SE: Geary Continues to Be Force for K-State Defense
Oct 15, 2017 | Football, Sports Extra
One moment, Trent Tanking was preparing for a TCU third-and-one play. The next, he had the Horned Frogs' center in his lap, and he had K-State defensive tackle Will Geary to thank.
Geary, a senior starting his 36th career game, utilized his top asset on the play — his strength — to throw off a single-block attempt and stuff the third down play in K-State's 26-6 loss on Saturday to No. 6 TCU.
"I told him on the sidelines, 'If you do that every play, I have no problem,'" Tanking, a senior linebacker, recalled telling Geary. "He's an incredible force. If two guys don't double-team him, he's going to be in the backfield."
That play, which forced one of TCU's five three-and-outs, is not out of the ordinary for Geary, either. It's one of the reasons he came into Saturday's game as the top-rated defensive tackle in the Big 12 by Pro Football Focus.
"I don't really get on social media much but it's good encouragement," Geary said of the recognition. "I have to keep doing what I'm doing, keep everybody working hard and do my best."
While drawing double teams and out-muscling one-on-one matchups, Geary played a key role in containing TCU's rushing attack. The Horned Frogs, averaging 219.8 rushing yards per game coming into Saturday, managed 98 yards on 36 carries. It marked only the second time TCU had been held to less than 100 rushing yards since 2014.
"He's done some tremendous things. He shows up every Saturday and he works really hard in practice," redshirt junior offensive tackle Dalton Risner said. "I had to block him my redshirt freshman year and I still have to block him sometimes, and it's not easy.
"He's a short, stout guy. He's one of the strongest guys on the football field every Saturday."
While pleased with the run defense against TCU, Geary said the pass rush was lacking. For the season, however, Geary has been the Wildcats' top pass rusher, a rarity for a defensive tackle. He currently leads the team with 3.0 sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss.
"That was one thing I definitely wanted to work on in the offseason, just the pass rush and transitioning from run defense to pass defense," said Geary, the first K-State defensive tackle in school history to earn First Team All-Big 12 honors from the Associated Press in back-to-back seasons. "I think we've had good coverage and I've got a couple of hurries and that's allowed it to turn into a few sacks."
Geary does most of his damage behind the line of scrimmage, with 31 percent of his tackles being sacks or tackles for loss. He said his focus on improving his transition from run defense to pass rush has spurred his improved contributions.
"There were times last year where I could get a good rush but it is just more consistent now," he said, referencing film study and experience as major factors toward his improvement. "I wouldn't say the game seems slower, but you just react faster. Transitioning from run to pass, that's the major thing, just knowing what I have to do right away."
As K-State (3-3, 1-2) prepares to host No. 12 Oklahoma next Saturday, Geary said he can feel a growing sense of urgency, an experience a senior can expect to build as his career gets closer and closer to ending.
"It's my last go around," he said. "I'm just trying to give it my all at practice every day and each game."
Geary, a senior starting his 36th career game, utilized his top asset on the play — his strength — to throw off a single-block attempt and stuff the third down play in K-State's 26-6 loss on Saturday to No. 6 TCU.
"I told him on the sidelines, 'If you do that every play, I have no problem,'" Tanking, a senior linebacker, recalled telling Geary. "He's an incredible force. If two guys don't double-team him, he's going to be in the backfield."
That play, which forced one of TCU's five three-and-outs, is not out of the ordinary for Geary, either. It's one of the reasons he came into Saturday's game as the top-rated defensive tackle in the Big 12 by Pro Football Focus.
"I don't really get on social media much but it's good encouragement," Geary said of the recognition. "I have to keep doing what I'm doing, keep everybody working hard and do my best."
While drawing double teams and out-muscling one-on-one matchups, Geary played a key role in containing TCU's rushing attack. The Horned Frogs, averaging 219.8 rushing yards per game coming into Saturday, managed 98 yards on 36 carries. It marked only the second time TCU had been held to less than 100 rushing yards since 2014.
"He's done some tremendous things. He shows up every Saturday and he works really hard in practice," redshirt junior offensive tackle Dalton Risner said. "I had to block him my redshirt freshman year and I still have to block him sometimes, and it's not easy.
"He's a short, stout guy. He's one of the strongest guys on the football field every Saturday."
While pleased with the run defense against TCU, Geary said the pass rush was lacking. For the season, however, Geary has been the Wildcats' top pass rusher, a rarity for a defensive tackle. He currently leads the team with 3.0 sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss.
"That was one thing I definitely wanted to work on in the offseason, just the pass rush and transitioning from run defense to pass defense," said Geary, the first K-State defensive tackle in school history to earn First Team All-Big 12 honors from the Associated Press in back-to-back seasons. "I think we've had good coverage and I've got a couple of hurries and that's allowed it to turn into a few sacks."
Geary does most of his damage behind the line of scrimmage, with 31 percent of his tackles being sacks or tackles for loss. He said his focus on improving his transition from run defense to pass rush has spurred his improved contributions.
"There were times last year where I could get a good rush but it is just more consistent now," he said, referencing film study and experience as major factors toward his improvement. "I wouldn't say the game seems slower, but you just react faster. Transitioning from run to pass, that's the major thing, just knowing what I have to do right away."
As K-State (3-3, 1-2) prepares to host No. 12 Oklahoma next Saturday, Geary said he can feel a growing sense of urgency, an experience a senior can expect to build as his career gets closer and closer to ending.
"It's my last go around," he said. "I'm just trying to give it my all at practice every day and each game."
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