Iowa
State Cyclones
Preview 2009 - Offense
- 2009 CFN Iowa State Preview |
2009 Iowa State Offense
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2009 Iowa State
Defense |
2009 Iowa State
Depth Chart
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2008 ISU Preview |
2007 ISU Preview |
2006 ISU
Preview
What you need to know:
New offensive coordinator Tom Herman
will bring in the spread attack that helped make Rice an
offensive juggernaut over the last few years. That means the
tight ends should shine, and there are two good ones in Collin
Franklin and Derrick Catlett, and it means the quarterbacks will
do some bombing away. Austen Arnaud is a promising passer, who
got better as last year went on, but speedy Jerome Tiller will
get his chances. The receiving corps returns everyone of note
but R. J. Sumrall, who led the team last year, while the running
backs are better with Florida transfer Bo Williams and Jeremiah
Schwartz bringing more power to the equation. And then there's
the line. It's full of veterans and there are several options to
play around with, but going from a man to a zone blocking scheme
is going to take a little while. Staying healthy up front,
something that didn't happen last year, will be the key.
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Returning
Leaders
Passing: Austen Arnaud
247-401, 2,792 yds, 15 TD, 10 INT
Rushing: Alexander Robinson
153 carries, 703 yds, 6 TD
Receiving: Darius Darks
49 catches, 477 yds, 1 TD
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Star of the offense:
Junior QB Austen Arnaud
Player who has to step up and become a star: Sophomore OT
Kelechi Osemele
Unsung star on the rise: Redshirt freshman QB Jerome
Tiller
Best pro prospect: Sophomore OG Ben Lamaak
Top three all-star candidates: 1) Robinson, 2) Lamaak, 3) RB
J.J. Bass
Strength of the offense: Running back, veteran line
Quarterbacks
Projected Starter:
Junior Austen Arnaud
was in a battle for the starting job going into last
year, but he quickly took over and turned out to be the main man
as the season went on, pushing the athletic Phillip Bates aside.
The 6-2, 220-pound junior is a decent runner, gaining 401 yards
and five scores, but he wasn't able to get away from the rush
enough and he didn't make enough things happen when plays broke
down. On the plus side going forward, he completing 62% of his
passes for 2,792 yards with 15 touchdowns, but he threw ten
interceptions with six coming in the final four games. He proved
he could get the passing game going in shootouts, closing out
the year with 326 yards and two scores against Missouri and 440
yards and three scores against Kansas State, and he'll have to
get used to bomb away on a regular basis in this transitional
year.
Projected Top Reserves: Phillip Bates was a
dangerous No. 2 quarterback option who added a rushing element
to the equation. He left the team after not getting enough
playing time, but redshirt freshman Jerome Tiller
appears ready to fill the void, and then some. The 6-4,
185-pound speedster was fantastic this spring completing
14-of-24 passes for 250 yards and two scores, and tore off a
long touchdown run, in the spring game. While he's not going to
push Arnaud for the starting job like many are going to likely
predict, but he's good enough to see a few snaps a game to throw
a curve-ball into the mix.
Watch Out For ... Arnaud to put up record-book
passing numbers. The defense is going to need a while before it
jells, like two years, and the Cyclones are going to be in
shootout after shootout. Arnaud might throw for well over 250
yards per game.
Strength: Running skills. Arnaud moves extremely
well for his size while Tiller is a dangerous option who can
crank out big yards whenever he has the ball. These two aren't
going to be the team's best rushing options, but they'll
certainly have their moments.
Weakness: Interceptions. Arnaud is going to have
to press too much. He'll come up with some huge games, but he'll
also throw too many interceptions just trying to make things
happen. Tiller will probably have an even ratio of touchdowns to
interceptions when he's in.
Outlook: This is a good situation to build around.
Arnaud is the team, and even though Tiller will have his time in
the spotlight, it's going to be about throwing the ball. Just
keeping the chains moving from time to time will be important,
and Tiller will look great in the spread offense, but so will
Arnaud.
Rating: 7
Running Backs
Projected Starters:
5-10, 184-pound junior
Alexander Robinson has been a nice all-around back in
his first two season and was steady last year with 703 yards and
six touchdowns highlighted by a 101-yard, two score day against
Colorado. A speedster, he had a hard time finding room,
averaging just 4.6 yards per carry, and he continued to be a
solid receiver making 17 grabs for 160 yards. This year, he'll
be used even more both in the backfield and under center in a
"Wildcat" formation.
Projected Top Reserves:
Bringing a combination of talents is
Bo Williams, a transfer from Florida who showed
flashes of quickness to go along with his strong running style.
A star recruit for the Gators, he has the size and the toughness
to be a workhorse from time to time. Robinson will be the team's
star back, but Williams will get his share of carries using his
6-0, 217-pound size and decent hands in a variety of ways. He
has special skills, but he has to stay healthy after missing all
of last year hurt.
Redshirt freshman Jeremiah
Schwartz is a 5-11, 238-pound power back who chose Iowa
State over Wisconsin and Virginia. Originally considered to be
part of the mix going into last year, he ended up redshirting
and now will bring an attitude to the offense with his toughness
between the tackles. He'll likely be the team's short-yardage
back.
Senior Derrick Catlett is a
tight end, but he'll move into the backfield when a fullback is
needed. The 6-4, 252-pounder is a nice receiver, but he'll never
carry the ball; he'll be a tough blocker.
Watch Out For ... Robinson at quarterback. While
Austen Arnaud and Jerome Tiller are mobile quarterbacks who'll
work well in the spread, having Robinson in will add a whole
other element to the attack. Tiller might be just as effective a
runner under center, but the coaches will put in Robinson here
and there just to keep defensive coordinators working.
Strength: Power and quickness. Schwartz brings a
hammer with his rushing style, Robinson is the speedster, and
Williams has both. If the line provides a little help, this trio
could be fantastic.
Weakness: The line. A problem for the last few
years, the line is once again going to be average and the
defense is going to be such a liability that the ground game
might never get a chance to get into a lather. This could be an
underutilized trio.
Outlook: The backs should be one of the team's
biggest strengths and will have to try to make things happen
even when the rest of the team is breaking down. Any of the
three can carry the load, but the rotation should keep everyone
fresh. The only question will be if there's enough work to go
around considering the shootouts the team will likely be
involved in.
Rating: 7
Receivers
Projected Starters:
Top target R.J. Sumrall is gone
after leading the team in receiving can catching ten of the
team's 17 touchdown passes. Sophomore Darius Darks
appears ready to take up the mantle of the team's No. 1
receiver after a fantastic true freshman campaign with 49
catches, second-best on the team, for 477 yards and a score
highlighted by a seven-catch, 113-yard game against Oklahoma
State, and now he'll do more. While he's a wiry 6-1 and 175
pounds, he's tough and isn't afraid to make a tough grab.
Senior Marquis Hamilton has blossomed over
the last two seasons after coming close to becoming a tight end
a few years ago. Instead, he's a 6-4, 228-pound big target who
provides a tough matchup. He regressed, making 26 catches for
301 yards and three scores a year after making 45 grabs, but he
has the experience and size to be used as a steady mid-level
target. He might not make any deep plays, but he'll average
around 12 yards per catch.
Sophomore Sedrick
Johnson was a nice reserve as a true freshman making 18
catches for 188 yards and three touchdowns as a steady performer
throughout the year. The 6-4, 199-pounder from Texas was a great
get for the program, and now he needs more passes to come his
way. He has the upside to grow into a dangerous deep threat.
A part-time starter and a key part of the
two tight end sets, former JUCO transfer
Collin Franklin is a 6-6, 248-pound
junior who caught 15 passes for 258 yards and two
touchdowns, averaging 17.2 yards per catch. More
of a big wide receiver than a tough blocker, he
came on at the end of last year and will likely
end up being starting more if Derrick Catlett is
mostly used at fullback.
Projected Top Reserves:
Senior Houston Jones
had a nice spring ball in 2008 and it translated into a
good season starting for most of the year and finishing third on
the team with 32 catches for 384 yards. He didn't blow up, but
he was consistently good as a very smart, very precise route
runner. While he'll end up as a starter in one of the three
spots, he'll likely work in a rotation with Hamilton on the
outside.
Part fullback and part tight end, senior Derrick
Catlett will be used as a blocker when he lines up in
the backfield from time to time, and while he's a good blocker,
he's a stronger receiver with 20 catches for 230 yards. At 6-4
and 252 pounds he has impressive size and uses it well. Used in
spurts, catching six passes against Missouri, he could get the
ball on a regular basis as a short-range, move-the-chains
receiver.
Adding more speed to the equation is
Jason Carlson, a 6-0, 205-pound former JUCO transfer
who was a Minnesota state high school champion
sprinter, he runs a 10.7 100 and will stretch the field playing
on the outside. The junior was supposed to make an impact last
year, but he ended up redshirting and now will get his chance to
be a home-run hitter.
Watch Out For ... Darks to become the main man. This
is a decent group of receivers with different skills and
talents, but Darks has the most to offer and the upside to the a
No. 1 target who makes things happen even when the full
attention is paid to him by the opposing secondary.
Strength: Veterans. Sumrall is gone, but counting
RB Alexander Robinson, the next seven targets are returning. The
tight end situation is solid and there's good depth at receiver
to form a nice rotation.
Weakness: Big plays. The average yards per catch
was a pedestrian 11.4 yards and there were only a few plays over
50 yards. Considering how wide open the offense is going to need
to be this year, someone has to step up and make more big
catches.
Outlook: This isn't the most talented receiving
corps in the Big 12, but it'll be effective with a nice blend of
size, a little bit of speed, and a lot of experience. There will
be several targets for the quarterbacks to choose from and the
passing game will be spread around well.
Rating: 6.5
Offensive Linemen
Projected Starters:
Junior Ben Lamaak was
the one sure-thing starter going into last year, and he ended up being
the main man at right guard for the first seven games. He moved to
tackle for a game, but was hurt and missed most of the second half of
the year. Now he'll likely be tried out at left tackle where he has the
best combination of athleticism and size on the line. The 6-5, 320-pound
former high school quarterback came to Ames as a tight end and has a
good combination of athleticism and toughness. He should be a good pass
protector with more time on the outside after starting on the right side
two years ago.
If Lamaak sticks at left tackle 6-6, 317-pound
sophomore Trey Baysinger will get a long look at right
guard. Versatile enough to play tackle if needed, his size and
relatively decent athleticism should make him a strong zone blocker on
the inside, but he'll need more time and he'll need to prove he can be
more consistent for the running game.
There are a few different
options at center, but with Mike Knapp done due to a knee injury, senior
Reggie Stephens will likely move over from guard to be
a big block in the middle. He started every game at left guard two years
ago and was the main man in the same spot for the first half of last
year before moving to right guard. While he'll get a work at left guard,
the 6-4, 338-pounder could be better suited to the middle where he won't
have to move as much in the new scheme.
Junior Alex
Alvarez stepped in at center midway through last year and could
end up starting in the middle again. If Stephens ends up playing inside,
the 6-2, 294-pound Alvarez will move to left guard where he should work
out well. Able to play tackle, also, he has good enough feet to be
strong on the move and will get time to make mistakes.
The one
player who appears to have his spot set is sophomore Kelechi
Osemele, a 6-5, 338-pound top prospect who was solid in his
first season working as a spot starter at guard, mostly on the left
side. He'll move to right tackle where he should be tough for the ground
game and be just decent enough in pass protection to get by. He'll have
problems with the speed rushers, but he should be great for the spread.
Projected Top Reserves: If Lamaak stays at right
guard, 6-3, 354-pound junior Hayworth Hicks will likely
get the first look at left tackle. While he didn't get any starting
work, he was a key backup and has the bulk to beat up pass rushers to
protect the quarterbacks' blind side. He has the bulk, but he has to
prove he can be mobile.
If it's not Hicks at left tackle, and if
it's not Lamaak, junior Matt Hulbert will get a long
look. The 6-7, 299-pounder is built like a tackle and got the experience
he needed last year starting two times at left tackle and four times on
the right side. While he's not the most consistent blocker, he has
upside with the potential to take one of the tackle jobs and not let it
go if he can be better in pass protection.
Watch Out For ... a lot
of lineup shifting. A lot. This was supposed to be an issue last year,
and it was because of injuries. There are several combinations for the
front five with Lamaak the key piece. He was tried out in several
different areas this spring, and where he ends up this fall will get the
dominoes falling.
Strength: Veterans. Because of all the lineup
changes last season there were several players thrown to the wolves a
bit earlier than the coaching staff wanted. Now the new coaches have a
veteran group with good versatility and decent depth.
Weakness: Getting it. The line is going to need a
while to come together and figure out what it's doing. The starting five
is far, far from set, so it could be a little while before
there's any sort of continuity.
Outlook: While the team might have stunk under
Gene Chizik, one of the unnoticed areas of improvement was the line. It
was hardly the best in the Big 12, but it was night-and-day better than
it was a few years back. Now the line has to go from lining up and
beating people up man-on-man, it has to deal with a zone blocking scheme
which puts a premium on timing and consistency. That might be a problem,
but there's a nice base of veterans to work with.
Rating: