Vince Campisi's College Football Game Preview
Iowa State Cyclones vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers
10/23/09
--by Vince Campisi
October 24th, 2009
11:30 AM CT
Lincoln, NE
Television Coverage: FSN
IOWA STATE (4 - 3) (1 - 2)
VS
NEBRASKA (4 - 2) (1 - 1)
Gametime Weather
Weather Report for Iowa State vs. Nebraska
Latest
Line
Nebraska by 19.5.
Schedules/Results
Iowa State
09/03/09 - vs. North Dakota State - W 34-17
09/12/09 - vs. Iowa - L 3-35
09/19/09 - at. Kent State - W 34-14
09/26/09 - vs. Army - W 31-10
10/03/09 - vs. Kansas State - L 23-24
10/10/09 - at. Kansas - L 36-41
10/17/09 - vs. Baylor
- W 24-10
10/24/09 - at. Nebraska
10/31/09 - at. Texas A&M
11/07/09 - vs. Oklahoma State
11/14/09 - vs. Colorado
11/21/09 - at. Missouri
Nebraska
09/05/09 - vs. Florida Atlantic - W 49-3
09/12/09 - vs. Arkansas State - W 38-9
09/19/09 - at. Virginia Tech - L 15-16
09/26/09 - vs. Louisiana-Lafayette - W 55-0
10/08/09 - at. Missouri - W 27-12
10/17/09 - vs. Texas Tech - L 10-31
10/24/09 - vs. Iowa State
10/31/09 - at. Baylor
11/07/09 - vs. Oklahoma
11/14/09 - at. Kansas
11/21/09 - vs. Kansas State
11/27/09 - at. Colorado
Player Breakdowns
Iowa State Offense
Iowa
State's offense has been quite productive on the ground this season
under first year head coach Paul Rhoades and offensive coordinator Tom
Herman. The Cyclones are currently ranked 36th nationally in total
offense (408.86 ypg), 80th in passing (195 ypg), 89th in passing
efficiency (117.10 rating), 14th in rushing (213.86 ypg), 68th in
scoring offense (26.43 ppg), 68th in interceptions thrown (7), 97th in
fumbles lost (8), and 93rd in giveaways (15).
QB:
Jr. Austen Arnaud (105 of 185, 1246 yds, 9 TDs, 5 INTs) has done a nice
job this season and in the new spread attack, has become a quality
dual-threat QB. Arnaud has a nice arm, accurate in the short to medium
range routes with a pretty good deep ball as well. He's made some
really nice throws this season, putting just enough touch to get over a
defender and right into his receivers' hands. His running ability has
not gone unnoticed this season as he has put up 434 yards on 90
carries, good enough for 8th in the Big XII in yards per game. He
suffered a hand injury in the first quarter of last week's game against
Baylor. He continued to play until early in the second half when the
swelling got to be too much for him to get a good grip on the
football. Fortunately it is not a bad injury, so Arnaud will be
starting on Saturday. Behind Arnaud is RFr. Jerome Tiller (14 of 26,
119 yds, 2 INTs). Tiller is a better runner than Arnaud, and showed
that ability last week against Baylor, rushing for 74 yards and a
touchdown on 10 attempts. On the season, he has rushed for 108 yards
and 1 touchdown on 13 carries. Tiller also has a strong arm, and once
he gets a good grasp on the system, he should fit in nicely.
RB:
The Cyclones' running game has been the best in the Big XII this
season. This is in part due to a run-heavy spread that new offensive
coordinator Tom Herman has implemented. Thanks to some quality
blocking by the offensive line, they can go with a number of backs and
still have success. Jr. Alexander Robinson (130 carries, 737 yds, 6
TDs) starts at running back for the Cyclones. Robinson is the Big
XII's leader in rushing yards at this point in the season, averaging
105.3 yards per game. He is quick footed, but because of a nagging
groin injury this season, his speed, especially his lateral speed, has
suffered. When healthy, he does a nice job of breaking tackles and has
a nice power element to his game that blends well with his speed to
make him a pretty complete back. He re-aggravated the groin injury
last week against Baylor in the first half, but is expected to play on
Saturday. Behind Robinson are TFr. Beau Blankenship (23 carries, 98
yds), RFr. Jeremiah Schwartz (26 carries, 180 yds, 4 TDs), and So. Bo
Williams. Blankenship has a slight foot injury that has kept him out
of practice this week. Both Blankenship and Williams are quick backs,
compared to Schwartz, who is more of a power back. Schwartz is
actually more of a fullback, and in certain situations, could line up
as one. The backs are used occasionally in the passing game, but are
not a focal-point. Robinson (7 catches, 137 yds, 1 TD) and Schwartz (1
catch, 30 yds) have caught passes this season. Robinson has nice hands
and has shown to be a very good threat out of the backfield.
WR/TE:
The Cyclones' receiving corps is performing pretty well this season.
While there aren't any real game breakers, there are plenty of
blue-collar receivers that do a good job of getting this offense moving
in the right direction. The unit took a big loss three weeks ago when
Jr. Darius Reynolds (13 catches, 72 yds) suffered a broken leg,
effectively ending his season. Reynolds was a promising JUCO transfer
that was developing into a solid possession receiver. Starting at the
wide receiver positions are Sr. Marquis Hamilton (31 catches, 479 yds,
3 TDs), Jr. Jake Williams (23 catches, 234 yds, 2 TDs), and So. Darius
Darks (7 catches, 48 yds, 1 TD). Hamilton is the best of the bunch and
is Arnaud's top go-to guy. He leads the team in receptions, receiving
yards, as well as touchdowns. His excellent size (6'3") gives opposing
secondaries match-up problems. Williams is another good target, having
a knack for getting open, which goes well with his good hands. He made
an outstanding catch in the game against Kansas State a few games ago
that gave the Cyclones a chance to tie at the end of the game. He
isn't a very good blocker, though, which is something he'll need to
work on. Darks had a great game against Kansas two weeks ago, picking
up 5 of his 7 catches and a touchdown in that contest. Top reserves
for the Cyclones include TFr. Josh Lenz (9 catches, 69 yds), Sr. Joel
Zitek (1 catch, 11 yds), and So. Sedrick Johnson (3 catches, 5 yds).
Lenz has been a pretty solid receiver, working his way into the mix
despite being a true freshman. This is largely due to his ability to
find ways to get open. Johnson's 6'4" frame and good speed would lead
you to believe he'd be the team's top deep threat, but that hasn't been
the case to this point in the season. At tight end is Sr. Derrick
Catlett (17 catches, 215 yds, 2 TDs), with Jr. Collin Franklin (7
catches, 65 yds) backing him up. Catlett is a very good downfield
blocker and soft hands, making him a pretty ideal balanced tight end.
Franklin is a huge 6'7" TE that is a quality receiver, but not where
Catlett is as a blocker.
OL:
Iowa State's offensive line has is a very solid unit, performing better
than anticipated in the pre-season. The unit has allowed just 3 sacks
(-16 yds) in 7 games this season, which is among the best in the
nation. Starting at tackle is So. Kelechi Osemele (6'5", 349 lbs) on
the left and So. Scott Haughton (6'3", 338 lbs) on the right. Osemele
is one of the largest on this big line, and has done a nice job since
switching over from guard. Haughton, similar to Osemele, has been
doing a nice job this season, however, they are both better run
blockers than they are in pass protection. The top reserves at tackle
are RFr. Brayden Burris (6'6", 277 lbs) and So. Zack Spears (6'6", 294
lbs). Starting at guard is Jr. Alex Alvarez (6'2", 295 lbs) on the
left and Jr. Ben Lamaak (6'4", 318 lbs) on the right. Alvarez is a
pretty big guy and has struggled with athletic d-linemen this season.
Lamaak is a solid guard that has helped open up some nice holes for the
Cyclone running backs this year. Top back-ups at guard are So. Tray
Baysinger (6'5", 322 lbs) and RFr. Mike Bangston (6'3", 253 lbs). At
center is Sr. Reggie Stephens (6'3", 333 lbs), with Jr. Sean Smith
(6'4", 307 lbs) backing him up. Stephens has 35 straight starts under
his belt, however, played mostly left guard before this season. He
doesn't have great lateral movement, but is pretty good going
straight-forward at opposing d-linemen.
Iowa State Defense
Iowa
State's defense has not been great this year, giving up chunks of yards
and points. The performance against a struggling Baylor team was a
good one, but against better offenses, they have really struggled. The
Cyclones currently rank 88th nationally in total defense (386.71 ypg),
95th in pass defense (245.86 ypg), 87th in pass efficiency defense
(133.33 rating), 67th in rush defense (140.86 ypg), 42nd in scoring
defense (21.57 ppg), 7th in interceptions forced (10), 45th in fumbles
recovered (6), and 15th in total takeaways (16).
DL:
The Cyclones' defensive line has been pretty average this season. At
times, the group has done a nice job at getting a pass rush, but other
times they seem to get pushed around by the opposing offensive line and
giving up chunks of rushing yards. One problem the unit has had to
deal with is the loss of Sr. Rashawn Parker (13 tackles, 2 sacks, 1
QBH), who suffered a knee injury against Army this year that ended his
season. He was a solid end that isn't easy to replace. Starting at
defensive end is So. Patrick Neal (10 tackles, 1 QBH) on the left and
Sr. Christopher Lyle (34 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 FR, 2 QBH, 2 PBU) on the
right. Neal is a fair pass rusher, but isn't the strongest lineman
you'll find. He was often pushed around by Kansas' offensive line a
couple of weeks ago. He is still pretty new to the position, moving
from tight end in the off-season. Lyle is the best of the unit,
getting to the QB often and also doing a nice job against the run. Top
reserves on the ends are RFr. Roosevelt Maggitt (9 tackles, 1 FF, 2
QBH, 2 PBU) and RFr. Cleyon Laing. Maggitt has done a nice job in his
limited back-up role, showing good pass rushing skills. Starting at
defensive tackle is Sr. Nate Frere (15 tackles, 1 sack, 1 QBH), with
Jr. Austin Alburtis (11 tackles, 1 QBH) backing him up. Frere is a
solid d-tackle, but quite undersized at just 6'1". He's built more for
stopping the run than getting a consistent pass rush. There isn't
much, if any, drop-off when Alburtis is in the game. Starting at nose
tackle is Jr. Bailey Johnson (8 tackles), with So. Stephen Ruempolhamer
(10 tackles, 1 sack) serving as his back-up. These two have done a
decent job of holding their own, but neither have been stand-outs at
the position this season.
LB:
Iowa State's linebacking corps is the strongest unit on the defense.
They are at their best against the run, having some difficulties in
pass coverage. Two weeks ago against Kansas, the backers left a number
of open receivers in the second level. Starting at middle linebacker
is Sr. Jesse Smith (75 tackles, 1 INT, 1 FF, 2 QBH, 3 PBU), with Jr.
Matt Tau'fo'ou (1 tackle) and TFr. A.J. Klein (8 tackles, 1 FR) backing
him up. Smith isn't going to wow you with his athleticism, but makes
up for that with good football smarts. He seems to always be in
position to make plays and rarely misses tackles. He leads the Big XII
in tackles, with 19 more than the number two guy, Baylor's Joe
Pawelek. At weakside linebacker is Sr. Fred Garrin (46 tackles, 2
INTs, 2 FF, 3 PBU), while Sr. Derec Schmidgall (3 tackles) and TFr.
Jake Knott (14 tackles) back him up. Garrin has done a pretty solid
job in coverage this season, but he has missed his fair share of
tackles. It hasn't been a big problem yet, but it is one area that he
can improve in. He earned both of his interceptions last week against
Baylor. Sr. Josh Raven (20 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 QBH) starts
at strongside linebacker, with So. Jacob Lattimer (3 tackles) providing
back-up. Raven might have the quickest feet of the group and has
registered the most tackles for loss (5.5) in the linebacker corps.
DB:
The Cyclones' defensive backfield is a decent unit, having their share
of struggles with good passing attacks this season. Iowa State has
given up 15 passing touchdowns this season, the second worst in the Big
XII, next to Kansas State (16). Starting at cornerback is Sr. Kennard
Banks (39 tackles, 1 INT, 1 FF, 4 PBU) at left corner and So. Leonard
Johnson (34 tackles, 2 INTs, 1 FF, 4 PBU) on the right. Banks has done
a nice job this year, showing his prowess as a hard hitter in many of
his tackles this season. He's just 5'9", and is a prime target for
opponents to try and pick on. Johnson has been pretty average this
year in coverage, and had a mediocre game against Kansas two weeks ago,
getting beat on deep routes as well on comebacks. Players in the
reserve rotation include So. Ter'ran Benton (31 tackles, 2 sacks, 2
PBU) and TFr. Jeremy Reeves (3 tackles). Benton does a nice job in
nickel/dime situations as well as spelling Banks. He provides better
size than the other defensive backs at 6'. Starting at strong safety
is Jr. David Sims (42 tackles, 3 INTs), with Jr. Zac Sandvig (2
tackles, 1 FR, 1 BK) providing back-up. Sims, a JUCO transfer, has
really put himself in good standing at SS, holding off Sandvig from
getting much playing time. He's a pretty solid athlete that leads the
team in interceptions. At free safety is Sr. James Smith (44 tackles,
1 INT, 2 PBU), while Jr. Michael O'Connell (16 tackles) backs him up.
Smith is another size-limited d-back at 5'8", but has very good speed
and is one of the team's most consistent tacklers.
Iowa State Special Teams
Iowa
State's special teams units have been pretty decent this season,
especially on kick and punt coverage. The return game hasn't been very
good this year, due to a lack of game-breaking talent. The Cyclones
currently rank 5th in net punting (41.26 yd avg), 74th in kickoff
returns (21.03 yd avg), 98th in punt returns (5.19 yd avg), 6th in
kickoff coverage (17.53 yd avg), and 5th in punt coverage (1.29 yd
avg).
K:
So. Grant Mahoney has made 9 of his 14 field goal attempts with a long
of 50 this season. He has struggled as of late, missing both field
goals and extra points. Last week against Baylor, he was just 1 for 4,
missing from 30, 35, and 50, respectively. Mahoney also works as the
kickoff specialist, pushing just 1 of his 37 kickoffs for a touchback
this season. He is averaging 62.6 yards per kickoff, kicking to
between the 7 and 8 yard line.
P:
Sr. Mike Brandtner is averaging 43.5 yards on his 31 punts with a long
of 64 this season. 9 of his 31 punts have been downed inside the
opponents' 20.
KR/PR:
The top kickoff return unit for the Cyclones is So. Leonard Johnson (15
kick returns, 21.1 yd avg, 35 yd long) and Jr. David Sims (12 kick
returns, 24.5 yd avg, 60 yd long). The top punt return man is TFr.
Josh Lenz (13 punt returns, 4.2 yd avg, 44 yd long). More production
is needed from this group to improve field position for the offense.
Coverage:
The Cyclones' kick and punt coverage units have been excellent this
season. The kick coverage unit is allowing an average of 17.5 yards on
36 kickoff return attempts, with a long of just 32. The punt coverage
unit is allowing an average of 1.3 yards on 7 punt return attempts,
with a long of just 7.
Nebraska Offense
Nebraska's
offense is a strange one. They were dynamic against the likes of their
Sun Belt Conference opponents, but in games against Virginia Tech,
Missouri, and Texas Tech looked very impotent. Quarterback and
Offensive Line play have been the two most glaring problems. The
Huskers currently rank 57th nationally in total offense (384.67 ypg),
45th in passing (233 ypg), 38th in pass efficiency (137.82 rating),
55th in rushing (151.67 ypg), 25th in scoring offense (32.33 ppg), 26th
in interceptions thrown (4), 10th in fumbles lost (3), and 12th in
giveaways (7).
QB:
Jr. Zac Lee (98 for 160, 1213 yds, 10 TDs, 3 INTs) has been an
efficient QB that looked great against Sun Belt opposition, but has not
looked good against BCS conference teams. He went 11 for 30 (37%) and
threw 2 interceptions against Virginia Tech, was 14 of 33 (42%) at
Missouri, and was abysmal against Texas Tech last week (16 for 22, 128
yds, 4 sacks). He seems to be unwilling to throw downfield, instead
choosing to check down to much shorter routes. He doesn't have great
pocket presence, and when pressured chooses to run to the perimeter
instead of stepping up into the pocket. This has been an issue because
he just isn't great throwing on the run. When Lee has been "on", he's
shown great arm strength and accuracy. The only question is whether or
not he can turn it around and perform well against a major school. He
has pretty good foot speed, but hasn't been running the ball much
lately. He has rushed for 68 yards on 37 attempts (has lost 50 yards
on sacks). Behind Lee are TFr. Cody Green (19 for 33, 185 yds, 2 TDs,
1 INT) and Jr. LaTravis Washington. Green has a lot of potential to be
a big-time dual-threat QB. He can run well, and has shown a very
strong arm. He saw a lot of action last week in the loss to Texas Tech
and was willing to take chances downfield, unlike Lee. He was picked
off once, but could have easily been picked four total times. He was
trying to force big plays to get his team back in the game, so you can
write some of that off. He has carried the ball 8 times for 80 yards
and 2 touchdowns (lost 6 yards on sacks). It will be a game time
decision as to who the starter will be, but the odds are pretty good
that Lee will get the nod.
RB:
Nebraska's running backs are led by Jr. Roy Helu Jr. (107 carries, 620
yds, 6 TDs). Helu Jr. has a great combination of hard running,
leaping, and cutting ability. He can beat defenders by running around
them, by them, and over them. He has really turned into a complete
back over the past season. He is being bothered by an injured shoulder
and hasn't been 100% for at least a few weeks. When healthy, he's the
best back in the Big XII. The top back-up to Helu Jr. was TFr. Rex
Burkhead (23 carries, 118 yds, 1 TD), an impressive, young back that
has had some nice rushes this season. He broke his foot in practice
last week and could miss the remainder of the season. A #2 back must
emerge from the group of RFr. Lester Ward (1 carry, 8 yds), So. Marcus
Mendoza (2 carries, 2 yds), So. Austin Jones (4 carries, 11 yds), RFr.
Collins Okafor (1 rush, 9 yds), and TFr. Dontrayevous Robinson. The
coaches were hoping to redshirt Robinson, but he played special teams
last week, so look for him to get in the mix starting this week at RB.
There's potential in the reserve group, but nothing really proven yet.
Nebraska likes to throw the ball to their backs, and should become a
bigger part of the offense as Big XII play gets rolling. Helu Jr. (12
catches, 118 yds) and Burkhead (8 catches, 66 yds, 1 TD) have each
caught passes, both having great ability to break a few tackles after
the catch and motor downfield. Mendoza (5 catches, 32 yds) and Jones
(1 catch, 2 yds) have caught passes since the injury to Burkhead. At
fullback, RFr. Tyler Legate (2 catches, 14 yds, 1 TD) is the top guy
and but doesn't see much time on the field.
WR/TE:
Nebraska's receiving corps needs to be more consistent if they want
this offense to be successful. There are still too many instances of
dropped passes and lackadaisical play at this point in the season.
Starting at "Z" is Jr. Niles Paul (17 catches, 216 yds, 3 TDs). He has
a great combination of size, quickness, and route running skills. In
addition to being able to catch the ball, he is also a solid blocker.
He wasn't very good against Texas Tech last week, dropping a lateral
and allowing a Tech defender to return it 82 yards for a score without
chase. Starting at "X" will be Sr. Menelik Holt (13 catches, 158 yds,
1 TD), who has great size as well as speed. He has potential to turn
into a great target, but continues to drop passes and hasn't been a
very good blocker. Reserves include So. Curenski Gilleylen (13
catches, 281 yds, 1 TD), Sr. Chris Brooks (13 catches, 177 yds, 1 TD),
RFr. Khiry Cooper (6 catches, 55 yds, 1 TD), Jr. Brandon Kinnie (1
catch, 5 yds), TFr. Antonio Bell (1 catch, 3 yds), Jr. Will Henry (1
catch, 1 yd), and Sr. Wes Cammack (1 catch, 2 yds). Gilleylen is a
speedster and has developed into Nebraska most dangerous deep threat.
Brooks is turning into a solid possession receiver this year, appearing
to have the best hands of the entire group. Cooper is a solid looking
talent that got his first touchdown last week. Kinnie has great
measurables, but can't seem to hold onto the football. Henry is a big
body (6'5") and if he puts it all together, could be an excellent
threat. Nebraska's top TE is Jr. Mike McNeill (14 catches, 160 yds, 3
TDs), with So. Dreu Young (2 catch, 61 yds), So. Ryan Hill (1 catch, 7
yds), RFr. Ben Cotton (2 catches, 10 yds), and RFr. Kyler Reed (4
catches, 30 yds) competing behind McNeill. McNeill does a nice job of
picking up yards after catch, as well as getting open in the endzone.
This is a deep and talented group of tight ends that is a big strength
for the Huskers' offense, however, seems to have a diminishing role
recently.
OL:
Nebraska’s offensive line has a long way to go in terms of being a good
unit. The group is far too inconsistent at this stage in the year. At
times, the front 5 looks capable of being very good, but most other
times they are committing costly penalties and getting beat by opposing
linemen. Starting at tackle is Jr. Mike Smith (6'6", 295 lbs) on the
left and So. Marcel Jones (6'7", 310 lbs) on the right. Smith is
typically among the best linemen for the Huskers, but has had his share
of issues as well. Jones is the largest of the linemen, and has great
potential to be a rock on the right side. He's young and has made a
number of mistakes, however. Jr. D.J. Jones (6'5", 315 lbs) is listed
as a co-starter with Marcel Jones, even though Marcel sees more snaps.
D.J. doesn't have great torque in the hips and gets beat often by
athletic linemen. TFr. Jeremiah Sirles (6'6", 310 lbs) is another
possibility to see in a reserve role at tackle. Starting at left guard
is Jr. Keith Williams (6'5", 315 lbs), while Jr. Ricky Henry (6'4", 300
lbs) starts at right guard. Williams is a great blocker and should
only get better. He does very well as the pulling guard, plowing
through his man and opening holes. Henry is a player known for his
strength and his nasty streak, which has caused a few personal foul
flags this year. Sr. Andy Christensen (6'3", 305 lbs) and Sr. Derek
Meyer (6'5", 315 lbs) are Nebraska's top reserves at guard.
Christensen is a former starter that missed last season mostly due to a
suspension. Sr. Jacob Hickman (6'4", 290 lbs) starts at center, with
So. Mike Caputo (6'1", 275 lbs) backing him up. Hickman is the leader
of the group and a solid center.
Nebraska Defense
Nebraska's
defense has been excellent this season, much better than they have
performed in years. They have been keeping their team in games while
the offense has been sputtering. The Huskers are currently ranked 12th
nationally in total defense (271 ypg), 23rd in pass defense (174.50
ypg), 10th in pass efficiency defense (96.10 rating), 16th in rush
defense (96.50 ypg), 6th in scoring defense (11.83 ppg), 67th in
interceptions (5), 62nd in fumbles recovered (5), and 77th in total
takeaways (10).
DL:
Nebraska’s defensive line is one of the best in the nation. They're
big, strong, athletic, and just make plays. Starting at defensive end
is Jr. Pierre Allen (28 tackles, 3 sacks, 6 QBH, 1 PBU) on the right,
with Sr. Barry Turner (21 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 FR, 6 QBH, 1 PBU) on the
left. Both Allen and Turner have excellent athleticism, but have been
fairly inconsistent this season. If they can reach the level of play
they've been at in the past, they'll be tough for opposing tackles to
control. RFr. Cameron Meredith (9 tackles, 1 sack, 1 FR, 2 QBH, 1 PBU)
and RFr. Josh Williams (3 tackles) are the top reserves at defensive
end. Meredith has been impressive in his back-up role, and is pushing
for more playing time. Starting at nose tackle is Sr. Ndamukong Suh
(36 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 INT, 1 FF, 9 QBH, 7 PBU), with So. Terrence
Moore (2 tackles) backing him up. Suh is an elite tackle that has a
motor that doesn't quit, flies to the ball and forces turnovers. He
very rarely comes off the field, yet still has the energy to bring it
in the fourth quarter. So. Jared Crick (28 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 1 FR, 7
QBH, 1 BLK) starts at defensive tackle, with RFr. Baker Steinkuhler (14
tackles) providing back-up. Crick is counted on to make plays with Suh
being doubled up, and currently leads the team in sacks.
LB:
Nebraska's linebacking corps is young and has seemed to really gel over
the past month. With two of the three starters being
redshirt-freshmen, they should continue getting better each week.
Starting at weakside linebacker is Sr. Phillip Dillard (23 tackles, 1
sack, 1 PBU). Dillard is a former starter at MIKE that didn't play in
the first two games, but is doing a great job at WILL. He brings
athleticism and experience to the field that has been invaluable.
Behind Dillard is So. Matthew May (8 tackles). May has not seen much
action this season. Starting at middle linebacker is RFr. Will Compton
(27 tackles, 0.5 sack, 2 QBH, 1 PBU), while Sr. Colton Koehler (5
tackles) is the top reserve. Compton works hard to get after the ball
carrier, but is still learning the defense and will make mistakes.
Starting at buck linebacker is RFr. Sean Fisher (20 tackles, 1 FR. 3
QBH), with TFr. Eric Martin (7 tackles) and RFr. Micah Kreikemeier
providing back-up. Fisher stands at 6'6", and like Compton, will get
better each week as they learn how to quickly read and react to the
opposing offense. Martin has the ability to be a force for the
Huskers, when he gets the mental aspect of the game down to match his
physicality, he'll be a good one. In nickel and dime situations,
Compton and/or Dillard are the Huskers' options at LB.
DB:
Nebraska’s defensive backfield has played very well this season, and
kept up a pretty high level of play, even against the pass-happy
offense of Texas Tech last week. Other than a couple of big plays
given up, they have done a nice job in coverage and making solid
tackles. Jr. Prince Amukamara (34 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT, 1 FF, 4 PBU)
starts at LCB, with Jr. Dejon Gomes (15 tackles, 1 INT, 1 FF, 1 PBU)
and TFr. Andrew Green listed as the top reserves. Amukamara has been
pretty solid and has great athleticism, and getting better at
consistency in coverage. Gomes actually started last week at RCB, but
that change hasn't been reflected in the depth chart. Jr. Anthony West
(7 tackles, 1 PBU) has typically started at RCB, but looks to have been
replaced by Gomes and So. Alfonzo Dennard (8 tackles, 1 PBU). So.
Lance Thorell (5 tackles, 1 PBU) is another reserve at corner that
occasionally sees time. West has been average, and needs to play more
with his head on a swivel. Dennard has been playing a lot in place of
West and has looked very good. He makes plays on the football and is a
solid tackler. At strong safety is Sr. Larry Asante (32 tackles, 1
INT, 1 FF, 5 PBU) starts, with Jr. Eric Hagg (18 tackles, 1 sack, 1 FF,
1 QBH) and RFr. P.J. Smith (6 tackles) backing him up. Asante has
great athleticism and is a big hitter. He's probably the best of the
defensive backfield, with Amukamara coming a close second right now.
Hagg is used often as a blitzing safety, and also as a nickel back.
Sr. Matt O'Hanlon (28 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT, 1 FF, 1 FR) starts at
free safety. O'Hanlon is often picked on and susceptible to being
burned, however, has made some big plays in his career as well. He is
usually a dependable tackler and blitzes well. Behind O'Hanlon is
Hagg, So. Austin Cassidy (5 tackles, 1 PBU), and RFr. Courtney Osborne
(1 tackle).
Nebraska Special Teams
Nebraska's
special teams units, like the Husker offense, have really fallen off
the map the past two weeks. The Huskers rank 93rd in net punting
(33.57 yd avg), 67th in kickoff returns (21.27 yd avg), 44th in punt
returns (10.57 yd avg), 49th in kickoff coverage (20.55 yd avg), and
66th in punt coverage (9.27 yd avg).
K:
Jr. Alex Henery has one of the strongest and most accurate legs in the
nation. He has made 9 of his 11 attempts this season, with a long of
46. He's made 22 straight kicks from under 50 yards, but has missed
both attempts from 50+ this season. Jr. Adi Kunalic has a booming leg
and is arguably the best kickoff specialist in the nation. Kunalic has
pushed 18 of 40 kickoffs for touchback this season, with an excellent
68.4 yard average, kicking to the 1 to 2 yard line.
P:
Jr. Alex Henery has averaged 40 yards on his 27 punts with a long of 76
this season. 11 of his 27 punts have been downed inside the opponents'
20 so far this year. He added punting duties to his repertoire this
season, and one has to wonder what effect this is having on his
placekicking duties.
KR/PR:
Nebraska’s top kickoff return unit is made up of Jr. Niles Paul (8 kick
returns, 24.2 yd avg, 32 yd long), and TFr. Rex Burkhead (1 kick
return, 15 yds). With Burkhead out with injury, others that could
possibly return kicks are RFr. Tim Marlowe (3 kick returns, 20.3 yd
avg, 30 yd long), So. Curenski Gilleylen and So. Alfonzo Dennard (1
kick return, 25 yds). At punt returner is Jr. Niles Paul (18 punt
returns, 9.7 yd avg, 55 yd long). TFr. Rex Burkhead (4 punt returns,
18.2 yd avg, 33 yd long) has also had some returns, but with his
injury, RFr. Tim Marlowe could now see time returning punts. These
units have been great at times, but the past two games have been less
than stellar.
Coverage:
Nebraska’s coverage teams have been pretty good this season, but have
had occasional tackling problems. Last week in the fourth quarter
against Texas Tech, the Huskers brought the game back to a 14 point
difference, but on the ensuing kickoff, there were numerous missed
tackles, as the Red Raiders earned a 40 yard return. The kick coverage
unit is allowing an average of 20.5 yards on 22 kickoff returns (76 yd
long), while the punt coverage unit is allowing an average of 9.3 yards
on 11 punt returns (27 yd long).
Unit Match-Ups
Nebraska's Offense vs. Iowa State's Defense
Nebraska's
offense is in a quandary at this point in the season. The Huskers
don't appear to know if they want to run a spread, a west coast
offense, or if they'd like to incorporate a power running game.
Offensive Coordinator Shawn Watson talks about all of these things in
interviews, about being a hybrid offense, about being multiple, but one
simply has to watch last week's game against Texas Tech and see this is
an offense that lacks self-awareness. Because of this, the team has no
bread-and-butter plays, nothing to hang their hat on.
Behind QB
Zac Lee, the Husker offense is having great struggles moving the
football on the ground or through the air. Lee appears indecisive and
timid to make mistakes, so instead of going for an open receiver
downfield, he opts to check down to a running back, or another receiver
within 5 yards of the line of scrimmage. That made them easily
defendable by the Red Raiders a week ago. He appears to have lost some
confidence, which hasn't helped his performances. After two poor
offensive showings in a row, Lee and the Nebraska offense need to get
the ship righted - and soon.
Lee is likely to start on Saturday,
no doubt having a small margin of error before freshman Cody Green sees
the field. Green provides a little more mobility and a stronger arm,
while Lee has more knowledge of the system. The QB position for
Nebraska will definitely be an interesting one to watch this week and
going forward. The Cyclones' defense has allowed their opponents to
complete 60.8% of their passes this season, while Nebraska QB's Zac Lee
and Cody Green have combined to complete 60.6% of their attempts on the
year.
Nebraska's receivers need to help out the quarterbacks by
doing a better job of getting open, catching passes, and getting yards
after catch. There's some talent in the group, but a real game-breaker
has yet to emerge. WR Niles Paul has probably been the best of the
unit this season, but is very inconsistent week-to-week. He needs to
be more aware of what is going on around him to turn into a complete
receiver. Last week he dropped a lateral which was returned for a
Texas Tech touchdown, extending their lead to 14 points, and Nebraska
really had a tough time coming back from that. Receivers like Menelik
Holt and Curenski Gilleylen need to step up their level of play as
well. Chris Brooks, who started to look like the best receiver in the
group, is struggling with a back injury, this could hurt Nebraska,
especially if the rest of the receivers continue with their lack of
production. One of the big questions involving this group is why the
tight ends, possibly the best group in the conference, have not been a
bigger part of the offense. TE Mike McNeill and company are great
assets to have, but can't do anything for you when they aren't being
utilized. Whether this is due to Watson's game planning or Lee's
inability to get them the ball is yet to be determined. Last week
One
thing that stands out when you look at Iowa State's secondary is that
they are a pretty small group. None of the starters stand taller than
5'10", even at the safety spots, and the only 5'10" d-back is CB
Leonard Johnson. They gave up 442 yards to the explosive Kansas
Jayhawks' offense two weeks ago, having constant troubles with the
taller receivers the Jayhawks possess. While Nebraska may not have the
passing attack that Kansas has, they still do have capable guys that
will make plays if the Cyclones play similar soft zones and struggle
defending the perimeter. The Cyclones played pretty well in pass
defense last week against a Baylor team that has to go with their third
string QB due to some injuries, but that isn't a really great test for
obvious reasons. In pass coverage, the Iowa State's secondary ranks
87th, allowing a rating of 133.33, while Nebraska's QB's rank 38th
nationally in pass efficiency (137.82). The Cyclones are 10th in the
Big XII this year in pass defense and 11th in passing touchdowns given
up (15), but are also tied with Texas for the most interceptions in the
league at 10. Despite the struggles the Nebraska passing game has
incurred over the past few weeks, you have to like their chances to
bounce back this week against a very average Iowa State secondary.
Nebraska's
running game is floundering a bit with injuries to starter Roy Helu Jr.
and top reserve Rex Burkhead. Helu suffered a shoulder injury two
weeks ago, and has not been able to carry the load like he was before
the injury. Burkhead has a broken foot and is likely to miss most of
the remaining games this season. While Helu hasn't missed a game, he
isn't quite the same back as he was when healthy. There are a number
of young backs eager to get that #2 spot, but no one jumped out of the
pack to separate himself. It is going to be by committee until someone
does step up in a big way. Who that will ultimately be is anyone's
guess. The main thing for Nebraska is that Helu must get healthy, and
being able to lighten his load for a short time would help. The
problem is that he is far and away the best playmaker the Nebraska
offense has and can't afford to have him sit.
Iowa State's rush
defense has been pretty porous this season, giving up over 140 yards
per game and ranking near the bottom (81st) in the nation in tackles
behind the line of scrimmage. Much of this is because of the defensive
line's inability to get the better of opposing offensive lines, forcing
the linebackers to collect a majority of the tackles in run support.
LB's Jesse Smith and Fred Garrin pick up a majority of those stops, and
are going to be key for the Cyclones to make Nebraska as
one-dimensional as possible, forcing their QB to beat them with his
arm. Iowa State held Baylor to just 89 yards rushing on 21 carries
last week (averaged 30 carries per week entering game), however, Baylor
got out of their game plan mid-way through the game, trying to get back
in the game through the air.
Focusing on third downs and red
zone play, Nebraska is converting a solid 45.78% of their third downs
(24th nationally), and scoring on an average 84% of red-zone
opportunities (15 TDs, 6 FGs) (52nd nationally). The Huskers were 2 of
5 in the red zone last week, which dropped their overall percentage
from 95% to 84%. The Cyclones' defense is allowing their opponents to
convert 36.17% of their third downs (50th nationally), and have allowed
those opponents to score on just 74% of their red-zone chances (16 TDs,
1 FG) (22nd nationally). Iowa State limited Baylor last week to
convert just 5 of their 14 3rd down attempts last week.
Sizing
up the lines, Nebraska's average offensive lineman is 6'5", 300 lbs,
while Iowa State's average defensive lineman is 6'2", 260 lbs. On the
season, Nebraska has averaged 5.2 yards per carry (when taking sacks
out) while Iowa State is giving up 4.5 yards per carry. Nebraska has
allowed 9 sacks and 30 tackles for loss in six games this year, while
Iowa State has picked up 10 sacks and 36 tackles for loss in seven
games this season. Nebraska's offensive line continues to play
undisciplined football, committing devastating penalties which have
killed promising drives. In addition to the penalties, the Husker line
has also been wildly inconsistent in both pass protection and rush
blocking. For the offense to improve, the front 5 must live up to
their potential. The Cyclones' d-line has been quite average this year
and does not put forth a consistent pass rush. The front four has not
been particularly good at stopping the run this year either, so it will
be an interesting match-up in the trenches. Iowa State's line is among
the smallest Nebraska has seen this year, so you would expect Nebraska
to be able to run on them, but again, the Husker offensive line needs
to show great improvement.
Iowa State's Offense vs. Nebraska's Defense
Iowa
State's offense under new coordinator Tom Herman is a run-heavy
spread-option offense. Herman ran a spread attack in his previous
position as Rice's offensive coordinator, but that was geared more
towards the pass than the ground game. You call plays to your
strengths, and the Cyclones' strength is definitely their running game,
which is why Iowa State ranks 1st in rushing and 11th in passing in the
Big XII.
QB Austen Arnaud has done a nice job this season running
this offense. He doesn't have an exceptional arm or elite foot speed,
but he is more than serviceable in both areas, giving the Cyclones a
quality leader on the offensive side of the ball. While his 9 passing
touchdowns to 5 interceptions aren’t going to impress many, 4 of those
5 interceptions were thrown in a single miserable game against Iowa
early in the season. Last week against Baylor, Arnaud was 18 of 28 for
166 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. Most of those throws
happened after injuring his throwing hand in the first quarter. He's
expected to be at or near 100% on Saturday, and will be needed.
Back-up Jerome Tiller might actually be a more naturally gifted QB, but
he isn't quite ready to take over the offense just yet. Playing in
seven games, Arnaud is completing 56.8% of his passes, while Nebraska's
defense is allowing their opponents' quarterbacks to complete just
51.6% of their passes this season.
Iowa State's receiving corps,
overall, does a nice job of getting open and catching the football.
There really aren't any top-flight athletes in this group that you
would consider to be game-breakers, but there are some dependable
receivers in the group. WR Marquis Hamilton is the go-to guy in this
offense, and averages nearly 70 yards per game this season, good enough
for 10th in the conference. With the emphasis in this offense being on
the run game, the receivers don't get as many catches as many other Big
XII teams. One surprise is that Darius Darks, who had 49 catches last
year, has just 7 so far this season. While the offense was focused
more on passing the ball last year, it is still a big drop for a
talented receiver to take without missing any games. TE Darius Catlett
is the most complete receiver in the group, thanks to his ability to
make big catches as well as block very well downfield.
Nebraska's
pass defense is solid this season, much improved from a year ago.
Nebraska does not have to blitz a linebacker to get pressure this year,
thanks to their front four, and because of this there are more bodies
in coverage. Against Texas Tech last week, the Huskers held the Red
Raiders to one of their lowest offensive outputs since head coach Mike
Leach was hired. With the amount of pressure Nebraska's front four can
get on a quarterback, you would think Nebraska should have more
turnovers, especially interceptions than they have, but they have been
facing some efficient offenses this season. One of Nebraska's best
d-backs, Alfonzo Dennard was hurt in last week's game, but should be
ready to go on Saturday. He has really strengthened the unit since
getting more playing time. In pass coverage, the Huskers' secondary
ranks 10th nationally, allowing a rating of just 96.10, while Austen
Arnaud ranks 72nd nationally in pass efficiency (123.98).
The
Cyclones' rushing game is the best in the Big XII this season,
averaging 213.9 yards per game. It all starts with the great play they
have been getting out of their offensive line this year. Because of
the push up-front, the running backs and quarterbacks have had a much
easier time picking up chunks of yards on the ground. Top RB Alexander
Robinson has rushed for 100 or more yards in four games this season,
but has been struggling mightily with a recurring groin injury. His
status for Saturday is up in the air, and although he is likely to
play, his carries are probably going to be limited. If he can't go at
a good pace, there is a big drop-off behind him. Beau Blankenship and
Jeremiah Schwartz will try and take over, with Schwartz getting the
look last week against Baylor. He rushed for 42 yards on 8 carries
last week, filling in admirably for Robinson, but Baylor's rush defense
is not among the best they'll see this year. QB Austen Arnaud has
gotten a lot of rushing yards this season in part because of keepers on
the zone-read option, but also scrambling around, picking up 4-6 yards
a clip in designed passing plays. He's not real shifty, but is a tough
runner that ranks 8th in the conference right now, despite being a
QB.
Nebraska's rush defense is going to be, by far, the best
that Iowa State has seen this year. The Huskers' front four does a
great job defending the rush just as well as they get after the QB on
passing downs. Nebraska not only ranks as the 16th best rush defense,
but also makes many plays in the backfield, averaging over 7 stops
behind the line each game (25th nationally). The Husker defense
continues to get a great push up-front and the linebackers have been
blowing up running lanes, with LB Phillip Dillard being a star of the
defense last week against Texas Tech. Although the Cyclones have a
great rushing attack, they will likely find it difficult to get
anything going consistently against the stingy Husker "D".
Looking
at how these teams perform on third downs and red-zone opportunities,
Iowa State has converted a solid 44.66% of their third downs (28th
nationally), with an average 85% red-zone scoring average (17 TDs, 5
FGs) (45th nationally). The Cyclones were an excellent 66.7% (12 for
18) on 3rd downs last week against Baylor, but scored on just 3 of
their 5 red zone opportunities (3 TDs). Nebraska's defense is allowing
their opponents to convert 35.16% of their 3rd down attempts (43rd
nationally), and has allowed a decent 83% red-zone scoring percentage
(7 TDs, 3 FGs) (67th nationally) this season. Against Texas Tech last
week, the Huskers allowed Tech to convert on 43% of their 3rd downs and
score on all four red zone opportunities (3 TDs, 1 FG).
Up
front, Iowa State's average offensive lineman is 6'3", 327 lbs, while
Nebraska's average defensive lineman comes in at 6'4.5", 279 lbs. On
the season, Iowa State is averaging 5.3 yards per carry (when taking
sacks out) while Nebraska is giving up just 3.7 yards per carry. The
Cyclones have allowed 29 tackles for loss and 3 sacks in their seven
games, while the Huskers have picked up 51 tackles for loss and 17
sacks in their six games. Iowa State's offensive line has really been
carrying the offense along so far this season, allowing both their top
running back Alexander Robinson and quarterback Austen Arnaud to
currently rank in the top 8 of the Big XII's rushers at this point in
the year. The Cyclones sport one of the heavier lines in the
conference, but that heft does have its disadvantages. As a group,
they don't have great torque in their hips, but they do a nice job of
paving the way for the backs going straight ahead. Nebraska's
defensive line will present the toughest challenge the Cyclones have
had to date. This will be strength vs. strength, a match-up everyone
will need to keep an eye on. The best line ISU has played to this
point was Iowa, and they struggled with their pass rush, and were
unable to get their running game going consistently. Nebraska’s NT
Ndamukong Suh, who is being talked about for Heisman consideration,
continues to perform at a level higher than any lineman in the
country. Because of his success, it has allowed DT Jared Crick to
shine, which is making it difficult on teams that are double teaming
Suh, which has been everyone to this point. Cyclone center Reggie
Stephens is a talented and experienced lineman, but it will be
difficult for him and his fellow guards to contain the Husker tackles.
Position Advantages
Position/Advantage
QBs: Iowa State +
RBs: Nebraska +
WR/TE's: Nebraska +
OL: Iowa State ++
DL: Nebraska +++
LB: Nebraska +
DB: Nebraska ++
Special
Teams: Nebraska +
Coaching: Nebraska ++
+ = Slight
++ = Moderate
+++ = Large
Injury Report
Nebraska:
RB - Roy Helu Jr - Shoulder - Probable
CB - Alfonzo Dennard - Probable
WR - Khiry Cooper - Questionable
WR - Chris Brooks - Back - Out for Game
RB - Rex Burkhead - Foot - Out Indefinitely
LB - Blake Lawrence - Concussions
- Ended Career
FS - Rickey Thenarse - Knee - Out for Season
CB - Jase Dean - Knee - Out for Season
QB - Kody Spano - Knee - Out for Season
Iowa State:
QB - Austen Arnaud - Hand - Probable
RB - Alexander Robinson - Groin - Questionable
WR - Houston Jones - Ankle - Questionable
LB - Matt Tau’fo’ou - Suspension - Out Indefinitely
TE - Kurt Hammerschmidt - Suspension - Out Indefinitely
WR - Darius Reynolds - Leg - Out for Season
DL - Rashawn Parker - Knee - Out
for Season
Keys to the Game
Iowa State:
1.) Force Turnovers
- The offense will likely struggle against a very good Nebraska
defense. The Cyclone defense must make some plays and get a few
turnovers to give the offense some short fields to work with.
2.) Be Healthy
- It's no secret the keys to the success of the offense are Austen
Arnaud and Alexander Robinson, both of whom are nursing injuries. Both
need to be at or near 100% for the Cyclones to be a formidable threat
in this game.
3.) Better Play from Kicking Game
- A missed extra point and botched FG hold lost the Kansas game for the
Cyclones, and a blocked extra point dashed hopes for overtime against
Kansas State this season. On the road against a pretty good Nebraska
team, special teams will be important.
Nebraska:
1.) Improved Offensive Line Play
- This is huge. This unit is underperforming this year. The blocking
has been spotty and the frequent penalties are really hurting the
offense.
2.) Quick Start Offensively -
The past two games, Nebraska has been unable to get things going
quickly on offense. This has led to some confidence issues and
stagnant play. It's amazing what an opening touchdown can do for a
team's psyche.
3.) Shut Down ISU Run Game
- If Alexander Robinson isn't near 100%, this shouldn't be terribly
difficult. Shutting the run game down will make this team
one-dimensional, and put the game on the shoulders of QB Austin
Arnaud. With a great pass rush, turnovers should commence.
Historically Speaking
Saturday
marks the 104th all-time meeting between Iowa State and Nebraska.
Nebraska has a commanding 85-16-2 lead in the series since first
meeting in 1896. The Huskers currently own a four game win streak over
the Cyclones, and haven't lost to Iowa State in Lincoln since 1977 (15
home wins in a row). These teams met last year in Ames, with Nebraska
dominating the Iowa State for four quarters, earning a 35-7 victory.
The lone highlight of the day for ISU was Alexander Robinson's 67 yard
touchdown run in the 3rd quarter. The last game played between these
two in Lincoln was in 2007, the Huskers winning a 35-17 decision.
Final Outlook
A
game many had probably written off weeks ago as a given victory for
Nebraska is suddenly looking a lot more interesting as the Huskers
struggle with offensive woes and the Cyclones are just 2 plays away
from being (6-1) overall. Despite the offensive struggles for
Nebraska, their defense still shines, holding the strong Texas Tech
offense to 24 points (an additional 7 came from a fumble return for
TD), about half of their season average. Because of this stingy
Nebraska defense, it is going to be difficult for an Iowa State team,
with injuries to their top 2 offensive playmakers (QB Austen Arnaud and
RB Alexander Robinson) to put up many points. 7-10 is probably as much
as they will be able to muster, short of Nebraska turning the ball over
to the ISU defense.
For Nebraska's offense, there are
questions both at offensive line and quarterback. While it seems
evident that QB Zac Lee will remain the starter, how soon Cody Green
gets worked in largely depends on if Lee can shake off some less than
memorable games the past couple of weeks. While Iowa State's defense
is not among the best they've faced this season, or in the top half of
the Big XII in any category, the Husker offense must produce this week
after back-to-back performances that they are not proud of. If they
can't get things going against the Cyclones' defense, it puts added
pressure on the Nebraska defense to score, and you can't depend on
getting defensive scores if you want to be a successful football team.
Look
for the Husker offense to start getting things worked out and put a few
scoring drives together. The ISU defense doesn't have the team speed
that Texas Tech or Missouri has, and should lend to better offensive
play for Nebraska. Iowa State will struggle to score due to a tough
Husker defense and the groin injury to RB Alexander Robinson. Nebraska
wins comfortably.
Iowa State - 7
Nebraska - 31