NCAA Football Preview - Iowa State Cyclones

Aug 21, 2012 - 3:13 PM Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - 2011 SEASON IN REVIEW: The poster children for the 'hope for the best, but expect the worst' mentality, Iowa State football fans seem to be relatively comfortable in the knowledge that their beloved team will play hard each time out, but will likely come out on the short end more times than not against the better teams in the Big 12 Conference.

Year three of the Paul Rhodes era started off well enough for the Cyclones in 2011, as they won their first three games over Northern Iowa, Iowa and Connecticut, albeit by combined total of only eight points. A 37-14 loss to Texas wasn't exactly how ISU wanted to kick off league play, and double-digit setbacks to Baylor, Missouri and Texas A&M followed.

Not ready to throw in the towel however, the Cyclones stormed back to claim victory in three straight, topping Texas Tech, Kansas and Oklahoma State. Despite having secured bowl eligibility by winning the requisite six games, ISU's final three outings, including a date with Rutgers in the Pinstripe Bowl all ended in defeat, saddling the team with a 6-7 overall record, 3-6 in conference.

2012 ANALYSIS:

OFFENSE: Iowa State doesn't have the most talented team around, but Rhodes certainly gets the most out of his players. For the Cyclones to have any shot at competing this year, junior RBs James White (743 yards, 8 TDs) and Jeff Woody (381 yards, 6 TDs) will need to elevate their level of play in an effort to alleviate any pressure senior Steel Jantz or sophomore Jared Barnett, whomever wins the starting job, will feel under center.

Both signal-callers saw significant time a year ago, the two combining to throw for 2,720 yards, 16 TDs and 17 INTs. Both were rather inefficient in completing a mere 51.4 percent of their pass attempts, and the two were sacked a total of 27 times. Improved play by the offensive line is a must, and while the unit lacks bona fide star power, it should be able to hold its own against most foes this year.

Rhoads knows his QBs need to play better for his team to have a chance of staying in games this season, "We most definitely need better play from the quarterback position if we're going to become a better football team, and namely in the area of accuracy. Our quarterbacks completed, I think, 51 percent of their passes in all last year. We threw too many to the wrong-colored jersey."

He continued, "If we're going to be a better offensive football team, which is very important in this league to be a better football team, it's going to take better quarterback play."

Helping get ISU's offensive attack off the ground will be a receiving corps that lacks game-breakers but boasts experience in the form of seniors Josh Lenz (39 receptions, 510 yards, 2 TDs) and Aaron Horne (38 receptions, 431 yards), sophomore Jarvis West (25 receptions, 141 yards) and junior Albert Gary (23 receptions, 287 yards 2 TDs).

One guy to keep an eye on this fall is junior RB Shontrelle Johnson, who was recently cleared to resume playing after missing the majority of last season due to a serious neck injury.

DEFENSE: The Cyclones really struggled in the opening half of games last season, in particular in the second quarter where they were outscored by nearly a three-to-one margin. They allowed more than 427 total ypg, and managed just 17 sacks on year. The opposition scored on 82 percent of their trips to the red zone.

Despite those issues, Iowa State comes into this season with one of the top linebacking units in the Big 12, led by senior standouts A.J.Klein and Jake Knott. Each logged more than 100 tackles in '11, with the former coming up with two sacks, and the latter a pair of INTs.

Senior NG Jake McDonough (35 tackles, 2 sacks) is expected to anchor the defensive line, but he will need help from guys like DEs Roosevelt Maggitt and David Irving if the Cyclones are going to show improvement in all phases, particularly with regard to getting a push into the backfield where no player was credited with more than the 7.5 TFL Klein had last season.

The secondary features the return of senior CB Jeremy Reeves (70 tackles, 2 INTs) and junior FS Jacques Washington (90 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT), and both are expected to provide veteran leadership and make their share of plays as the defensive line takes some time to come together.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Rhoads can rest easy in the knowledge that at least one aspect of his kicking game is in fine shape, as punter Kirby Van Der Kamp is one of the best in the Big 12. The junior averaged nearly 43 ypp last season, and the hope is that some of his consistency will rub off on freshman kicker Cole Netten after the Cyclones made good on just 60 percent of their field goal attempts a year ago.

OUTLOOK: Getting off to another 3-0 start isn't going to be easy as ISU plays host to a tough Tulsa club in the season opener before heading to Iowa City to battle bitter Big Ten rival Iowa. A date with Western Illinois wraps up non- conference play, but then the challenge begins as Big 12 action gets underway with a visit from Texas Tech on Sept. 29.

Trips to TCU, Oklahoma State, Texas and Kansas will be rough, and the team is fortunate to get Kansas State, Baylor, Oklahoma and West Virginia at home.

Rhoads is confident in his team's ability, and believes in the guys he plans to go into battle with.

"Our football team through three seasons has experienced great growth and development, and I think as we head toward this season we'll put our most talented football team on the field as we once again face a schedule that all, if not most will rank as one of the top five toughest in college football."

Iowa State has won three Big 12 bouts in each of the past three seasons, and while raising the bar isn't out of the question, it will take some inspired play and a little luck for that to happen this year.