Behind Enemy Lines: Get To Know Iowa State

This week the Cowboys welcome the Iowa State Cyclones (1-4, 0-2 in conference) to Stillwater for a 2:30pm kickoff. Similar to when the Cowboys went to Ames last year, (down 10 going into the fourth quarter) the Cyclones lost a nail-biter to Baylor last week after leading by 14 in the fourth. They really had things going offensively, scoring touchdowns on their first six drives. Let’s take a look at what to expect this week.

It’s a new era in Ames as there are no Knotts playing linebacker or any version of the name Sam Richardson to be found. New head coach Matt Campbell takes over from Toledo, where he beat as many Power 5 opponents last year as Iowa State did. Campbell, the youngest coach in the Power 5 at 36 years old (3.5 months younger than Kliff Kingsbury) hasn’t made a ton of wholesale changes from an outsider’s perspective but is passionate if not anything and considered an up-and-comer in the coaching ranks.

Offense

ISU runs a spread attack but they look for the run to open up the pass. The combination of dual-threat quarterback Joel Lanning and all-B12 running back Mike Warren having great games on the ground over the past couple of weeks has the offense scoring over 40 points.
While Lanning has started the last ten games, the Cyclones have another talented passer who can run the ball in Georgia transfer Jacob Park. At peak efficiency, both combined for five scores in the air against San Jose State in September, but it’s anyone’s guess to how they split against the Cowboys. Lanning played the whole Baylor game, but that could have been strategy with the Bears depleted defensive interior.

Star tailback Mike Warren exploded for 1,339 yards on the ground last season and was recognized as a freshman All-American. He started slow this season but has produced 100+ yards over the last couple of games. The 6’0”, 205 pound sophomore is a north-south runner with great burst that the Cowboys have to keep an eye on. Warren is backed up by a couple of true freshman who see some time, the bulky David Montgomery and speedy Kene Nwungwu, who has taken three kickoffs for 40+ yards.

Part of Warren’s slow start had to do with the offensive line, as the Cyclones had the third-least experienced line in college football (six starts) coming into the season. Losing veteran tackle Jake Campos in summer, starter of 23 games, was really bad news and there’s definitely been a learning curve. Five of the six starts come from Minnesota Gopher grad transfer Brian Bobek who mans the center spot. Worth noting, Warren has had some fumbling issues over his career, so look for the Cowboys to try and attack that vulnerability.

When Lanning or Park drop back, they think first of junior Allen Lazard. The former four-star recruit Lazard joins The President as first-team All-B12 and at 6’5 and 225 pounds is a deadly red zone weapon. If you load the box on Warren and Lanning, look for Lazard to have a big day. Junior Trever Ryen is versatile with track speed, often catching the ball out of the slot and leading the nation in punt returns (22.3 yards/return). Freshman Deshaunte Jones has developed as a deep threat, averaging 19.2 yards per catch good for fifth in the conference. He has three touchdowns over the last two games.

Defense

Concerning formations, the Cyclones have made a move to more of a four-man front, a change from the Okie-Five front of years past with two stand up ends. The unit is experienced and returns eight starters and four of their five leading tackler. Concerning performance, the unit is giving up more points per drive than Kansas and Texas Tech and has had some issues with tackling in the open field. To put it mildly, they tend to be better at defending the pass (191.4 yards/game, 23rd in the country) than stopping the run this year (261 yards/game, 123rd in the country).

Up front, ISU returns Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year in tackle Demond Tucker, but loses sack artist at end Dale Pierson after a couple of really productive seasons in Ames. Another inspiring story is Cyclone end Mitchell Myers who sat out 2015 battling Hodgkins Lymphoma before making it back for fall camp this year.

While each game has had a different leading tackler for the Cyclones, a pair of sophomores are always around the ball in Reegan Northrup, who leads team in tackles and Willie Harvey. Former four star safety D’Andre Payne is a defensive leader at the star position and makes some plays.

Similar to Baylor, there’s a lot of experience and talent on the back end of the defense featured by two back-to-back Big 12 defensive freshman of the year in Brian Peavey (2015) and Kamari Cotton-Moya (2014). Nigel Tribune has been back there forever and adds solid depth in the unit. The defense, led by the secondary, piled up four interceptions against San Jose State last month, but none outside of that game.