The Cyclones ran into a very good Texas A&M team in College Station last week. The Aggies had too much offense and the Cyclones couldn’t produce enough offensive production to stay in the game. The Cyclone defense was overmatched by a potent Aggie offense that ranks 6th nationally. Here are some of my thoughts on last week’s game in College Station.
Game Analysis: Iowa State Cyclones vs Texas A&M Aggies
Return of A-Rob
The Cyclone offense welcomed the return of Alexander Robinson to the lineup as he ran for 76 yards on twenty attempts. It was nice to see him in the line-up again and his return definitely provided a spark to the offense. He will once again need to be 100% if we are to have a chance against a very good Oklahoma State defense. The Cowboys have given up some yards and points this year, and we will need to produce yards on the ground to have a chance at winning.
Austen Arnaud's return to the lineup should open the offense up for Iowa State
Austen Arnaud
Jerome Tiller has done a nice job of filling in for Austen Arnaud, but it is apparent that we miss Austen’s productivity for the Cyclones. Over the last two weeks, the Cyclone offense has had to cut down on the number of plays they are able to run. With Austen coming back to the line-up this week, it should allow us to give the Cowboys a number of different formations and plays we have not been able to run in previous weeks. I am looking forward to a boost in the productivity of the offense with Austen’s return.
Defensive Performance
The Cyclone defense ran into a very potent offense from Texas A&M and it showed in the score and the number of yards the defense gave up. Jerrod Johnson had his way against the Cyclone secondary as he passed for 234 yards. He also was very efficient as he completed 23 out of 28 attempts. The Cyclones were missing James Smith in the secondary for the 1st half of the game due to a suspension from an altercation in the Nebraska game. Overall, I would grade there effort as a C for the week. They were not able to stop the Aggies from sustaining long drives and did not stop a number of big plays that lead to points. This week against the Cowboys offense, they will need to be clicking on all cylinders to have a shot of winning.
Keys to Victory against Oklahoma State
Here are my keys to victory this week for the Cyclones:
Forcing the Pokes into some turnovers will be key for a Cyclone victory
1) Austen’s return to the line-up is big for us this week. He will need to show that his throwing hand is completely healed and there is no rust from his time off.
2) Defense will need to have a good game against the Cowboys. They need to continue their trend of creating at least 1 turnover a game.
3) Hate to sound like a broken record, but….Kicking game needs to improve.
4) The return of Reggie Stephens to the line-up could be a big boost to the team. We really missed him in the line-up last week , Reggie missed last week due to appendectomy surgery.
Well, that is it for this week! Up next a breakdown of the Oklahoma State game!
Zac Robinson had a rough outing last week against Texas, but he still leads the Big 12 in passing efficiency
1. The Cowboys are coming in off a 41-14 loss to #2 Texas. The defense actually played well in the loss, giving up just 275 total yards.
2. QB Zac Robinson threw 4 interceptions against the Longhorns and two of them went all the way back for touchdowns. Robinson leads the Big 12 in passing efficiency with a 147.48 rating.
3. Top RB Kendall Hunter is questionable for this game. Hunter came back last week, but only carried once. Keith Toston has done well in his absence rushing for 85 yards/game, which is good for 3rd in the Big 12.
4. Quinn Sharp is one of the top punters in the nation, 45.3 yard average. The Cowboys are 3nd overall in net punting (39 yds/punt).
5. The NCAA has ruled WR Dez Bryant out for the remainder of the season. Hubert Anyiam has been Robinson’s new favorite target with 30 catches for 368 yards and 2 touchdowns.
6. Oklahoma State is holding opponents to less than 100 yards a game on the ground, but they give up yards through the air (244 yds/game).
7. The offense is very balanced, rushing for 179 and passing for 221 each game. The 400 yards/game in total offense is middle of the pack in the Big12, they are a little better on scoring offense, averaging 34 points/game good for 4th in the conference.
8. The Pokes have given up the least amount of sacks in the country. Robinson was pressured heavily last week, which contributed to the four picks, he would have been better off taking a few sacks.
Iowa State Game Notes
Iowa State Cyclones (5-4) (2-3)
Alexander Robinson returned last week, the Cyclones should have Austen Arnaud and Reggie Stephens back this week as well
1. It looks like Iowa State will finally have the first string offense back this week. QB Austen Arnaud, who has sat out the last two games with a bruised hand is expected to go. The same is true for Center Reggie Stephens, who is just 10 days removed from an appendectomy. Alexander Robinson‘s groin is finally starting to heal and he should be more effective on Saturday. The return of the starters couldn’t have come sooner, the Cyclones have managed just two touchdowns the past two weeks.
2. ISU has ran the ball consistently well this year, averaging 200 yards per game, tops in the Big 12. Alexander Robinson leads the league in rushing with 102 yards each contest despite missing some action in each of the last 4 weeks.
3. The defense took a step back last week, giving up over 500 yards and missing 20 tackles. The D concedes huge chunks of yards each week, but the Cyclones are allowing just 21 points a game, 4th best in the Big 12.
4. Jesse Smith continues to lead the conference in tackles with an even 100 tackles on the season.
5. ISU is sitting on 5 wins and needs one win in the last three games to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2005.
6. Leonard Johnson set an NCAA record last year at Okie St. with 319 kick return yards. Johnson got dinged up last week and was replaced at kick returner by Josh Lenz, who took advantage of the opportunity with two nice returns.
7. Cyclone fans finally got the opportunity to see Bo Williams last week and he didn’t disappoint, going for 44 yards on his first carry. The fans also got to see why he isn’t playing more, when he couldn’t get lined up correctly on the very next play. It was great to see the potential is there for Bo to be an exciting running back in this system.
8. Michael Brandtner and the Cyclone punt coverage team continue to excel, ranking 2nd in the league in net punting with a 40 yard average.
9. Iowa State is second in the conference in turnover margin at +9.
10. The Cyclone offensive line continues to protect the passer giving up just 6 sacks in nine weeks. On the opposite side of the ball the Clones are struggling to get pressure, with only 12 sacks all season, last in the Big 12.
11. Iowa State has defeated Oklahoma State the last two times they visited Jack Trice Stadium, 28-14 in 2001 and 37-10 in 2005.
Keys to Cyclone Victory
It will be great to have Austen Arnaud back on the field this week
1. Getting the Offense Back on Track – The good news is the starting unit is back together, the bad news is they haven’t played together since the Baylor game, four weeks ago. The offense was just starting to get rolling at the time, putting up an average of 483 yards against Kansas and Baylor. The last two weeks they have averaged just 282 yards/game in total offense. The offense needs to get back around the 400 yard level to have a chance to win.
2. +2 on Turnovers– Iowa State isn’t good enough right now to beat a top 20 team without winning the turnover battle by at least two.
3. Discipline on Defense – The Cyclone defense was a tired and beat up group and it showed on the field at Texas A&M. Iowa State needs to tackle better and find ways to get off the field on third down. Mike Gundy likes to go for it on fourth down, so the D better be prepared to play all four downs.
Players to Watch
1. Austen Arnaud – The junior quarterback has to be itching to get on the field Saturday. Austen was just starting to get comfortable in Tom Herman’s offense when the injury occurred. The Cyclones have missed his toughness and can’t-be-stopped attitude while he was out. The Cowboys are giving up 244 yards passing each week, so Austen has an opportunity to make a triumphant return.
2. Christopher Lyle – The Cyclones can’t come in expecting to get 5 sacks against a defense that has allowed just 4 all year, but Iowa State does need to put some heat on Zac Robinson. Texas got after him and it resulted in five turnovers. Christopher Lyle is the guy that can get to the QB.
3. A.J. Klein – the true freshman is making the most of his limited opportunities. Klein forced a fumble on a kick return last week that ISU recovered, but the offense didn’t convert the turnover into points. The Cyclones have made an impact on special teams the last three weeks (blocked punt, fake punt, forced fumble). A.J. and the special teams boys need to come up big again this week.
Prediction
The forecast for Ames, Iowa on Saturday calls for mid sixties and light winds. Now don’t get me wrong I like nice weather as much as the next guy, but deep inside I was hoping for mid twenties and blustery winds. When I saw the schedule, I thought we might finally get a team from the Big 12 South on a nasty day, but it doesn’t look like it will happen.
The Cyclones and Cowboys were both blown out a week ago, which team will bounce back from the loss better? Iowa State has to be excited to get back home for the first time in three weeks. With a win, the Cyclones put themselves in great position to win the Big 12 North. The loss to Texas last week pretty much knocked Okie State out of the title chase in the South. The Cowboys may be looking past the Cyclones, with a big matchup against Texas Tech next week.
The Pokes are doing a great job of stopping the run, but Iowa State has moved the ball on the ground against top defenses all year,and I think that trend continues. If Austen Arnaud and the Cyclone receivers are on the same page early, then ISU has a great chance to win this game. Oklahoma State has a balanced offense and should be able to move the ball against an ISU team that gives up yards a plenty. The key will be for the Cyclones to create turnovers and force field goal opportunities in the red zone. I originally picked the Cyclones to upset the Cowboys, but I changed my mind when ISU went and got the upset two weeks ago at Nebraska. I think the offense comes out a little rusty and the Cowboys jump on top early, the Cyclones will rally, but fall just short in the end.
Oklahoma State Cowboys 31 Iowa State Cyclones 29
Iowa State vs Oklahoma State Week – Player Interviews
Iowa State’s matchup with No. 18 Oklahoma State on Saturday, November 7, 2009 will be televised regionally by ABC Sports at 2:30 CDT. The game will be shown to 17 percent of the country, including 11 states. Check with your local television provider for further information.
Texas put a 41-14 beating on Oklahoma State last Saturday and they are clearly the top team in the Big 12 right now. Oklahoma easily handled the top team in the North, Kansas State, and now come in at #2 in this weeks rankings. Texas A&M appears to be a team on the move after disposing of Texas Tech and Iowa State in back-to-back weeks. The Big 12 North is messy and could get even messier down the stretch, will a 4-4 team represent the North in the Big 12 Championship game?
Big Twelve Football – Power Rankings (Week Nine)
Earl Thomas and the Texas Longhorns seem to be destined to play in the National Championship
1. Texas Longhorns – Overall (8-0) Big 12 (5-0) – BCS Ranking 2
Last week: (3) Texas 41 (14)Oklahoma State 14 The Longhorn defense is dominating, but they need the offense to come around to win the national title.
Up next: UCF at (2) Texas
2. Oklahoma Sooners – Overall (5-3) Big 12 (3-1) – BCS Ranking 24
Last week: (22) Oklahoma 42 Kansas State 30 Oklahoma jumped out early on Kansas State and held the pesky Wildcats off for the victory.
Up next: (24) Oklahoma at Nebraska
3. Oklahoma State Cowboys – Overall (6-2) Big 12 (3-1) – BCS Ranking 19
Last week: (3) Texas 41 (14)Oklahoma State 14 Oklahoma State had 5 turnovers and 2 pick sixes in the loss to Texas.
Up next: (19) Oklahoma State at Iowa State
4. Kansas State Wildcats – Overall (5-4) Big 12 (3-2)
Last week: (22) Oklahoma 42 Kansas State 30 Brandon Banks had 351 total yards in the loss to Oklahoma. Huge week for KSU this week, beat Kansas and they are in the drivers seat for the North.
Up next: Kansas at Kansas State
5. Texas A&M Aggies – Overall (5-3) Big 12 (2-2)
Last week: Texas A&M 35 Iowa State 10 The Aggies are hot right now and they shouldn’t have any trouble this week with the struggling Buffs.
Up next: Texas A&M at Colorado
6. Texas Tech Red Raiders – Overall (6-3) Big 12 (3-2)
Last week: Texas Tech 42 Kansas 21 Texas Tech put up 28 fourth quarter points in the come-from-behind victory over Kansas. Baron Batch rushed for 4 touchdowns.
Up next: idle
7. Iowa State Cyclones – Overall (5-4) Big 12 (2-3)
Last week: Texas A&M 35 Iowa State 10 The Cyclones are a tired and beat up team, but have several starters returning this week including QB Austen Arnaud.
Up next: (19) Oklahoma State at Iowa State
8. Nebraska Cornhuskers – Overall (5-3) Big 12 (2-2)
Last week: Nebraska 20 Baylor 10 The offense could only muster 273 yards and 11 first downs against Baylor. The Huskers look to avoid their third straight home loss when the Sooners come to town on Saturday.
Up next: (24) Oklahoma at Nebraska
9. Kansas Jayhawks – Overall (5-3) Big 12 (1-3)
Last week: Texas Tech 42 Kansas 21 Mark Mangino benched Todd Reesing in the loss to Texas Tech……big fella Todd Reesing is not the problem, play some D.
Up next: Kansas at Kansas State
10. Missouri Tigers – Overall (5-3) Big 12 (1-3)
Last week: Missouri 36 Colorado 17 The Tigers started off 0-3 in the conference, but remarkably Mizzou is right in the thick of the North title race with just one win.
Up next: Baylor at Missouri
11. Colorado Buffaloes – Overall (2-6) Big 12 (1-3)
Last week: Missouri 36 Colorado 17 The Buffs have four tough games remaining and could easily end the year at 2-10.
Up next: Texas A&M at Colorado
12. Baylor Bears – Overall (3-5) Big 12 (0-4)
Last week: Nebraska 20 Baylor 10 The Bears also look destined to lose their four remaining games. QB Nick Florence is going through growing pains and they have no running game.
Up next: Baylor at Missouri
Big 12 North
1. Kansas State
2. Iowa State
3. Nebraska
4. Kansas
5. Missouri
6. Colorado
Big 12 South
1. Texas
2. Oklahoma
3. Oklahoma State
4. Texas A&M
5. Texas Tech
6. Baylor
The Aggies top rated offense was too much for a tired and beat up Cyclone defense. Texas A&M never punted and racked up 501 yards of total offense and had 31 first downs. QB Jerrod Johnson was 23-28 for 234 yards and three scores, Johnson also ran for a touchdown.
The Cyclone offense had opportunities to put points on the board, but didn’t execute well on the Aggies side of the field. Jerome Tiller threw two interceptions, Grant Mahoney missed a field goal and ISU didn’t convert on a key 4th down opportunity in the first half. Josh Lenz had his best day in an Iowa State uniform with 7 catches for 63 yards and kick returns of 27 and 39 yards.
Iowa State drops to 5-4 overall and 2-3 in the Big 12. ISU returns home to take on 18th ranked Oklahoma State this Saturday at 2:30 P.M. The game will be televised regionally by ABC.
James Smith forced a Uzoma Nwachukwu fumble as he was heading into the end zone - Photo Courtesy of The Eagle (Stuart Villanueva)
1. Alexander Robinson made the start and was able to run effectively carrying 20 times for 76 yards.
2. Freshman WR Josh Lenz had career highs in catches (7) and receiving yards (63), and averaged 33 yards on two kick returns.
3. Jesse Smith, Big 12 leading tackler, had another nice day leading the team with 13 tackles.
4. RB Bo Williams made his debut on Saturday and had the big play, 44 yard run, on Iowa State’s only touchdown drive.
5. The Cyclones managed to rush the ball well despite playing without two key lineman for most of the game, Reggie Stephens (appendectomy – out) and Ben Lamaak (illness – played less than 50% of the snaps). ISU had 34 carries for 169 yards (5 yds/carry)
6. Darius Darks had his best game of the year with 4 catches for 65 yards and a long of 45.
7. James Smith had 9 tackles and a forced fumble in under two quarters of play. Smith had to sit out the first half on suspension.
Iowa State – The Bad
The Iowa State defense had opportunities, but couldn't come up with the big play when they needed it - Photo Courtesy of The Eagle (Stuart Villanueva)
1. The Cyclone defense could not get off the field. Texas A&M had 31 first downs, 267 yards rushing, 501 yards of total offense and never punted. The Aggies were 10 of 13 on 3rd down and 2-3 on 4th down.
2. Alexander Robinson was shut down on 4th and short in the second quarter deep in Aggie territory. ARob ran out of Clone (Wildcat) formation against a 10 man front.
3. The following Cyclones did not play or missed most of the game; QB Austen Arnaud, NB Ter’ran Benton, C Reggie Stephens, OG Ben Lamaak and S James Smith.
4. Paul Rhoads admitted the team was an exhausted/tired football team, hopefully the home game this Saturday is just what they need.
5. The game was not on TV. So far all I have seen is the highlights on the Paul Rhoads show so it is hard to get too detailed in the analysis.
Cyclones Top Performers
Josh Lenz – 7 catches for 63 yards, kick returns (27,39) Jesse Smith – 13 tackles Fred Garrin – 12 tackles (career high) Michael O’Connell – 11 tackles (career high) James Smith – 9 tackles, FF in one half of play Christopher Lyle – 7 tackles, 1 sack Darius Darks – 4 catches for 65 yards
I have been looking forward to writing this article all week long. The victory last week over Nebraska in Lincoln will go down as one of the greatest in Cyclone history. The game speaks to the job that Paul Rhoads is doing in Ames. We are so proud to have you as our coach!! Coach Rhoads has these kids committed to putting in a quality effort every time they touch the field. That is what we are looking for from our Cyclone football program and that is what he is giving us!
As there were so many positives that came out of the game last week, it was hard to cut the list down to a few. Here are some of my thoughts on last week’s outstanding performance in Lincoln.
Game Analysis: Iowa State Cyclones vs Nebraska Cornhuskers
Jesse Smith had one of his best games as a Cyclone against Nebraska
Turnover City
You could not start any analysis of last week’s game in Lincoln without talking about the turnovers that happened in that game. Turnovers were the difference maker in allowing Iowa State to pull out a 9-7 victory last week. First and foremost, if anyone tells you that Nebraska was their own worst enemy, they would be wrong. Their worst enemy was a fired up and intense Cyclone defense that was very hungry on Saturday. I have reviewed the film a couple of times, and with the exception of the long pass that was fumbled by Niles Paul, the other fumbles were generated by an aggressive Cyclone defense. I was very impressed with the gang tackling of the running backs and wide receivers and the fact that the 2nd and 3rd man to the pile went for the strip. I can tell you that this is a direct reflection of coaching! If we can continue to generate turnovers, we will continue to see opportunities to put “W’s” on our season record.
Offensive Ball Control
With our top 2 performers on offense sidelined last week, the offense was turned over to 2 redshirt freshmen; Jerome Tiller and Jeremiah Schwartz. I can tell you from personal experience that walking into Memorial Stadium for the first time can be extremely intimidating! But these two young men played with poise and control. I am sure one of the things the coaches talked to the offensive unit about was to play under control and not make any mental errors. While the offensive numbers do not show what would be considered a dominant performance, the most important number is zero! That is the number of turnovers our offense gave up against Nebraska. With Michael Brandtner punting so well, giving Nebraska a short field with a turnover could have significantly impacted the outcome of that game. Our offense did what we needed them to do, which is control the pace of the game and give our defense good field position to work with. Mission accomplished!
Jesse Smith
Jesse had one of his best games as a Cyclone registering 12 tackles and intercepting the game deciding pass on Saturday. We have a number of players on defense that are playing well, but Jesse is definitely the heart and soul of that unit. Even the plays where he does not make the tackle, he is close to the ball carrier. He received a well deserved accolade this week being named Big 12 Defensive Player of the week. I expect when the season is done, Jesse will also have some other honors awarded to him!
Other Notes from Game
Fake Punt: This was one of the great calls on Saturday made by our coaches. It was called at absolutely the right time against the right return set-up by Nebraska.
Kicking Game: We still need to figure out this aspect of our game. Too many points are being left off the board that we will need in the next four games.
Offensive Line: They did a great job with the Nebraska All-American defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. He was going to make some plays on Saturday, but they kept him under control for most of the day.
Keys to Victory against Texas A&M
The Offensive Line, who will be without Reggie Stephens, needs another good performance
Here are my keys to victory this week for the Cyclones:
1) Defense will need to continue the intensity against Texas A&M. The Aggies have a very dangerous quarterback in Jerrod Johnson and we need to keep him under control this week!
2) If A-Rob and Austen cannot go again this week, Jeremiah and Jerome will need to play well again.
3) Kicking game needs to improve.
4) With the loss of Reggie Stephens to appendectomy surgery, the offensive line will need to find a way to replace him. This unit has played well all season and needs to continue even with the loss of Reggie.
Well, that is it for this week! Up next a breakdown of the Texas A&M game!
How frustrating is it that the Iowa State (2-2) vs Texas A&M (1-2) game is not on TV this week? Meanwhile the Missouri (0-3) vs Colorado (1-2) game and Nebraska (1-2) vs Baylor (0-3) game will be televised. All Big 12 games should be on television – stop the excuses and find a way to get it done.
Texas A&M Game Notes
Texas A&M Aggies (4-3) (1-2)
Jerrod Johnson had a huge game against the Cyclones last year going 31-39 for 381 yards and 4 touchdowns
1. QB Jerrod Johnson leads the Big 12 and is 2nd nationally in total yards. The big quarterback (6’6, 245) has thrown for 2,131 yards and 18 touchdowns and ran for 500 yards and 5 TD’s.
2. The Aggie offensive line clicked for the first time last week allowing just one sack and gaining 321 yards, including 6 TD’s on the ground.
3. The defense ranks at or near the bottom in all major Big 12 statistical categories: Rush Defense 152 yards (11th), Pass Defense 259 yards (12th), Total Defense 412 yards (12th) and Scoring Defense 33 points (12th)
4. The offense is near the top in most Big 12 statistical categories: Rush Offense 181 yards (4th), Pass Offense 309 yards (3rd), Total Offense 489 (1st) and Scoring Offense 36 points (4th)
5. True freshman wide receiver Uzoma Nwachukwu is the top target for Johnson hauling in 22 passes for 463 yards and 6 touchdowns.
6. The one area on defense in which Texas A&M excels is pressuring the quarterback. Von Miller leads the nation with 12.5 sacks and the team is second nationally with 21 sacks.
7. The defense gave up 456 yards passing to Texas Tech last week, but they were able to overcome it by forcing 5 turnovers.
8. The offense put up 559 total yards in the 52-30 victory over Tech including 238 passing and 321 rushing. RB Cyrus Gray had 4 touchdowns.
9. WR Jeff Fuller played about 10 plays last week after missing the previous 4 games with a broken leg. Fuller should see more action this week.
10. Texas A&M leads Iowa State in the all-time series 8-1.
Iowa State Game Notes
Iowa State Cyclones (5-3) (2-2)
Iowa State hopes to have the Big Twelves leading rusher, Alexander Robinson, back in the lineup Saturday
1. Iowa State is one of three FBS squads to have already won at least 3 more games than it did all of last season.
2. The Cyclones forced 8 turnovers in their 9-7 win at Nebraska last week (5 fumble recoveries, 3 interceptions). ISU leads the Big 12 in fumbles recovered (11) and passes intercepted (13).
3. Alexander Robinson, who missed the game last week with a groin injury, leads the Big 12 in rushing with 105 yards/game. ARob reportedly has been running at practice this week and should make the start against the Aggies.
4. Jesse Smith was named the Walter Camp and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in the upset over Nebraska. Smith leads the conference this season with 77 tackles.
5. NB Ter’ran Benton will miss at least a couple weeks with a leg fracture. S James Smith will have to sit out the first half of this game after being ejected last week. Zac Sandvig will most likely start at safety and Michael O’Connell will take over for Benton at nickelback.
6. Michael Brandtner was named Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week for his great punting and execution of a fake punt for 20 yards against the Huskers. Brandtner and the punt unit lead the conference this year with a 40.7 net punting average.
7. Iowa State is giving up alot of yards on defense (384/game, 10th in the Big 12), but they are keeping teams out of the end zone (20 points allowed/game, 4th in the Big 12).
8. The Offensive Line is the strength of the team. The Cyclones lead the nation in sacks allowed with just 4 in 8 games and lead the Big 12 in rushing with 204 yards each game.
9. ISU is near the bottom of the conference in passing offense with 183 yards/game. Starting QB Austen Arnaud is expected to return to the lineup on Saturday after missing last week with a bruised throwing hand. Freshman Jerome Tiller would get the nod again if Arnaud can’t go.
10. The kicking unit continued their struggles last week with a blocked extra point and a blocked field goal. Over the last four weeks Iowa State has had 2 extra points blocked, 2 extra points missed, a field goal blocked, a field goal botched and 3 missed Field goals.
11. The Cyclones defeated the Aggies 42-14 in their last trip to College Station in 2005, Iowa State’s only win over Texas A&M. Todd Blythe led ISU with 8 catches for 214 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Keys to Cyclone Victory
Iowa State needs a big play on special teams this week - Michael Brandtner made the big play against Nebraska.
1. Bend But Don’t Break Defense – Texas A&M is going to move the ball, but the Cyclone defense needs to keep the Aggie offense out of the end zone. Iowa State’s defense has stiffened in the red zone this year and they were particularly good last week forcing 4 red zone turnovers. Repeating that performance is probably too much to ask, but if they can limit A&M to field goal attempts instead of touchdowns they can leave Kyle Field with a win.
2. Healthy Offensive Backfield– QB Jerome Tiller and RB Jeremiah Schwartz did an excellent job of carrying out the game plan in the victory at Lincoln. However, Iowa State will need more than 9 points to beat Texas A&M. Getting Arnaud and Robinson back in the line-up is important this week. A-Rob is a difference maker in ISU’s offense and Arnaud was coming on strong before injuring his hand against Baylor.
3. Big Play on Special Teams – Special teams have played a huge role in the last two victories. The punt block against Baylor sealed the victory and the fake punt at Nebraska set up the winning touchdown. Which special teams unit will come up big this week?
Players to Watch
1. Kelechi Osemele/Scott Haughton – The Aggies are going to try to put some heat on the quarterback. The Iowa State tackles will have their hands full with JACK (DE/LB) Von Miller and the A&M rush. The offensive line has done an extraordinary job of keeping #4’s jersey clean this year. If they can protect Arnaud again this week Iowa State might have a happy post-game locker room again Saturday.
2. Jesse Smith – Iowa State needs to make Texas A&M one dimensional. Jerrod Johnson is going to hit on some throws, but if the Aggies get the running game going like they did against Tech, the game is over. Jesse Smith is the best tackler on the team and the leader of the defense. Smith and his teammates need to fill run gaps and tackle well to slow down the A&M rushing attack.
3. Austen Arnaud – The Aggie pass defense has been very bad this year, surrendering 259 yards through the air each week. The Red Raiders torched the young secondary for 456 yards. After missing last week, Austen will be itching to get in there this week and hopefully he will pick up where he left off against Baylor throwing for 160 yards in the first half. Look for Arnaud to spread the ball around to several receivers in Tom Herman’s offense.
Prediction
The Cyclones are riding high after winning on the road at Nebraska for the first time in more than 30 years. I am a little worried about a let down coming off the monumental win. The Cyclones have several key players battling injury and illness, so it will be interesting to see who plays on Saturday. It is another tough test for Coach Paul Rhoads and his resilient Cyclone football team.
Which Texas A&M team shows up? The team that beat Tech 52-30 on the road last week or the one that was embarrassed at Kansas State 62-14 two weeks ago. It is has been an up-and-down year for the Ags, which makes this game very difficult to predict.
The two teams combined for almost 1,100 yards and 84 points in A&M’s 49-35 win in Ames last year. I don’t anticipate a repeat performance, but both teams will put points on the board. I expect Austen Arnaud and Alexander Robinson to play this week, and if they do, I give the edge to the Cyclones. Arnaud will have his best game of the year and the defense will do just enough to get a victory.
Iowa State Cyclones 31 Texas A&M Aggies 30
Iowa State vs Texas A&M Week – Player Interviews
Michael Brandtner, Patrick Neal, Reggie Stephens and David Sims – Cyclones.com
A celebration was held in the Bergstrom Practice Facility in Ames to welcome Coach Paul Rhoads and the Cyclone Football Team home after they went to Nebraska and beat the Cornhuskers. Fans, family, media, and others gathered at the practice field to congratulate Coach Rhoads and his players for the first Cyclones victory in Lincoln since the 1970’s. Coach Paul Rhoads gave a motivational speech and other Cyclone players spoke and supported Rhoads at the rally. After thanking the fans for supporting the team, Coach Rhoads talked about how the team is making improvements everyday and they will play their hearts out every week and prepare day in and day out for upcoming games. The Cyclones are 5-3 in the first season under Paul Rhoads, the five wins are the most in a season since 2005. The Cyclones play Texas A&M on the road next Saturday. The Cyclones are one win from being bowl eligible and would become bowl eligible with a victory at Texas A&M this week.
Coach Rhoads has had an immediate impact on the Cyclones football program in his first year as head coach. He and Wally Burnham have the Cyclones defense playing out-of-their-mind good, especially against the run, and offensive coordinator Tom Herman has the spread offense hitting on all cylinders and has his players taking care of the football. So the Cyclones have no doubt earned the welcome home celebration that they got after the upset over Nebraska. Cyclone fans have shown great support for their Iowa State Cyclones football team all year long.
The Cyclone fans welcomed home their Iowa State Cyclones with a celebration at the Bergstrom Indoor Practice Facility to honor the team for their great efforts in the 9-7 upset over the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Hundreds of fans, family, and others packed into the practice facility to celebrate the upset victory that ended a 30 year losing streak in Lincoln, NE.
Post Game Interviews
Coach Rhoads Post Game Interview
Watch Coach Rhoads’ post game interview following the upset victory over Nebraska last Saturday. Coach Rhoads begins by talking about how big of a win this was for the football program and ISU in general and how this has helped the team grow and improve and gain confidence going forward. Coach Rhoads addresses how special a win this was to get on the road without his starting QB and the no. 1 RB in the Big 12 in Alexander Robinson. On top of that, Coach Rhoads explains that a number of other Cyclones were sick with a stomach bug. He stresses the importance of the team and not the individuals and that they pushed themselves hard and overcame adversity.
Cyclone Players Interviews from Jerome Tiller, Nate Frere, and others
Interviews from the Cyclones football players – Freshman QB Jerome Tiller, Punter Michael Brandtner, DT Nate Frere and other Cyclones. Tiller talks about his experience as a starter for the first time in Memorial Stadium, and how the team overcame odds to beat Nebraska. Brandtner talks about his fake punt conversion for a first down that set up the Cyclone touchdown.
Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads celebrates a 9-7 win (AP Photo/ Dave Weaver)
On Saturday, the Iowa State Cyclones traveled to Lincoln, Nebraska where they haven’t tasted victory in over 30 years. The win-less streak in Lincoln that dated back to 1977 was snapped after the Cyclones upset the Nebraska Cornhuskers 9-7 in front of more than 85,000 Nebraska fans. The 18 1/2 point underdog Cyclones are now 5-3 with two losses in Kansas by narrow margins and have really become a factor in the Big 12 North. Nebraska really handed the Cyclones the victory, as they committed a school record 8 turnovers, with four of them coming inside the Cyclones 5 yard line. Iowa State was able to hold on to the 9-7 win despite not having their 2 star offensive players in QB Austen Arnaud and RB Alexander Robinson, and having a few players sick with a stomach bug throughout much of the game.
The win snaps a 14 game Big 12 road losing streak and brings the Cyclones within 1 game of bowl eligibility this year. Coach Rhoads was very proud of the way his Cyclones played and is relieved to have another monkey off their back. “When you don’t win in a stadium on the road since 1977, it’s big,” Coach Rhoads said. “This is a program that was in the Top 25 a week ago. It’s a big win.” With Arnaud and Robinson out for the game, the Cyclones relied heavily on their defense and boy did they come up big for Iowa State. Backup QB Jerome Tiller started his first game as a Cyclone and managed the offense well, and RB Jeremiah Schwartz filled in for the injured Alexander Robinson.
Cyclones Defense : The Cyclones Defense played out of their minds good against Nebraska. Not only did they force a whopping 8 turnovers, they also held Nebraska to only 114 yards rushing, 362 total yards, and only 7 points. The Cyclones defense forced 5 fumbles and 3 interceptions, and stopped a huge 4th down conversion.
David Sims intercepts pass against Nebraska (AP Photo/Dave Weaver)
Jesse Smith – Senior LB Jesse Smith won Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance against Nebraska. Jesse had 12 tackles, 2 TFL, 2 FF, INT, deflection for an INT.
James Smith – The Senior CB had 8 tackles, FF, and 2 fumble recoveries for the Cyclones before being ejected for allegedly throwing a punch.
David Sims – Cyclones CB David Sims added another great performance against the Cornhuskers as he had 9 total tackles, FF, FR, and an interception that he returned 16 yards.
Michael O’Connell – The third CB in the Cyclones’ Trio had an interception, fumble recovery and 1 tipped ball. The three safeties combined for 6 of the 8 turnovers that the Cyclones had.
Jerome Tiller : For being his first career start in Memorial Stadium, Freshman QB Jerome Tiller managed a solid performance. While he only completed 9 of 19 passes for 102 yards, he led the Cyclone offense to a zero turnover performance and managed the clock by possessing the ball for 33 minutes. He added the big play that the Cyclones needed to come out with a win when he connected with Jake Williams on a 47 yard touchdown pass, and also added 65 yards rushing on 19 carries.
Jake Williams : Junior WR Jake Williams had the only touchdown for the Cyclones against Nebraska. Jerome Tiller hit Williams on a 47 yard touchdown strike to put the cyclones up 9-7 and a touchdown that went on to be the game winner. Williams has been a factor in the Cyclone pass game all year and showed that he has the big play potential at receiver.
Michael Brandtner : The Cyclone punter had a busy day in Lincoln, on his way to Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week honors. He punted 9 times for 360 yards, a 40 yard punt average, and put 5 punts inside the 20 yard line. On top of that, Brandtner converted on a crucial 4th down fake punt play in the second quarter that led to the Williams 47 yard TD catch. He took the 4th down punt snap and rushed 20 yards for the first down to keep the drive alive.
Iowa State: 3, Nebraska: 0 – Cylcone K Grant Mahoney hits a 52 yard field goal following the interception by Kennard Banks on Nebraska’s opening drive. The field goal opened the scoring just 1:36 into the game.
Iowa State: 3, Nebraska: 7 – The Cornhuskers get on the board when true freshman RB Dontrayevous Robinson scored a TD on a 3 yard rush with just under 3 and a half minutes left in the first quarter to give Nebraska a 4 point lead.
Second Quarter :
Iowa State: 9, Nebraska: 7 – Jerome Tiller hooked up with Jake Williams on a 47 yard bomb for a touchdown with 7 minutes remaining in the first half to give the Cyclones a 9-7 lead. The PAT was blocked, resulting in the fourth missed PAT in 4 games for Grant Mahoney. The game ended with a score of 9-7 for the Cyclones.
Texas solidified their #1 ranking by going on the road and putting a beat down on Missouri. The Longhorns have their toughest remaining game on their schedule this week when they travel to #2 Oklahoma State. The two teams expected by most to be at the bottom of the Big 12 North (Kansas State and Iowa State) are now the top ranked Big 12 North teams and are 4th and 5th overall in the Power Rankings. Texas A&M was the surprising team of the week going to Texas Tech and beating them by three touchdowns. The Aggies bounced back from 62-14 trouncing by K-State the week before.
Big Twelve Football – Power Rankings (Week Eight)
The coaching changes seem to be working at Iowa State and Kansas State - the two teams are now on top of the Big 12 North Rankings
1. Texas Longhorns – Overall (7-0) Big 12 (4-0) – BCS Ranking 3
Last week: (3) Texas 41 Missouri 7 Colt McCoy looked a little more Heisman like throwing for 269 yards and three touchdowns.
Up next: (3) Texas at (14) Oklahoma State
2. Oklahoma State Cowboys – Overall (6-1) Big 12 (3-0) – BCS Ranking 14
Last week: (15) Oklahoma State 34 Baylor 7 Oklahoma State had an easy win over Baylor in their tune up for the Longhorns. Texas will get the Cowboys best shot this week.
Up next: (3) Texas at (14) Oklahoma State
3. Oklahoma Sooners – Overall (4-3) Big 12 (2-1)
Last week: Oklahoma 35 (25) Kansas 13 Oklahoma is a lot better than the 4-3 record would indicate. Landry Jones was very good, and he will need to be now that Bradford is shut down for the season.
Up next: Kansas State at Oklahoma
4. Kansas State Wildcats – Overall (5-3) Big 12 (3-1)
Last week: Kansas State 20 Colorado 6 The Wildcats used the running of Daniel Thomas and four turnovers to beat the Buffs.
Up next: Kansas State at Oklahoma
5. Iowa State Cyclones – Overall (5-3) Big 12 (2-2)
Last week: Iowa State 9 Nebraska 7 The Cyclones beat the Huskers in Lincoln for the first time since 1977 without it’s best two offensive players (RB Alexander Robinson and QB Austen Arnaud)
Up next: Iowa State at Texas A&M
6. Texas Tech Red Raiders – Overall (5-3) Big 12 (2-2)
Last week: Texas A&M 52 Texas Tech 30 The Aggies forced five turnovers and ran all over the Tech defense. The number six ranking seems a little high, but who should be above them.
Up next: Kansas at Texas Tech
7. Kansas Jayhawks – Overall (5-2) Big 12 (1-2)
Last week: Oklahoma 35 (25) Kansas 13 The defense is having a tough time stopping the pass, they can’t be looking forward to the trip to Lubbock.
Up next: Kansas at Texas Tech
8. Texas A&M Aggies – Overall (4-3) Big 12 (1-2)
Last week: Texas A&M 52 Texas Tech 30 Will the real Texas A&M Aggies please stand up? The Aggies rushed for 321 yards and 6 touchdowns in the romp over Tech.
Up next: Iowa State at Texas A&M
9. Nebraska Cornhuskers – Overall (4-3) Big 12 (1-2)
Last week: Iowa State 9 Nebraska 7 Iowa State forced the Huskers into 8 turnovers, four inside the Cyclone red zone. The defense has played good enough to win the last two weeks, but needs some help from the offense.
Up next: Nebraska at Baylor
10. Missouri Tigers – Overall (4-3) Big 12 (0-3)
Last week: (3) Texas 41 Missouri 7 Missouri is still looking for their first win in the Big 12 they should have an opportunity this week at Colorado.
Up next: (3) Texas at Missouri
11. Colorado Buffaloes – Overall (2-5) Big 12 (1-2)
Last week: Kansas State 20 Colorado 6 Colorado continued their tumble in the loss to the Wildcats, if they don’t win this week they may not win the rest of the year.
Up next: Missouri at Colorado
12. Baylor Bears – Overall (3-4) Big 12 (0-3)
Last week: (15) Oklahoma State 34 Baylor 7 Baylor appears to be in a free fall after losing QB Robert Griffin. It is really too bad as a bowl seemed like a real possibility at the start of the year.
Up next: Nebraska at Baylor
Big 12 North
1. Kansas State
2. Iowa State
3. Kansas
4. Nebraska
5. Missouri
6. Colorado
Big 12 South
1. Texas
2. Oklahoma State
3. Oklahoma
4. Texas Tech
5. Texas A&M
6. Baylor
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