Manhattan ? Jordy Nelson has a hard time making himself watch game film from a year ago.
While the senior receiver enjoys seeing the difference in Kansas State’s offense from a year ago, it makes him cringe to go back and look at old tape.
“It’s totally different,” said Nelson, second in the nation with 126 receiving yards per game. “We watch some film from last year every once in a while and it’s kind of embarrassing to watch ourselves play because we’re not even close to where we are right now.”
Kansas State (5-3, 3-2 Big 12) has already scored 310 points this season, 14 more than in 13 games last year, and all of their wins have come by at least 20 points. The Wildcats also have scored at least 39 points five times after doing it twice last year.
A second season under coach Ron Prince and offensive coordinator James Franklin has made all the difference.
“I think the second year for anything is always a better year,” quarterback Josh Freeman said. “More people know what the coach expects, we know the offense better, and we’re able to actually run it now instead of just blindly playing.”
Freeman and Nelson have made it click.
Nelson is making a strong bid for All-America consideration, catching 76 passes – already a single-second school record – for 1,008 yards and seven touchdowns.
He returned a punt for a 92-yard touchdown in a 51-13 win over Baylor on Saturday and set a school record with 15 catches against Missouri State earlier this season.
Freeman hasn’t been bad, either.
The sophomore is on pace to shatter Kansas State’s single-season records for completions, attempts and yards, going 209-of-329 for 2,174 yards and 11 touchdowns.
The passing numbers and high point totals are nice, but the offense isn’t quite where Prince wants it to be, particularly the running game, third-down conversions and scoring in the red zone (inside the 20).
