Wildcats admit they have weak spots to fix

Kansas State football players didn’t have to look far for motivation this week.

Their coach provided juicer bulletin-board material than anyone associated with Texas.

When asked if he thought K-State’s dormant offense was making progress — big or small, fast or slow, obvious or otherwise — Bill Snyder responded with a painfully honest answer.

“No, I certainly don’t think so,” Snyder said. “I think we have a long ways to go.”

That pessimistic assessment says all you need to know about K-State’s inability to move the ball at the midway point of the season.

The Wildcats have struggled. They rank last in the Big 12 and 115th nationally in yards (342.7), they rank last in the Big 12 and 112th nationally in passing yards (167), and the bulk of their rushing yards (175.7) have come against overmatched competition. They failed to run for more than 120 yards against Stanford, West Virginia and Oklahoma.

That’s not a recipe for success in the pass-happy Big 12, even with an above-average defense.

K-State was more sluggish than usual on offense last week during a 38-17 loss to Oklahoma. It could do little with backup quarterback Joe Hubener replacing an injured Jesse Ertz in the second half. Ertz is expected to play against Texas on Saturday, but it will take more than his presence to score against the Longhorns.

“You have to go back and address what the issues were in the previous game,” Snyder said, “and the issues that may have carried over from early in the season. No. 1 is we have to enhance our passing game. No. 2 is we have to finish plays, which we haven’t done as consistently as we need.”

Snyder blames himself for those shortcomings, saying, “I haven’t coached them well enough.”

But K-State players are challenging themselves to do more.

“I would like to see our offense be more consistent,” left guard Abdul Beecham said. “We can’t have three-and-outs coming this week against Texas.”

Completing long throws will be a must. The Longhorns rank last in the Big 12 and 126th nationally against the pass (278.5 yards) and have been susceptible to deep balls. California, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State each threw for at least 390 yards against them.

It is unreasonable to expect Ertz to match that production, given he is still finding his way as a starting quarterback and has completed 59 of 119 passes for 756 yards and five touchdowns this season. But a 200-yard day seems within reach. Here are five key matchups to watch Saturday:

KANSAS STATE KICK RETURNERS VS. UT KICK COVERAGE

Kansas State sophomore Byron Pringle is averaging 31.6 yards per kickoff return, while Dominique Heath is logging 15.9 yards per punt return. Those two Wildcats have combined for three Big 12 special teams player of the week awards. Texas has Michael Dickson, who’s averaging 47.9 yards per punt, to counter Heath, but Iowa State did record 47- and 32-yard kickoff returns in last year’s game at Royal-Memorial Stadium.

EDGE: Kansas State

SHANE BUECHELE VS. KANSAS STATE’S DEFENSE

Kansas State allowed 320 passing yards over its three nonconference games, but its best showing in Big 12 play so far has been holding West Virginia’s Skyler Howard to 298 yards. In the past two weeks, Texas Tech’s Patrick Mahomes II and Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield have combined for 850 yards. Buechele is looking for his first 300-yard game of his career — he finished 4 yards shy of that last week — but can he do it against a team that’s recorded 12 sacks and six interceptions?

EDGE: Texas

D’ONTA FOREMAN VS. KANSAS STATE’S RUN DEFENSE

Foreman, the Big 12’s leading rusher, is averaging 146.2 yards per game, which ranks second nationally. And only Earl Campbell has bettered Foreman’s active run of seven straight 100-yard games (Campbell did it 11

KANSAS STATE’S JESSE ERTZ VS. UT’S DYLAN HAINES

Kansas State has attempted 42 fewer pass attempts than Texas, but the Wildcats are expecting to have Ertz back from a shoulder injury. Kansas State quarterbacks have been intercepted once in the last three games against Texas, one nabbed by Haines last year. The senior safety has both of Texas’ picks this season, and he’s 23 yards shy of Texas’ career record for yards off interception returns.

EDGE: Kansas State