The Cyclones averaged a mere 3.7 yards per carry last season, so they’ll pin their offensive hopes on an improved Sam B. Richardson at QB and increased comfort in offensive coordinator Mark Mangino’s second season. Now, can they give up fewer points than they score? That’s another story in this conference.
Offense
How the Cyclones beat you: Iowa State’s passing game should be the foundation of Mangino’s attack, and Richardson will look to improve on the Big 12’s worst ypa. With another year under his belt, he’ll count on a corps of talented receivers in Allen Lazard (593 yards), D’Vario Montgomery (605 yards) and Quenton Bundrage, who’s returning from an ACL injury (676 yards in 2013). The Cyclones will look to RB Mike Warren, a redshirt freshman, to make opponents account for the ground game—which ranked next to last in the Big 12 last year—as Mangino strives to build a more physical offense in Year 2. “We want to be better at knocking people off the ball,” coach Paul Rhoads says.
How you beat the Cyclones: Improvement from Richardson and Bundrage’s return will mean nothing if that running game doesn’t get better. The Cyclones’ paltry 3.7 ypc last season allowed defenses to focus almost entirely on stopping the passing game. It was also far too easy for opposing defenses to get into the Cyclones’ backfield. ISU had 26.6 percent of its rushes end in zero or negative yards in 2014, No. 97 among FBS teams. Unless Mangino’s offense makes major strides, teams with disruptive defensive lines and playmaking linebackers will like their chances.
Defense
How the Cyclones beat you: ISU will lean on its stars in the secondary, junior Nigel Tribune (64 tackles, 16 passes defensed) and 2014 Big 12 defensive freshman of the year Kamari Cotton-Moya, both of whom could be All-Big 12 candidates this year. With cornerback Sam E. Richardson (58 tackles, 4 INTs) also back, ISU has three defensive backs with 10-plus starts heading into 2015, which might offset the four new starters on the front seven. Last year the Cyclones finished worst in the Big 12 with a dismal 15 sacks (just barely more than half of the league’s average). Rhoads hopes ESPN JC50 NG Demond Tucker sparks better play from the defensive line.
How you beat the Cyclones: Manhandle the front seven. ISU enters 2015 searching for playmakers on the defensive line and at linebacker. Physical teams that run the ball right at the Cyclones could have success unless Tucker, sophomore Vernell Trent (10 tackles) and other defensive linemen become productive on Rhoads’ defensive front. Teams that are equipped to turn to their power running game—Iowa State had the second-worst rush defense in the league last year, giving up an astonishing 81 rushes of 10-plus yards—could cause the Cyclones plenty of problems.