Joe Klanderman loading up his defense for potent Longhorn attack
Kansas State Defensive Coordinator Joe Klanderman sends hand signals to his players during the second quarter against TCU Saturday October 21, 2023 at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. (Lynn Harrington/stayaliveinpower5)
MANHATTAN, Kan. — Kansas State has a pivotal battle on the road at Texas, with heavy implications on the Big 12 race.
After all, both teams are currently in a five-way tie atop the Big 12 standings, and the winner of Saturday’s matchup will control their own destiny moving forward. In order to accomplish that feat, Kansas State’s Defensive Coordinator Joe Klanderman has to come with a great game plan.
There’s no denying the Longhorns’ offense will likely be the best Klanderman’s defense will face all season. There’s some uncertainty in terms of scouting Texas’ offense though. Quarterback Quinn Ewers is still sidelined with a shoulder injury, and backup Maalik Murphy started in last week’s victory over BYU.
Murphy completed 16 of his 25 passes for 170 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. That’s basically all the film Klanderman has on Murphy, so he’s expecting the unexpected.
“It’s really interesting because there’s not a big sample size of who they are with him,” Klanderman said. “Quinn Ewers is a phenomenal player, but you know what you’re getting, I don’t know that we know what’s going to come with Maalik Murphy right now.”
Texas is currently fourth in the conference in rushing, scoring and total offense. Klanderman knows it’s going to be a challenge slowing down the Longhorns’ high-powered attack, but his defense is playing at a high level. Kansas State (6-2) leads the Big 12, and is 14th nationally in scoring defense.
The Wildcats are improving their red zone defense too, and that’s an area the Longhorns are struggling. Texas ranks 100th in the FBS in red zone offense, and Klanderman’s boys plan on exploiting that glaring weakness.
“Our guys definitely have that in the back of their heads as something that they’re proud of,” he said. “I don’t think that it changes our approach to any play or any call that we do, it’s just hopefully treating every play the same whether in the red zone or not.”
The motivation is there for the staff and the players because Kansas State has lost six-straight to Texas. Coach Chris Klieman is 0-4 against the Longhorns, and Klanderman eagerly wants to change the narrative, considering this could be the last time the two programs meet for the foreseeable future. Texas (7-1) has scored at least 30 points in every game this season. Klanderman’s defense is only allowing 15.8 points per contest, so something has to give.
He has added a few wrinkles to his scheme, and some additional blitz packages for the inexperienced Murphy. The Wildcats haven’t won in Austin since 2011, and Klanderman believes they’re due. This battle will be won in the trenches, so Klanderman is prepared to pull out all the stops in order to slow down Texas’ offense, and leave it all on the field at Darrell K. Royal.
“They’re extremely physical and athletic up front, which is best in the league, in my opinion, and I think that combination of all those things makes them a really good running team.”
