It's time for the Tale of the Tape, where we break down the Texas Longhorns and their opponent in a position-by-position fashion. This week we look at how Texas (2-4, 1-2 in the Big 12) stacks up against the Kansas State Wildcats (3-3, 0-3) as the two teams are set to face each other Saturday morning (11 a.m., FOX Sports 1) at Darrell K Royal - Texas Memorial Stadium.

Quarterback

After only throwing the ball 11 times in the win over Oklahoma, Jerrod Heard has a first-world problem of trying to figure out how to grow his game as a passer while continuing to be an elite runner (he leads the team with 443 rushing yards). The Longhorns will have to throw the ball at some point to win a game, but the offense has proven it can move the sticks and get in the end zone if the quarterback run game is clicking.

Kansas State, meanwhile, is looking to get back on track under center after imploding in a 55-0 loss to Oklahoma. Joe Huebner (4-for-12, 39 yards and two interceptions against the Sooners) is expected to start, but wide receiver Kody Cook might have given K-State its best quarterback play all season against Oklahoma State on Oct. 3 (10-of-16, 122 yards and two touchdowns).

Texas defensive coordinator Vance Bedford said this week Huebner has shown he can be a good game manager and that's when he's had success this season. Heard has also managed things well as the Longhorns have gone seven straight quarters without a turnover, and he's also the most dynamic playmaker behind center in this game.

Edge: Texas

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Running Back

The public push to have D'Onta Foreman be Texas' starting running back grows every week. Regardless, it'll be Foreman and Johnathan Gray sharing time to help a rushing attack that ranks 38th nationally entering the game (195 yards per game).

Charles Jones, who was Kansas State's Wildcat back last season and scored a touchdown against Texas, has good feet and can be productive. The coaches have decided to go with Justin Silmon as the primary ball carrier, but neither Jones nor Silmon are game-breaking backs, something Kansas State has missed this season.

Tyrone Swoopes and the '18 Wheeler' package fits in more with the running backs since that's basically what Swoopes is at this point. It's been Texas' go-to package in short yardage situation; his set along with the returning Chris Warren and the potential to bring back the 'Ponies' backfield give the Longhorns two looks that have been successful this season.

Edge: Texas

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Wide Receiver

Part of Heard growing as a passer means getting help from his receivers. Daje Johnson (concussion) being back on the field will help in a big way and Marcus Johnson is coming off of what might have been his best game since his sophomore season.

Those are the two guys being counted on the most to step up.

For Kansas State, Deante Burton (6-2, 205) looks the part of a big-time receiver, but he just hasn't produced the way he probably should have to this point this season (15 catches, 222 yards and two touchdowns). He or Cook would be the pick as Kansas State's best receiver.

However, the Wildcats are sorely missing guys like Tyler Lockett and Curry Sexton who made a ton of plays over the last two years.

Edge: Texas

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Tight End

Glenn Gronkowski, the youngest of the Gronkowski brothers, is Kansas State's primary fullback. However, the Wildcats will use Gronkowski and Winston Dimel, the son of Kansas State co-offensive coordinator Dana Dimel, together in a lot of two-fullback since Gronkowski is, for all intents and purposes, an H-back in terms of how he functions when he's in the game.

It'll be interesting to see how Texas continues to use Caleb Bluiett and Alex De La Torre. They've both been good blockers in the run game and in pass protection. As long as Bluiett keeps catching the ball when it's thrown to him, the Longhorns will be able to use any combination of Bluiett, De La Torre or Andrew Beck to have bigger bodies on the field.

That said, the tight end position is something Texas is still figuring out how to use from a personnel standpoint while Kansas State uses those players well in its base offense.

Edge: Kansas State

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Offensive Line

Everybody from last year's Kansas State line is back except All-Big 12 center B.J. Finney. He's been replaced by redshirt freshman Dalton Risner (6-5, 300), a player the Wildcats feel has the potential to be a good one down the road.

But it's been a struggle for the Wildcats this season. The three areas where an offensive line can be judged statistically – sacks allowed (105th nationally, 2.83 per game), tackles for loss allowed (96th, 6.83 per game) and rushing offense (81st, 161 yards per game) – are three areas where Kansas State ranks among the worst programs nationally.

The key for Texas' line is its health. Kent Perkins (knee) is expected to be back in the mix while Connor Williams, Sedrick Flowers and Patrick Vahe all healed nagging health issues during the bye week.

The Longhorns are running the ball effectively, but Texas will face a Kansas State defensive line that leads the Big 12 in rushing defense (126.3 per game) and ranks third in the league in sacks (2.83 per game). Joe Wickline will need to have his group bring it's best effort with a formidable challenge in front of them.

Edge: Kansas State

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Defensive Line

The numbers for Kansas State in terms of getting after the quarterback and stopping the run are impressive. There's not a first-team All-Big 12 caliber player in the trenches, but the Wildcats have a solid group led by tackle Travis Britz and 6-foot, 297-pound tackle Will Geary, who's been described by some close to the Kansas State program as a poor man's Andrew Billings.

Texas dominated the line of scrimmage against Oklahoma. The challenge this week is not only more formidable, but the Longhorns themselves have to show the six-sack performance against the Sooners where the defense allowed only 67 yards rushing wasn't a fluke.

Edge: Kansas State

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Linebacker

One of the more disappointing aspects of last season's Texas loss in Manhattan was that the Longhorns failed to exploit the Wildcat linebackers at any point with the misdirection run game, which was a weak spot in the K-State defense. The Longhorns have a misdirection run game this time around, but Kansas State's linebackers are better.

With Elijah Lee, Will Davis, Sam Sizelove and three other players in the two-deep set to return for the 2016 season they might be a year away from being one of the better groups in the Big 12.

Texas probably has one of the better groups of linebackers in the Big 12 right now, and that's largely due to the way Peter Jinkens has played this season. The senior has been solid, so much so in fact that the coaches are now able to do more with Malik Jefferson in terms of moving the talented freshman around and using his athleticism to get after the quarterback.

Edge: Texas

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Secondary

At No. 118 nationally the Wildcats are one of the worst pass defenses in the country. Kansas State has only intercepted three passes this season and was torched by Oklahoma, so this is definitely defensive backfield in turmoil.

Compounding the situation is the fact that Kansas State could be without cornerback Danzel McDaniel and safety Dante Barnett. The two All-Big 12 defenders missed the Oklahoma game due to injury and Bill Snyder indicated it would be late in the week before it could be determined whether or not his two veteran playmakers in the secondary will play against the Longhorns.

The Texas secondary has had its ups and downs, but the worst might be behind them. With Holton Hill quickly establishing himself as the team's best cornerback, with Davante Davis and Kris Boyd in line for more reps and with Duke Thomas and Jason Hall coming off of the their best efforts of the season, the Longhorns might be getting ready to hit their stride.

Kansas State doesn't have the game-changers on the outside Texas saw from Oklahoma, TCU or even Oklahoma State, so this game is an opportunity for the group to step up and set the tone by not giving up big plays and being clean in their execution of coverages.

Edge: Texas

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Special Teams

Kansas State has one of the best collective special teams units in the country. What else is new? The Wildcats rank 19th nationally in kickoff return defense, 21st in net punting and 30th in kickoff returns while kicker Jack Cantele ranks 41st nationally in field goal percentage (5-of-8) and 18th in field goals made per game (1.6).

The Longhorns get Daje Johnson back, which should help on punt returns simply for the threat he poses when he's back deep. Kris Boyd might be emerging as an answer on kickoff returns.

Texas got a winning effort from the special teams in the Oklahoma game, which will need to continue for the Longhorns to be in a position to win games. That means both Nick Rose and Michael Dickson have to execute when called upon, but last week was the first time this season when both have done so consistently for four quarters in the same game.

Edge: Kansas State