The Kansas State Old-School New Offense

Watching Collin Klein run the Wildcat offense has me wondering….where did I see this before?  A big QB who runs extremely well behind a pulling guard and often right up the middle?  Zone Reading several options on one side?  Using the Power Attack to set up play-action?  Oh geez- is this Cam Newton all over again?  Where do these huge freaks of mankind that can throw, run with power, and run fast come from?  He uses the Spread formation often to set up the Zone Reads, but will also go under center to use a fullback?  If we were not playing the Wildcats I would love what they do.  The concepts of mixing old school blocking with the newer Spread formations is in common with our beloved Ducks, but their implementation is more similar to Auburn in practice.  This is set up behind a huge offensive line with WRs who can block as well?  Coach Allioti has a tough assignment….

Chris Harper is a receiver that got away from us I have often thought of.  During his freshman year at Oregon he had two jaw-dropping touchdowns against UCLA and Arizona State that I remember four year later.  He is an unusual build in that he is 6’1″ and a huge 234 lbs, yet amazingly fast with superb body control.  He has become the go-to WR for the Wildcats that I pictured him becoming at Oregon, as he out-muscles DBs for the ball for big plays.  Obviously his physique allows him to block the secondary players extremely well, thus he materialized into the ideal Spread Offense Wide-Out for Kansas State.  Who says you can’t go home?  He has done that exceptionally well!