BleedTechBlue.com: When QB Jesse Ertz went down week 1, did you expect Joe Hubener to fill his shoes as well as he has? What's the key to stopping Hubener?
Tim Fitzgerald: Ertz getting injured on the first play of the season (he stayed in one more snap) is a cruel fate for a sophomore who had clearly won K-State's quarterback position. Hubener, though, served as the backup quarterback last season, so at least he came into this season with nominal experience.
The world, including Joe Hubener, is still discovering what type of quarterback he can become. At 6-foot-5, Hubener is a big presence in the running game and in the pocket. He has a strong throwing arm -- thus the nickname Bazooka Joe -- but struggled in the short passing game.
He's still trying to figure out how to be the leader of the team, and is doing so with no proven playmakers on the offensive side of the ball. This game will go a long way in proving what type of quarterback Hubener will be the rest of the season.
BTB: The K-State defense hasn't given up a touchdown yet this season. What do they
do best? Do you think LA Tech scores a touchdown?
Fitz: This defense has been very sound across the board so far this season, but the emphasis for Bill Snyder is to always take away the opposing run game. But let's be honest, South Dakota is a bad FCS program and while UTSA put up big numbers at Arizona, once K-State took away the run and pressured a young quarterback, the Roadrunners turned inept.
Those are things K-State cannot expect against more proven Louisiana Tech offensive weapons. Stopping Kenneth Dixon and the running game will be the Wildcats' first goal and force the Bulldogs to throw against K-State's experienced cornerbacks. However, just as K-State lost its starting quarterback in the first game, it also lost its defensive leader -- senior strong safety Dante Barnett -- in that game, too.
Finally, I would be surprised if Louisiana Tech cannot score a touchdown in this game, let alone 20 or more points.
BTB: What matchup do you think is the most favorable for the Bulldogs? For the
Wildcats?
Fitz: K-State is struggling with its running game, and in turn having Hubener run the ball too often. While he's a big presence in the running game, Hubener may be proving a bit predictable in his run tendencies after two games. Until K-State can prove it can consistently run the ball, all opponents will have the ability to take that away.
One of the lynchpins of Snyder's success at K-State has been consistently great special teams play, particularly in the return game. Cornerback Morgan Burns returned the season's opening kickoff 100 yards, and freshman Dominique Heath appears poised to break a punt return sooner rather than later.
BTB: LA Tech has struggled covering kickoffs this season is this an area Bulldogs
fans should be concern when playing the Wildcats?
Fitz: Absolutely. As mentioned above, the kickoff return combo of Burns and Heath are both explosive, but K-State schemes kickoff returns in terms of blocking as well as any program in the country. The good news, is if K-State wins the opening toss, Snyder will defer to the second half so the Bulldogs can delay waiting to find out if this is a problem.
BTB: How is Hubener as a thrower? Or is nearly strictly a runner?
Fitz: Hubener has a huge arm, averaging more than 20 yards a completion at UTSA, but his short passing game skills bordered on awful in San Antonio. It's an area he must improve upon for this offense to thrive because a short passing game can supplement a struggling running game.
Tim Fitzgerald: Ertz getting injured on the first play of the season (he stayed in one more snap) is a cruel fate for a sophomore who had clearly won K-State's quarterback position. Hubener, though, served as the backup quarterback last season, so at least he came into this season with nominal experience.
The world, including Joe Hubener, is still discovering what type of quarterback he can become. At 6-foot-5, Hubener is a big presence in the running game and in the pocket. He has a strong throwing arm -- thus the nickname Bazooka Joe -- but struggled in the short passing game.
He's still trying to figure out how to be the leader of the team, and is doing so with no proven playmakers on the offensive side of the ball. This game will go a long way in proving what type of quarterback Hubener will be the rest of the season.
BTB: The K-State defense hasn't given up a touchdown yet this season. What do they
do best? Do you think LA Tech scores a touchdown?
Fitz: This defense has been very sound across the board so far this season, but the emphasis for Bill Snyder is to always take away the opposing run game. But let's be honest, South Dakota is a bad FCS program and while UTSA put up big numbers at Arizona, once K-State took away the run and pressured a young quarterback, the Roadrunners turned inept.
Those are things K-State cannot expect against more proven Louisiana Tech offensive weapons. Stopping Kenneth Dixon and the running game will be the Wildcats' first goal and force the Bulldogs to throw against K-State's experienced cornerbacks. However, just as K-State lost its starting quarterback in the first game, it also lost its defensive leader -- senior strong safety Dante Barnett -- in that game, too.
Finally, I would be surprised if Louisiana Tech cannot score a touchdown in this game, let alone 20 or more points.
BTB: What matchup do you think is the most favorable for the Bulldogs? For the
Wildcats?
Fitz: K-State is struggling with its running game, and in turn having Hubener run the ball too often. While he's a big presence in the running game, Hubener may be proving a bit predictable in his run tendencies after two games. Until K-State can prove it can consistently run the ball, all opponents will have the ability to take that away.
One of the lynchpins of Snyder's success at K-State has been consistently great special teams play, particularly in the return game. Cornerback Morgan Burns returned the season's opening kickoff 100 yards, and freshman Dominique Heath appears poised to break a punt return sooner rather than later.
BTB: LA Tech has struggled covering kickoffs this season is this an area Bulldogs
fans should be concern when playing the Wildcats?
Fitz: Absolutely. As mentioned above, the kickoff return combo of Burns and Heath are both explosive, but K-State schemes kickoff returns in terms of blocking as well as any program in the country. The good news, is if K-State wins the opening toss, Snyder will defer to the second half so the Bulldogs can delay waiting to find out if this is a problem.
BTB: How is Hubener as a thrower? Or is nearly strictly a runner?
Fitz: Hubener has a huge arm, averaging more than 20 yards a completion at UTSA, but his short passing game skills bordered on awful in San Antonio. It's an area he must improve upon for this offense to thrive because a short passing game can supplement a struggling running game.
