MANHATTAN, Kan. -- Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, an era Kansas State fans reverentially refer to as their decade of dominance, the Wildcats routinely competed for Big 12 titles thanks to their defense.They were tough. They were talented. They were stingy.They were a lot like this years bunch.Through the first three weeks of the season, the Wildcats (2-1) rank at or near the top of just about every defensive statistical category in major college football. They have allowed just seven points to their last two opponents -- though in fairness, Saturday nights game against Missouri State was called at halftime due to lightning -- and have held all three opponents to 300 yards or less.In the points-a-plenty Big 12, the Wildcats are a rarity.A lot of guys are hungry, explained Kansas State linebacker Elijah Lee, one of the veteran leaders of the defense. Were trying to race each other to the tackle and see who can get there. Just playing with that chip on us makes us a lot faster.Its hardly a surprise the Wildcats have a chip on their shoulder.Just last year, they allowed more than 30 points a game, tied with Texas for 90th in the Football Bowl Subdivision. They gave up 159.4 yards on the ground and 283.1 through the air.Injuries did not help: Top safety Dante Barnett missed almost the entire year , and several other key contributors were forced to watch big chunks of the season from the sideline.Theyre almost all back, and youngsters pressed into service have a year of experience now. And the results were better from the start, when Kansas State held high-powered Stanford in check in a Week 1 road game against Heisman Trophy candidate Christian McCaffery and Co.McCaffery managed 126 yards rushing, but he had to work for it. And the unbeaten Cardinal only had 167 yards passing and mustered nine points in the second half of their 26-13 victory.Florida Atlantic gained 216 yards against Kansas State two weeks ago, turning the ball over four times and converting 1 of 13 third downs in a 63-7 romp. And in the half played against Missouri State on Saturday night, the Bears completed three passes and gained 54 yards.I do not look at the statistics, only when the season is over, Kansas State coach Bill Snyder said recently, but just based on the assessment and evaluation of where we are right now, I would say yes, we are an improved defensive football team from last year.Well, here are the statistics: Kansas State has allowed 537 yards through three games, best in major college football. They are first in yards passing at 106.7 per game, fourth in points allowed with 33, and tied for sixth with Boise State in yards rushing at 72.3 per game.But leave it to Snyder to put even the most glowing of marks in perspective.That would speak very negatively of us as coaches if we were not (better), he said, considering the fact we have a good deal of experience coming back as well. Ive said so many times, experience is a major factor, whether it is good experience or not, and some of it last year was not.Remember, that was a team that allowed at least 33 points four consecutive weeks, beginning with a triple-overtime win over Louisiana Tech. Its also a team that lost 55-0 to Oklahoma at home and surrendered a dizzying amount of offense in a 59-44 loss at Texas Tech.We have been doing a pretty good job at this point, Kansas State defensive end Jordan Willis said, but its a matter of my teammates and I keeping it up going forward. Once our attitude is set and we get ready to go, it will be tough to play against us.The Wildcats get their first real test since Stanford on Saturday, when they open Big 12 play at West Virginia. Mountaineers quarterback Skylar Howard has thrown for nearly 1,000 yards and six touchdowns while helping his team to a 3-0 start.Then again, perhaps the Wildcats will be the first real test of the season for him.We still have little things to iron out before we get in to league play, Lee said, and that is something we are going to take day-by-day this week. Shoes Australia Outlet . Kozun faked to the forehand and beat Monsters starter, Calvin Pickard, pad side in the second round for the winner. Spencer Abbott also scored in the shootout for the Marlies (25-13-4). Fake Shoes Australia . Coach Mike Munchak says Fokou stretched ligaments in his left knee Oct. 13 against Seattle, which could keep out up to five weeks even though the linebacker didnt need surgery. https://www.shoesaustraliaonline.com/ . If ever they start actually putting pictures beside words in the dictionary, the Blue Jays left-handers mug will appear beside “Consistency. Cheap Shoes Australia Free Shipping . 8 Iowa State on Saturday, sending the Cyclones to their third consecutive loss. The Longhorns (14-4, 3-2) got their biggest win of the season with their third in the row in the Big 12. Clearance Shoes Australia . The Islanders dealt Thomas Vanek to the Montreal Canadiens after less than a year on Long Island. Meanwhile, the Oilers dealt long-time sniper Ales hemsky to the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday for a fifth-round pick in 2014 and a third-rounder in 2015. Saracens England contingent have been compared with Manchester Uniteds Class of 92 -- and George Kruis believes the same sense of brotherhood is developing among Eddie Jones men.The analogy was made by Paul Gustard, who played and coached at Allianz Park before being appointed as one of Jones lieutenants, enabling him to view and contribute to the development of players such as Kruis, Owen Farrell, Maro Itoje and Mako Vunipola.Saracens marched to an Aviva Premiership and European double last season and Gustard sees a similarity to their core of English players and the contribution of Paul Scholes, David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs and the Neville brothers to Uniteds dominance of club football on these shores.People spoke about the Class of 92 at Manchester United, well Saracens had their own class, Gustard said.Once one started achieving there was enough peer pressure that they all wanted to out-perform each other and strive to do things together. They are a close group.Kruis, who is expected to be selected in the second row alongside Courtney Lawes when England name their team to face Argentina on Thursday, insists the bond is not confined to Saracens.Definitely theres a sense that, as a group, weve got responsibility for each other, Kruis said. When you have five or six players coming through together its like that competition between brothers. It always pushes you a little bit further.Weve got a good respect for each other which means you have to turn up each week and ultimately play well for each other. At Saracens its dragged a lot of people along with us. Were a very young team still, with a hell of a lot of experience. Its exciting for us.I think it extends to England, I really do. If you look at what England have tried to build here, then there are a lot of similarities here between club and country.If you look at results there are a lot of similarities as well. Youve got to breedd a culture in which people want to improve and constantly push each other.ddddddddddddKruis travelled between Saracens and England for his rehabilitation and has made the quickest possible comeback from the ankle surgery that threatened to rule him out of the entire autumn program.Just over five weeks separate the 26-year-old from undergoing the procedure to lining up against Argentina.I never gave up playing in these games. I just wanted to get back to playing as soon as I could for either club or country, Kruis said.There were few things wrong with the ankle. There was a bit of wear and tear and for the last year, there were two bits of floating bone in the joint.Id been able to play on but more recently its been shutting down, so after the Toulon game, I spoke to both parties and we decided I needed to get it taken out as soon as possible.Before I was struggling with it -- I could do the session but Id want to get off my feet as soon as possible. I am really glad Ive done it. Ive got lots of confidence in the ankle now. I woke up 2 or 3 days after the op and thought it already feels better, the pressure in the foot feels less.When considering an immediate return to the starting XV, Kruis draws inspiration from Farrells man of the match comeback for Saracens against Toulon having been out for almost three months.We are in an environment now where you can push yourself in the weeks leading up to it as much as you can. Weve got everything available to be in peak condition, Kruis said.Youve got Owen Farrell who played in the Toulon game, which was pretty much Test match intensity, having had months off. He came back very sharp.Things like that give you a lot of confidence. Youve got to have a lot of confidence in yourself. If I didnt feel right, I wouldnt be here. ' ' '