reality is @smackemz. In Week 1, I said that they'd live and die on the decision making of QB Musa, no matter if potential chad RB, Chad Dolis, plays exceptionally. Last week at Liberty, Musa did enough - 224 yards, 66%+, 1 TD, no turnovers - while Dolis added 91 on 22 carries for a score with 57 more yards coming on 8 receptions, as they took the liberty of beating, well, Liberty. This week at Army, Musa continued to struggle to take games over - regressing to 50% and no TDs, but 200+ and NO TURNOVERS again. Dolis grinded out 96 yards on 27 carries, while underrated WR Avery Sterling exploded with 3 catches for 110 yards. Outside of DT Jeurys Rogers (8 tackles, 1 Asst., 1.5 TFL, 1.0 Sack across last 2 games) and DE Mike Anderson (11 tackles, 3 Asst., 5 TFL, 1.5 Sacks) the Mountaineers don't do much particularly exceptional on defense, and punter Brent Martin has struggled mightily this year - but Smack Daddy has notched 2 important, consecutive wins onto the dub column, and they need to fight for "just" 4 more to earn a bowl game. It won't be easy - everyone knows their bread and butter - but they know they're probably going into every remaining game as the underdog, and this is the right makeup of team to make some noise.

 

Kansas

has had 2 weeks off since their closely contested game against Michigan, sliding into the Top 10 of the Coaches Poll very briefly and just falling out in the Week 2 iteration. Their coach has gone on record as "hating open dates and bye weeks" which led to the early pause in play, and with students now back into their fall routine, the anticipation is there for more football to happen. The Jayhawks host Iowa State this week to begin their slate of 11 consecutive games.

 

Iowa State

The Cyclones have remained coachless, and are halfway through a month long stretch of road games. In Week 2, they got thumped 23-0 against future conference mate Cincinnati, struggling to do anything through the air and seeing their potent ground attack held to just 72 yards over 28 carries. RB Johnny Young managed 100 combined rushing and receiving yards, but many folks out in Ames went to bed in order to get up for work on Friday rather than watching the conclusion of the beatdown. QB Justise Smith continues to be the teams kicker, missing a FG in the Cincy game.

 

The big Iowa Corn CyHawk rivalry game this week between Iowa State and Iowa was different though. Smith torched the Hawkeyes through the air for 370 yards and a TD, Young ran every direction he wanted to with 2 TDs and 188 yards, and he added 56 yards and a TD through receiving while TE Trey Diaz went off for 9/165. Smith connected on 3/3 XPs and 2/3 FGs, and they bested their in-state rival 27-14. OLB Michael Kennedy had 6 tackles, 2 asst. tackles, and 2 TFL, and joked to the media that maybe they should have played Drake or the Upper Iowa Peacocks for tougher competition.

 

Texas

Its been awhile since Texas played a game - not as long off as Kansas, but I'm sure the Longhorns are still chomping at the bit to get some action in. @joopear , for those that don't remember, came over late in the offseason, after the previous Texas coach had to resign during the 2021 season while the university conducted investigation into his nefarious affairs. The Big 12 has yet to punish said coach outside of requiring he stay in the Big 12's discord, but its left some mystery in the air about Texas' gameplan. Texas had to travel to the famed Jordan-Hare to take on Auburn in Week 2, and pass happy Hanser Zagurski struggled mightily, heaving up 42 throws, completing less than half of them, but managing 280 yards and a TD. The Texas OL let up 4 sacks, and Zagurski looked worse for wear post game, showing a bruised ribcage and bloodied elbow on his Twitter account. Auburn, on the other hand, could throw all day, dropping 411 yards on the Texas defense. If Auburn QB Andrew Moncrief was slightly better, he may have known not to target decorated CB Matt Viloria, who snagged 2 INTS which may have sealed the game. Texas has work to do if they want to compete for a conference title - but they've got a lot for their freshly hired coach to work with.

 

Texas Tech

For outsiders, the Red Raiders came into this season with zero expectations. For coach @rcarlson77 , they wanted to live the Raider motto - Just Win Baby. And Winning is all they've done.

 

After a big W against the Buffalo Bulls as a historic feat for team and coach alike, Tech had an open date followed by a matchup with 2021 contender Purdue. Traveling to Indiana, the Boilermakers were big favorites, but QB Xavier Means and RB Glover Evans squeaked out a victory by churning dust up on the ground. They didn't rush for a ton of yards individually, they didn't have big ESPN highlight reel plays - but their 3 combined TDs and clutch kicking by Luis Terdoslavich saw them come away with another victory.

 

TCU

TCU came into this year with championship aspirations - not just the conference, but for the national title. They have the roster to do it, and coach @Giambro is a good fit for the team - but lacking coaching last year has already been a big blow to a team trying to make waves in the very football packed state of Texas. This week, they took on a very good Texas State team - good enough to be the #2 school in the Coaches Poll - but they got obliterated start to finish, and with this game, maybe so too their playoff hopes. Andrew Solano played decently with 364 yards and no INT, but he couldn't outduel Texas State QB Justin DeShields, who had 513 yards and 3 TD. Outside of WR Oren Colon, who has been force fed, the TCU receivers haven't lived up to their billing. The defense allowed a 106 yard receiver, AND a 221 yard receiver, one of the greatest receiving days of the season across college football. They're going to probably have to run the table to get a shot at a rematch - but they're not far off from being able to do it. If they can help punter Lenny Corbett, who had to boot 11 punts, from being on the field, they're one to watch.

 

Baylor

Baylor played at Washington State in Week 2 - an emotional game for Wazzu coach @TuscanSota with his ties to the team. Freshman sensation David Ross looked solid for Washington State, but following a 14-7 1st quarter potential upset alert, Baylor was in control the rest of the way out. QB Travis Knebel is still showing growing pains when trying to throw the football, but when he rolls out or tucks it - wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww he is a greased up pig out there. Knebel and Dietrich Smith combined for 256 rushing yards and 3 TD. Baylor suffered an early loss to Texas State themselves - but if they can get Knebel passing just enough to keep defenses from selling out against the run, this team should be a playoff candidate.

 

Oklahoma

The Sooners join fellow 1-loss, formerly FAVORITE contenders Baylor and TCU, as a team fighting to not be on the outside looking in. Their loss, though, came against practically undisputed #1 Kentucky. Pace Frandsen still looked decent, but not as other worldly, and while Mat Moore looked exciting on the ground, early deficit kept him from being used as often. Its hard to knock the team too much when it looks like Kentucky is gonna throttle everyone. The big lesson appears to be limit the Kentucky rushing attack - OU forced Kentucky to throw at a poor completion% and 2 INT, but allowed over 150 yards on the ground and 450+ total.

 

Oklahoma State

The Cowboys became the next Big 12 team to take on Washington State, and MY GOD someone needs to stop them from committing war crimes. Through 2 games, against respectable coaches/P5 opponents in Indiana and Wazzu, they're off to 46.5 ppg, only 11.5 ppg allowed, and its time to book the domain for Troy MARVIN THE MARTIAN, as he's out of this world.

 

891 passing yards, 9 TD, 12 XP, and FG. In 2 games.

 

The boys from Stillwater also had FOUR different players haul in Marvin's 6 passing TDs this week, with Austin Duvernay-Tardiff and Colton Smith combining for over 300 receiving yards and 4 of the TDs.

 

It was simply what could become one of Marvin's Marvels. ?

 

 

 

 

 

Alright, we've talked about every other team, no one we're forget-

 

Preseason 1st-Team QB Brandon Smith picked up yards but also struggled outside of a few big plays to WR Danny Cichy

KSST	Brandon Smith	24	33	199	6.03	2	0	143.38
KSST	Brandon Smith	21	35	303	8.66	4	0	170.43

 

Oh. OH.

 

Kansas State

Brandon Smith heard the challenge from the Week 1 Large Dozen and has responded with swagger, only turning up the notch with each passing week. He's gone for a 66% completion%, 502 yards, 7.38 yards/att, and 6 TD. These aren't quite Troy Marvin numbers, but, with no offense to @Swipet this team has much less supporting talent. Smith isn't here to respond to bulletin board material, though. He wants wins, he wants a team trophy, and he wants to be a future NFL starter. So far, he's responded accordingly to naysayers and criticisms - and he's going to be the face of the program when they hold up that crystal ball. He can feel it.

 

Getting him there, though will come with support of many sidekicks. RB Mitchell Reynolds had 216 rushing yards at Southern Miss, which is why Smith didn't quite eclipse 200 yards in that game. ILB Ryan Hicks had 11 tackles and 3 TFL, and is a name to watch when it comes to national postseason awards.

 

Danny Cichy just had a 214 yard, 3 TD game on Arizona State.

 

Its hard to write a good, solid blurb about Kansas State because there's just so much to highlight. Which is why they're going to be in the thick of things come conference and playoff times, too.

 

 

Draft Stock Report

QB Brandon Smith, Kansas State

We just talked a ton about how Smith has turned it on the last few weeks, leading the Wildcats to an impressive 3-0 start and putting up numbers. Smith's big dream is to be an NFL starting quarterback - and if he continues his early 2022 success through conference play, his name will go early on draft day, rather than as a mid round project.

 

CB Anthony Shelton, TCU

Shelton isn't solely to blame for TCU's blunder against Texas State, but any DB room allowing 500+ yards is going to come in with big red flags to NFL scouts. Mainly lined up against Texas State WR Sean Plutko, Shelton was largely responsible for Plutko's 7 receptions for 106 yards. Even when WR2 Cassanova Perrizo wasn't torching young TCU CB Curtis Billingsley for 221 yards, it was easy pickings for future Top 10 NFL pick Justin DeShields on Shelton. Shelton may have just been outmuscled at 6' 189 vs Plutko's 6'2" 224 - but that will only be enhanced at the pro level. We're going to need to see big things down the line if this performance is to be forgotten.

 

P Brent Martin, West Virginia

Martin was likely a long shot for the NFL anyway, but with early punting woes in the NFL, his Big 12 accolades (2021 2nd-Team P, 2022 Preseason 1st-Team P) could have been enough to at least get him into a camp. He's had two games back to back with just a combined 47.50 average, which ranks near the bottom nationally. This might be a wake up call to focus more on networking and his degree rather than pro aspirations,

 

TE Trey Diaz, Iowa State

Diaz isn't the most impressive tight end specimen at 6'4" but just 223, but his BIG day against Iowa of 9/165 has scouts talking. Playing in a more vertical or pass oriented scheme in the pros could see him excel. He's not terrible in blocking (although he hasn't quite needed to help too much with a very talented and decorated OL) but a team looking for a mid-late round flyer should take notice of what happened in the CyHawk.

[smackemz]

Kansas State will be tough. They demolished is last season.