Oct 12, 2020
Questions Cyclone Fans Need the Answers to
Following the week four of the Coronavirus, idled football team filled college football season, Iowa State graced the latest AP Coaches Poll with the 20th ranked spot in the rankings.
The Cyclones are riding a three game conference win streak, and a most recent throttling of Texas Tech at home. Although there is a lot of buzz around Cyclone Nation, there are still some big questions to be answered yet for the rest of the season.
First of all, is Breece Hall really that good? Yes, for all those David Montgomery buffs and Iowa State traditionalists, I hate to say it. But, Breece Hall could go down as potentially the greatest RB Iowa State has ever had. To put this into perspective; Troy Davis, multiple 2,000 yard rushing seasons, started off his freshman year with only 222 yards from scrimmage and no touchdowns. David Montgomery piled up 692 yards from scrimmage on two touchdowns.
Hall’s freshman year totaled 1,149 yards from scrimmage and ten touchdowns. Yes, I agree though, it’s hard to contest with consecutive 2,000 yard seasons. But it was a different time period in a predominately run time period of football, versus the air-raid offense time period of football. The value of a running back now is based on his total yards from scrimmage and Hall’s yards from scrimmage this year through four games is nearly half the yards from scrimmage he put up last year with 573.
Will the offensive line be fully healthy for upcoming games? Iowa State’s line has been banged up here as of late. Their left guard Trevor Downing, and right tackle Joey Ramos top the list of guys needed back. Luckily the Cyclones get a much needed Bye week before they go to battle with Oklahoma State Cowboys. Hopefully this gives Downing and Ramos enough time to get their feet back under them and take on the Cowboys at full forced.
What potential does this team have? I see absolutely no reasons why Iowa State won’t be in that final game in Dallas, TX for the Big 12 championship. The level the Cyclones have been playing at I believe is far and away above anyone else in the conference. The defense shut down a very high powered Oklahoma offense that can score at will and embarrassed a Texas Tech offense who felt as though they weren’t even in the same league. Brock Purdy’s last two performances were some of the best of his career.
The patience and poise that he possesses is simply put, “a work of art.” Being able to let a play develop over time and not forcing passes like early endeavors showed. He’s shown the most improvement from me during this three week span than anyone else on the team.
Finally, who is the new Tide End U? Come on guys, Iowa State has the best tide end room in the country. For sure two, professional TEs in Chase Allen and Charlie Kolar. Both guys excel at blocking in the run game and both guys have proven themselves as deep threats in the passing game. Charlie Kolar’s potential reminds me of a man named Jimmy Graham. Great run blocker, big target in the passing game. The sky is endless for Iowa State’s TE room and the scary part is that I only mentioned two guys.
Hopefully the Cyclones address the things that need to be looked at, they can get healthy again, and improve over this next week to prepare to put themselves in the driver’s seat of the Big 12.
