Smith: Throw the KSU-NU tape away KANSAS STATE FOOTBALL

MISSOURI AT KSU

Saturday > 1:10 p.m.

KSU Stadium

By KEVIN HASKIN

The Capital-Journal

If anything, a replay of Nebraska's 41-15 victory over Kansas State should provide hope for a Missouri football team that must finish its season Saturday in KSU Stadium after losing five of its last six.

But the rewind clicker doesn't work after a tape is trashed.

"You really kind of throw the Nebraska game out against their defense because we aren't Nebraska as far as what we look at and Nebraska's going to do some things other teams can't," MU coach Larry Smith said Monday during the Big 12 coaches teleconference. "You have to look at other teams and where they were able to move the ball."

That's where it starts getting tough picking up highlights. K- State (9-1, 6-1) dropped two notches to fourth nationally in total defense after allowing 378 total yards to the Huskers, including 309 on the ground. The No. 9-ranked Wildcats, who will meet the Tigers in a 1:10 p.m. kickoff, still rank first nationally in pass defense and turnover margin, and third in scoring defense.

"Defense is going to win for you down the stretch and they've got a great mixture of juniors and seniors over there," said Smith, whose Tigers are sitting last in the North Division at 4-6 overall and 1-6 in the Big 12.

"You have to play to your strengths and their defense is playing outstanding. Not that their offense is playing bad, they're moving the ball and putting points on the board."

Still, an odd reversal is beginning to develop in comparing K- State's 1999 stretch run to '98. A year ago, the Cats struggled defensively at the close of the season when they tried to overcome injuries to key players like Jeff Kelly and Travis Ochs. Now, problems have surfaced on offense, which has battled injuries to quarterback Jonathan Beasley and tailback Frank Murphy.

Time still exists for the Cats to jump-start their attack, especially since opponents have averaged 30.5 points against Missouri. But it's also easier this late in the season for opponents to chart any problems.

"At this time in the season there are things that become more apparent to others when people prepare for us, and maybe those are things you've known for some time about your own football team," K- State coach Bill Snyder said. "Weaknesses that we had in our play defensively last year, obviously after nine or 10 games would become more apparent, and the same would be true this year in the offense. Therein would lie any similarities."

The Wildcats' big loss to the Huskers extinguished any national title hopes and left them eighth in the latest BCS rankings released on Monday.

Roberson was considered

When Jonathan Beasley was banged up earlier in the season going into the Baylor game, there was some consideration about taking the redshirt off freshman Ell Roberson and using him in K-State's quarterback mix.

"There was certainly thought about it," Snyder said. "Jonathan came back off his injury and was on his way back and starting to make progress and I thought we would probably get quality performances out of him. At least that was my anticipation because I thought he was on the mend."

Now, Beasley may be aching as much as anytime this season, requiring painkiller injections for his rotator cuff prior to the Wildcats' loss at Nebraska, where he went just 3-for-19. He was replaced by Adam Helm for the second week in a row, but the senior backup again proved ineffective as well after providing little relief in the Cats' 20-14 victory over Colorado.

Lifting the redshirt off Roberson now would be unfair to the Baytown, Texas recruit, Snyder said.

"At this point in time it would really be too late to do that," Snyder said.

Hall's status unaffected

The status of Kansas State junior running back Joe Hall, the Cats' leading rusher with 613 yards, has not changed after Riley County police issued him a citation early Sunday morning in Aggieville for being a minor in possession of alcoholic liquor.

"At this particular point in time, no," Snyder said when asked if Hall's status had changed.

Hall did not start at Nebraska and carried just three times for 10 yards after drawing five previous starts and gaining more than 100 yards in successive games against Utah State, Oklahoma State and Baylor.

Backup running back Chris Claybon, who plays on most of K-State's special teams, also was cited at the same time as Hall. Claybon received a notice for possession of an open container of alcoholic liquor in public. Snyder said disciplinary measures would be taken regarding the two junior backs, though he did not elaborate on any specific measures.

"We take action in regard to any discipline problems or violation problems that occur in our program, so yes, we certainly will," Snyder said.

Lazetich doubtful for MU

Snyder said Johnno Lazetich has progressed after sitting out the last two games with a concussion he suffered against Baylor, but said the junior fullback probably would not play against Missouri on Saturday.

Lazetich, the Cats' top blocking back, is recovering from his second concussion of the season after also getting knocked out in the opener against Temple.

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