Preview 2019: Previewing and looking ahead to the Iowa State Cyclones season with what you need to know.
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– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Recruiting Class Analysis | Schedule Analysis
– Iowa State Previews 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015
2018 Record: 8-5 overall, 6-3 in Big 12
Head Coach: Matt Campbell, 4th year, 19-19
5. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE IOWA STATE OFFENSE
– The Iowa State offense might not put up Oklahoma-like numbers, and it might not be a typical Big 12 powerhouse, but it’s been ultra-efficient and should be again if Brock Purdy can match his amazing freshman season. The young quarterback stepped in after a 1-4 start and led the way to a 7-1 run on the way to a bowl appearance.
Re-al Mitchell is a talented backup option, but he needs time and seasoning. The Cyclones are used to getting big-time quarterback production on the fly, but as long as Purdy is sharp again, the offense will be fine.
– David Montgomery is off being a Chicago Bear, and it wouldn’t be a positive if Purdy was the team’s second-leading rusher again. There isn’t another Montgomery as the Cyclones will likely go with a running back by committee situation until someone emerges as the hot hand. No matter who has the ball, the blocking will be there behind one of the Big 12’s better offensive fronts. All five starters return on a line that should have at least three all-stars.
– The Cyclone receiving corps had its share of stars over the last few seasons, but a new No. 1 has to emerge after losing Hakeem Butler early to the NFL. It’s going to be a work in progress, but Tarique Milton is good-looking young versatile target who finished second on the team with 417 yards, and Deshaunte Jones was second in catches with 43. Now the parts have to fill in around them. The tight end situation is strong with Charlie Kolar a reliable target who needs the ball more, and with Chase Allen a good option.
NEXT: What You Need To Know About the Defense, Top Players, Keys to the Season, What Will Happen
4. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE IOWA STATE DEFENSE
– The defense finished second in the Big 12 and led the way against the run. With eight starters returning, and six back on the front seven – or front six, considering its normal alignment – this should once again be one nasty group.
– Junior DE JaQuan Bailey is among the league’s best pass rushers, and he’ll get a whole lot of help inside from a terrific veteran tackle duo of Ray Lima and Jamahl Johnson. This group will get into the backfield.
– Leading linebacker Willie Harvey is gone from the linebacking corps, but the tandem of Mike Rose in the middle and Marcel Spears on the outside should combine for at least 150 tackles. It might take a little bit, but the depth has the potential to rise up quickly for a good rotation. There aren’t a slew of stars here, but it’s a solid group of hitters.
– The secondary is loaded at safety. Greg Eisworth led the team with 87 tackles, and the combination of Braxton Lewis and Lawrence White will be on the field in some way. Corner is a different issue with Brian Peavy and D’Andre Payne gone, but Datrone Young and Anthony Johnson are experienced enough to be okay.
NEXT: Top Players, Keys To the Season, What Will Happen
3. TOP IOWA STATE PLAYERS
Best Iowa State Offensive Player
QB Brock Purdy, Soph.
Well that was interesting. The 6-1, 202-pound sophomore went from being an also-ran backup to the star who saved the season. He doesn’t have a huge arm, but he completed 66% of his passes for 2,250 yards and 16 scores with seven picks. He’s not all that fast, but he was second on the team with 308 rushing yards and five touchdowns.
A good downfield passer with a good command of the attack, now he has to work on those interceptions – four game in the last three games, including two in the bowl loss to Washington State.
2. OT Julian Good-Jones, Sr.
3. OG Josh Knipfel, Sr.
4. TE Charlie Kolar, Soph.
5. OT Bryce Meeker, Sr.
Best Iowa State Defensive Player
DE JaQuan Bailey, Jr.
The 6-2, 251-pound tweener has been one of the Big 12’s best pass rushers over the last few seasons, following up a seven-sack sophomore season with an eight sack, 14 tackle for loss, 46 stop All-Big 12 season. His production into the backfield slowed down over the second half of the regular season, but he was still strong against the run.
2. DT Ray Lima, Sr.
3. LB Mike Rose, Soph.
4. SS Greg Eisworth, Jr.
5. LB Marcel Spears, Sr.
NEXT: Keys to the Season, Prediction & What Will Happen
2. KEYS TO THE SEASON
Biggest Key To The Iowa State Offense
The running game has to be found right away. The Cyclones finished dead last in the conference in rushing even with David Montgomery coming up with 1,216 yards and 13 scores. QB Brock Purdy finished second with 308 yards. That was about it for a ground game that ran for under 1,700 yards and averaged 3.6 yards per carry.
Normally, when the stats are that bad, it’s because there were a whole slew of sacks and tackles – not in this case. A few running backs will get their shot at the gig, but no matter who’s getting the work, overall, the offense needs to hit around 200 yards per game after only hitting the mark twice last year. On the plus side, it was all an improvement from 2017.
Biggest Key To The Iowa State Defense
Be better against the accurate passing teams, and come up with more picks. Overall, the Cyclone secondary did a solid job in the pass-happy Big 12. However, there were problems when quarterbacks were razor-sharp. Oklahoma, TCU, Texas and Washington State all completed 70% of their passes or more, and Iowa State lost all four of those games.
In those four games, Iowa State came up with a grand total of one interception, and it only generated seven in the other eight games. It was the third time in four years that the Cyclones failed to come up with double-digit picks.
Key Player To A Successful Season
RB Sheldon Croney, Sr.
Spin the wheel, and you might have the right Iowa State starting running back. Sophomore Johnnie Lang is a speedster who needs the ball in his hands in a variety of ways, and 206-pound junior Ken Nwangwu is the leading returning running back – with just 157 yards – but Croney has just enough time logged in to turn into the main man. As David Montgomery’s top backup over the last few seasons, he’s ready.
Key Game To The Iowa State Season
at Baylor, Sept. 28
Want a horrible stat? Iowa State is 1-15 in its last 16 Big 12 openers.
As good as Iowa State has been over the last two seasons, it got off to a rough start in conference play both times. Granted, facing Oklahoma to start out the 2017 Big 12 season and Texas to start the 2017 campaign were problems, but it’s time to get going right away.
With three of the first four conference games on the road, getting this all going with a win in Waco would be a big deal.
– Iowa State Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
2018 Iowa State Fun Stats
– Penalties: Opponents 81 for 786 yards – Iowa State 62 for 517 yards
– Rushing Yards Per Attempt: Iowa State 3.6 – Opponents 3.3
– Red Zone Scoring: Iowa State 41-of-45 chances – Opponents 35-of-46 chances
NEXT: What Will Happen
1. IOWA STATE WIN TOTAL PREDICTION: WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN
A few of the key stars are missing, but it’s a more experienced and better team overall.
There’s no quick fix for losing NFL talents like RB David Montgomery and WR Hakeem Butler, but it’s a strength-in-numbers situation in the backfield, and the receiving corps has plenty of good parts for QB Brock Purdy to work with.
The defense will once again be among the Big 12’s best, starting with a good front line and with solid veteran defensive backs that need to come up with more picks. Throw in a good kicking game, and this should be Matt Campbell’s best team yet.
Set The Regular Season Win Total At … 8
It’s hard to find eight wins for a third straight season, but the Cyclones keep finding ways to pull off just enough slight stunners.
They’re able to muck things up and bring teams down to their level, and they’re going to have to do that at home against a TCU, or an Oklahoma State, or an Iowa, or a Texas, or against any or all of the above.
Beating Northern Iowa, ULM and Kansas in Ames shouldn’t be a problem, but can there be five more wins against a rough rest of the slate? There should be four, and throw in a bowl win to get to eight again – if they don’t hit the mark in the regular season.
– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– Recruiting Class Analysis | Schedule Analysis
