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Kansas State Wildcats Hoping To Slow Down Speed Of The Miami Hurricanes

Kansas State linebacker Arthur Brown will be returning to familiar territory as the 2-0 Kansas State Wildcats go on the road to face a Miami team that is coming off a 24-6 victory over Ohio State.

Coming off the heels of a 37-0 home victory over Kent State, the Kansas State Wildcats head out on the road for the first time in the young 2011 season as they venture to unfamiliar territory to take on the Miami Hurricanes of the ACC.

The Wildcats may be 2-0 but they certainly are stepping up in competition as they take on a 1-1 Hurricane team which last week defeated Ohio State 24-6. Miami benefited from the return of senior quarterback Jacory Harris, who served a one-game suspension during the season opener. Though Harris only threw for 123 yards last week, his two first quarter touchdown passes to Allen Hurns helped get the 'Canes out to quick 14-0 lead.

Veteran Kansas State coach Bill Snyder is worried about the speed of Miami heading into the game and spoke to The Mercury this week about the issue-

"Well, I'm trying to find a way we can become twice as fast as we are right now," he said in jest this week. "You're probably hard-pressed to find anyone that runs as well as Miami."

Snyder also eluded to this matchup being a measuring stick game for the Wildcats-

"This is a major step," Snyder said. "It will be very definitive where we are and hopefully we play as well as we're capable of playing and continue to make some improvement — and then that gives us a good assessment of where we are, regardless of the outcome — if indeed we play well."

Junior quarterback Collin Klein is certainly going to be a key factor in the outcome of the game as he leads a Wildcat offense that currently is ranked 35th in the FBS in rushing at 197 yards per game. Klein leads the team with 217 yards rushing and two touchdowns on the year, including last weeks 139 yard performance in the win. Miami has allowed an average of 162.5 yards rushing so far in their two games, so the opportunity will be there if the Kansas State offensive line can open up holes in the defense.

The Wildcats must show improvement in their passing game, which ranks 115th in the FBS with just 122 yards passing per game thus far. Chris Harper leads the squad thus far with 8 receptions for 99 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, the Wildcats will be looking to stop talented sophomore running back Lamar Miller. Miller has accumulated 303 yards rushing so far, including a 184 yard showing against the Buckeyes last week. One of the men who will be counted on to stop the Hurricanes rushing attack will be 6'1" 223 lb junior linebacker Arthur Brown.

Brown will certainly be exict