College Football News Preview 2020: Iowa State Cyclones Keys To The Season
Biggest Key To The Iowa State Cyclones Offense
A few more third down conversions would be nice. It’s hard to argue too much with the results when you come up with an offense that was as explosive through the air as Iowa State’s was, but for all the good things the attack did, it didn’t move the chains enough.
1-of-13. That was what Iowa state did on third downs against Kansas State, and lost. On the year, the team connected on just 38% of its tries – not totally miserable, but it mattered in losses Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, and Iowa.
The Cyclones were 5-1 when they converted 40% or more on their third down tries, and are 9-1 in their last ten games when they do that.
Biggest Key To The Iowa State Cyclones Defense
Pick off more passes. Iowa State opponents threw the ball 441 times last season. Only six of them were caught by Cyclones.
But that’s nothing new. Iowa State only came up with eight interceptions in 2018, and only cracked the ten-mark once in the last five years.
This year’s secondary is too good and too experienced to not come up with a whole lot more big plays. Last year’s team got ULM for two picks, and just four more against everyone else.
Under Matt Campbell, Iowa State is 7-0 when it comes up with two or more interceptions.
Key Iowa State Cyclones Player To A Successful Season
OT Joey Ramos, Soph.
Or junior Sean Foster, who might end up living on the right side. The 6-5, 300-pound Ramos was a huge get for the program a few years ago, and he’s seen a little bit of time in the rotation.
Now he’ll get the first look to take over for Julian Good-Jones at left tackle. The rest of the line – even with so many new starters – shouldn’t be all that bad, but it led the Big 12 last year in the sacks and tackles for loss allowed. The left tackle spot has to be locked down early on.
Key Game To The Iowa State Cyclones Season
at Oklahoma State, Oct. 10
Beating Iowa for the first time since 2007 would be massive for the base, and taking out Oklahoma would certainly be fun, but Oklahoma State has been one of the biggest pains in Iowa State’s butt over the last several years.
The Cyclones won a 48-42 firefight in Stillwater in 2018. That was the only win in the series since 2011 and just the second since 2008.
It Iowa State is good enough to even dream about playing for the Big 12 title, it has to take out Texas Tech and win at Kansas to open up the season. Beat Oklahoma State, and the OU game in Ames the following week will be a really, really big deal.
– Iowa State Cyclones Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
2019 Iowa State Fun Stats
– Sacks: Iowa State 27 for 156 yards – Opponents 14 for 91 yards
– Iowa State 1st Quarter Scoring: 59 – Iowa State 4th Quarter Scoring: 139
– Red Zone Scores: Iowa State 48-of-51 – Opponents 29-of-33