21. KANSAS STATE

OPPOSING COACH'S TAKE

They'll be formidable because they're well-coached. The line tightens or widens splits based on how they run or where they run. Our defense tried to study film and figure it out, and we still couldn't stop them. [Quarterback] Jake Waters has to prove that he can stand in the pocket and convert a third-down pass when everyone in the ballpark knows he's going to throw it. You have to decide whether to let [receiver Tyler Lockett] get the ball or if you're going to find a way to bracket him.

Their defense was very sound. You look at them on film and say, 'They don't do a lot.' But, boy, they tackle, and they blitz at the right time. Ryan Mueller, the end, is the hardest-playing guy I've seen on film in a long time. His motor is on Red Bull. In the secondary they're a big zone team, so they need to be formidable up front but they only have four of their front seven coming back.

SI POWER RANKINGS

By Rotowire.com

[The following text appears within a chart. Please see hardcopy or PDF for actual chart.]

OFFENSE 86%

DEFENSE 85%

SPECIAL TEAMS 88%

PHOTO

PETER G. AIKEN/GETTY IMAGES (MUELLER)

RYAN MUELLER

CHART