Turnovers fueled K-State’s big win over Oklahoma. Film shows how the Wildcats did it
Anytime your defense can create four turnovers in a football game there’s a good chance your team is going to win, even when you are playing the nation’s third-ranked program on the road.
Such was the case for Kansas State during its 38-35 victory over Oklahoma on Saturday.
The Wildcats were more opportunistic than ever before under coach Chris Klieman and stunned the Sooners with three interceptions (the most by a K-State secondary since 2018) and a fumble. Those turnovers played a huge role in swinging momentum their way for the upset.
“Without question, on Saturday it was the difference to be able to create the four takeaways,” Klieman said, “plus we stopped them once on fourth down and blocked a punt, so it was almost like six takeaways. We have to be able to do that. We have to be able to be an opportunistic defense.”
The most impressive thing about K-State’s turnover spree: It looked easy.
There was nothing fluky about the way the Wildcats got off the field against the Sooners. Even though it was far from a perfect effort and they allowed 517 yards of offense, they took advantage every time Oklahoma made a mistake. Why? K-State confused Oklahoma freshman quarterback Spencer Rattler by dropping seven into coverage and rarely bringing pressure with blitzes.
Normally, blitzing is the easiest way to rattle a young passer. But the Wildcats did it by making Rattler stay in the pocket and daring him to beat them by reading their defense. The gambit from K-State coordinator Joe Klanderman paid off all afternoon. Rattler rarely seemed sure in his first read and often rushed through his progression. The time he spent thinking about where to throw the ball allowed K-State’s defensive line to hurry him three times and sack him once.
Rattling the quarterback
Perhaps the best example of Rattler’s shaky throws against coverage occurred on Oklahoma’s final drive of the game. The Sooners had a shot to tie or win the game in the final minute trailing 38-35, but they were unable to gain more than one first down because Rattler threw a horrible pass into coverage and Justin McPherson grabbed it for a game-clinching interception.
K-State didn’t do anything special on the play.
It rushed four defensive linemen and dropped seven into coverage, giving Oklahoma receivers plenty of cushion off the line of scrimmage. Playing something close to a prevent defense, the Wildcats dared Rattler to attempt a pass in the middle of the field or to take off running.
Rattler dropped back in the pocket, scanned the field and eventually targeted Drake Stoops over the middle but, much like many of his other passes in the second pass, the ball was off the mark and McPherson took advantage.
Rushing four
The funny thing about K-State’s defensive strategy against Oklahoma was that Klanderman vowed to be more aggressive than his predecessor, Scottie Hazelton, when it came time to pressure the quarterback.
The Wildcats blitzed some in their opener against Arkansas State, but that allowed star receiver Jonathan Adams to take advantage of single coverage throughout the game.
An alternate plan seemed to confuse the Sooners. But it was only possible because Khalid Duke, Jaylen Pickle, Drew Wiley and Wyatt Hubert were able to generate a pass rush on their own as a defensive line. Remember, the Wildcats were without Duke and Pickle against the Red Wolves.
“All the credit goes to the defensive line, Coach (Buddy) Wyatt and Coach Tui (Mike Tuiasosopo),” Klieman said. “We were able to rush four and put him in some uncomfortable situations. Our coverage was better as the game went on. The kids were starting to recognize some of the routes and be a little tighter in the coverage. All the credit goes to the defensive linemen and the D-line coaches because we didn’t have to bring five or six. When we did, he made us pay. We were able to rush four and get a lot of hits on him and get some critical sacks late.”
The best example of rushing with four came on Oklahoma’s first drive. After moving the ball across midfield, the Sooners faced second-and-5 and dialed up a passing play designed to get the ball to a receiver on a crossing route. But it didn’t work when Pickle drove two offensive linemen into Rattler’s face and deflected a rushed pass at the line of scrimmage. Instead of easily hitting his man for a first down, Rattler’s pass fell into the arms of Elijah Sullivan for an interception. That ball probably hits the ground without seven defenders in coverage.
“We just went into it trying to give them different looks from what we previously did, even last year when we played them,” Sullivan said. “Giving them those different looks. You know Rattler, he’s a good quarterback, but with him being a younger guy and us giving him those different looks, I feel like it rattled him throughout the game, which allowed us to come up with those picks.”
Play on the ball
Of course, all the planning in the world can’t beat a fantastic play from a defensive back.
That’s how Justin Gardner came up with K-State’s second interception of the afternoon. On that play, the Wildcats once again dropped seven into coverage and asked their corners to line up six yards off the line of scrimmage and play a man scheme with safety help.
Oklahoma receiver Marvin Mims appeared to have a step on Gardner near the perimeter early in his route, but Gardner hung with him and ended up intercepting an underthrown pass from Rattler.
Rattler finished the day with 387 yards and four touchdowns, but when he misfired the Wildcats made him pay.
Eyes on the running back
The Wildcats didn’t drop seven into coverage on every play. And it’s a good thing they didn’t, because McPherson would not have been in a position to force a third-quarter fumble against Oklahoma running back Seth McGowan had he been playing back all game.
On that play, K-State only rushed four. But it asked both linebacker Cody Fletcher and McPherson to spy McGowan coming out of the backfield. As soon as he took the handoff and cut to his left through a hole in the offensive line, both players converged on him.
With a perfect juke move, McGowen could have burst free for a touchdown. Instead, McPherson came sprinting in from the secondary and popped the ball free with a monster hit. Then Wiley jumped on the loose ball for another turnover.
“I feel like we attacked better preparing for Oklahoma,” Pickle said. “I feel like everybody’s mindset was completely different. I feel like we just attacked everything that was thrown at us.”