\n
\n<\/strong>
\nHead Coach:\u00a0<\/span>Paul Rhoads\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0(25-46, 6 years)<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n
2014 Season\u2022Record in 2014
\n\u2022Overall: 2-10 (0-9)
\n\u2022vs Top 25: 0-5<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
![\"SamRichardsonIowaStateIconWire-1000x600\"](\"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/SamRichardsonIowaStateIconWire-1000x600.jpg\")
<\/a><\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/h5>\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/h5>\nAs predicted last year at this time, I said that the Cyclone program was going to hit rock bottom.\u00a0 With only one win last season and a loss to the other bottom feeder, the Kansas Jayhawks, they did just that.\u00a0 Not that Paul Rhoades did a terrible job\u00a0in Ames with the team, he did put a better offense on the field than I thought, but the numbers on defense were so bad (118th in points allowed) that they couldn\u2019t stop little Mikey on a trike.\u00a0 I said get a new coach last year and another year has passed and the program will try to pick itself up and get a win in conference.\u00a0 They should this year, beat Kansas, and throw in a home opener with Northern Iowa and Iowa, and a road contest with Toledo, the Cyclones could open strong with some win.\u00a0 All three plus a following game with the Jayhawks in Ames could make a significant difference this season.\u00a0 Now don\u2019t jump to any conclusions.\u00a0 Winnable\u00a0games does not make wins\u00a0on the schedule.\u00a0Yet, I have never said the Rhoads\u00a0was the worst coach in the country and with another year at the Offensive Coordinator position for former KU HC Mark Mangino, the ISU offense could score enough to bring in two or three wins if things go right. With the Iowa game, anything goes as the Hawkeyes are not going to field a good team and rival games can push in either direction.\u00a0 Give ISU the benefit of the doubt and I say they head into Lubbock for game four with at lest two wins.\u00a0\u00a0If they come out of those first four\u00a0 with\u00a0out a win, Mark Mangino will be the interim\u00a0head coach by that\u00a0Texas Tech trip.\u00a0 My words from last year:\u00a0 Another losing season and Rhodes could be out by Christmas. Most of the Big 12 media thinks the Clones will improve in 2014. I\u2019m not included. In fact, I think the Kansas Jayhawks will pass them in the standings and drop Iowa State to rock bottom in the league. I just don\u2019t see the wins.<\/span><\/h6>\n <\/p>\n
What will Iowa State put on the field?\u00a0<\/strong>
\nOffense:\u00a0 Sam B. Richardson is not he best quarterback in the Big 12 and might not even be in the top 5 or 6.\u00a0 But he is a hard headed fighter and this writer likes what he sees in his play and leadership.\u00a0 Finally the starter without question, OC Mark Mangino will use Richardson in a good way as the signal caller is an effective passer and runner.\u00a0 254-451 and 2669 in yardage plus 421 yards (2nd most) on the ground, Sam B. will again put up good numbers. In looking at what he did last year, ISU will score as the Cyclones have Allen Lizard, a 6\u20195 home run threat at the wide out and D\u2019vario Montgomery, another fine receiver to go to.\u00a0 Add the outstanding Quenton Burndgage to the mix after <\/strong>a injury year, ISU has one of the better pass catching groups in the league. The o-line returns three starters and enough returning letterman to make a very fine pass\/run blocking group.\u00a0 A weak and small group of running backs could make ISU one dimensional if they can\u2019t find someone to hit the hole. That could be a problem.\u00a0 Look for Richardson to run more than Mangino would like.\u00a0\u00a0 Grade: B<\/strong>
\n
\n<\/strong>
\nDefense:\u00a0 Demond Turner has been brought in to play DT (from the JUCO ranks)\u00a0and that sums up the Iowa State defense, the lowest statistical eleven in the country last year. Five starters returned to spring ball and four will start.\u00a0 Look for another sieve defense which could be a game breaker for Coach Rhoads.\u00a0 Not much to say about his group.\u00a0 Grade:\u00a0 F<\/h6>\n <\/p>\n
Special Teams:\u00a0 Cole Nettern is a good kicker, hitting 11 of 14 in 2014 with the game winner over Iowa. Everything else is mediocre at best.\u00a0 Grade: C-<\/h6>\n
\n<\/em>Schedule:\u00a0 As mentioned, ISU has opportunities to win right out the gate. Will they?\u00a0 Maybe.\u00a0 Texas Tech will be the last game that KU could win.\u00a0 Look for, at best, a four win season.\u00a0 Two wins in conference would be a <\/span><\/span>push as Tech won<\/span><\/span>\u2019t be easy in Lubbock.\u00a0 I\u2019d say, 3 up and 9 down in Rhoads last season in Ames.\u00a0 Points will be scored but without a satisfactory defense, the Cyclones will suffer another tough year.\u00a0 It could be the coach’s last in Ames.<\/span><\/span><\/h5>\n <\/p>\n![\"isu-cover-steven-branscombeusa-today-sports\"](\"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/isu-cover-steven-branscombeusa-today-sports1.jpg\")
<\/a>Steven Branscombe\/USA TODAY Sports<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/strong><\/h5>\nAs predicted last year at this time, I said that the Cyclone program was going to hit rock bottom.\u00a0 With only one win last season and a loss to the other bottom feeder, the Kansas Jayhawks, they did just that.\u00a0 Not that Paul Rhoades did a terrible job\u00a0in Ames with the team, he did put a better offense on the field than I thought, but the numbers on defense were so bad (118th in points allowed) that they couldn\u2019t stop little Mikey on a trike.\u00a0 I said get a new coach last year and another year has passed and the program will try to pick itself up and get a win in conference.\u00a0 They should this year, beat Kansas, and throw in a home opener with Northern Iowa and Iowa, and a road contest with Toledo, the Cyclones could open strong with some win.\u00a0 All three plus a following game with the Jayhawks in Ames could make a significant difference this season.\u00a0 Now don\u2019t jump to any conclusions.\u00a0 Winnable\u00a0games does not make wins\u00a0on the schedule.\u00a0Yet, I have never said the Rhoads\u00a0was the worst coach in the country and with another year at the Offensive Coordinator position for former KU HC Mark Mangino, the ISU offense could score enough to bring in two or three wins if things go right. With the Iowa game, anything goes as the Hawkeyes are not going to field a good team and rival games can push in either direction.\u00a0 Give ISU the benefit of the doubt and I say they head into Lubbock for game four with at lest two wins.\u00a0\u00a0If they come out of those first four\u00a0 with\u00a0out a win, Mark Mangino will be the interim\u00a0head coach by that\u00a0Texas Tech trip.\u00a0 My words from last year:\u00a0 Another losing season and Rhodes could be out by Christmas. Most of the Big 12 media thinks the Clones will improve in 2014. I\u2019m not included. In fact, I think the Kansas Jayhawks will pass them in the standings and drop Iowa State to rock bottom in the league. I just don\u2019t see the wins.<\/span><\/h6>\n <\/p>\n
What will Iowa State put on the field?\u00a0<\/strong>
\nOffense:\u00a0 Sam B. Richardson is not he best quarterback in the Big 12 and might not even be in the top 5 or 6.\u00a0 But he is a hard headed fighter and this writer likes what he sees in his play and leadership.\u00a0 Finally the starter without question, OC Mark Mangino will use Richardson in a good way as the signal caller is an effective passer and runner.\u00a0 254-451 and 2669 in yardage plus 421 yards (2nd most) on the ground, Sam B. will again put up good numbers. In looking at what he did last year, ISU will score as the Cyclones have Allen Lizard, a 6\u20195 home run threat at the wide out and D\u2019vario Montgomery, another fine receiver to go to.\u00a0 Add the outstanding Quenton Burndgage to the mix after <\/strong>a injury year, ISU has one of the better pass catching groups in the league. The o-line returns three starters and enough returning letterman to make a very fine pass\/run blocking group.\u00a0 A weak and small group of running backs could make ISU one dimensional if they can\u2019t find someone to hit the hole. That could be a problem.\u00a0 Look for Richardson to run more than Mangino would like.\u00a0\u00a0 Grade: B<\/strong>
\n
\n<\/strong>
\nDefense:\u00a0 Demond Turner has been brought in to play DT (from the JUCO ranks)\u00a0and that sums up the Iowa State defense, the lowest statistical eleven in the country last year. Five starters returned to spring ball and four will start.\u00a0 Look for another sieve defense which could be a game breaker for Coach Rhoads.\u00a0 Not much to say about his group.\u00a0 Grade:\u00a0 F<\/h6>\n <\/p>\n
Special Teams:\u00a0 Cole Nettern is a good kicker, hitting 11 of 14 in 2014 with the game winner over Iowa. Everything else is mediocre at best.\u00a0 Grade: C-<\/h6>\n
\n<\/em>Schedule:\u00a0 As mentioned, ISU has opportunities to win right out the gate. Will they?\u00a0 Maybe.\u00a0 Texas Tech will be the last game that KU could win.\u00a0 Look for, at best, a four win season.\u00a0 Two wins in conference would be a <\/span><\/span>push as Tech won<\/span><\/span>\u2019t be easy in Lubbock.\u00a0 I\u2019d say, 3 up and 9 down in Rhoads last season in Ames.\u00a0 Points will be scored but without a satisfactory defense, the Cyclones will suffer another tough year.\u00a0 It could be the coach’s last in Ames.<\/span><\/span><\/h5>\n <\/p>\n<\/a>Steven Branscombe\/USA TODAY Sports<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
What will Iowa State put on the field?\u00a0<\/strong>
\nOffense:\u00a0 Sam B. Richardson is not he best quarterback in the Big 12 and might not even be in the top 5 or 6.\u00a0 But he is a hard headed fighter and this writer likes what he sees in his play and leadership.\u00a0 Finally the starter without question, OC Mark Mangino will use Richardson in a good way as the signal caller is an effective passer and runner.\u00a0 254-451 and 2669 in yardage plus 421 yards (2nd most) on the ground, Sam B. will again put up good numbers. In looking at what he did last year, ISU will score as the Cyclones have Allen Lizard, a 6\u20195 home run threat at the wide out and D\u2019vario Montgomery, another fine receiver to go to.\u00a0 Add the outstanding Quenton Burndgage to the mix after <\/strong>a injury year, ISU has one of the better pass catching groups in the league. The o-line returns three starters and enough returning letterman to make a very fine pass\/run blocking group.\u00a0 A weak and small group of running backs could make ISU one dimensional if they can\u2019t find someone to hit the hole. That could be a problem.\u00a0 Look for Richardson to run more than Mangino would like.\u00a0\u00a0 Grade: B<\/strong>
\n
\n<\/strong>
\nDefense:\u00a0 Demond Turner has been brought in to play DT (from the JUCO ranks)\u00a0and that sums up the Iowa State defense, the lowest statistical eleven in the country last year. Five starters returned to spring ball and four will start.\u00a0 Look for another sieve defense which could be a game breaker for Coach Rhoads.\u00a0 Not much to say about his group.\u00a0 Grade:\u00a0 F<\/h6>\n <\/p>\n
Special Teams:\u00a0 Cole Nettern is a good kicker, hitting 11 of 14 in 2014 with the game winner over Iowa. Everything else is mediocre at best.\u00a0 Grade: C-<\/h6>\n
\n<\/em>Schedule:\u00a0 As mentioned, ISU has opportunities to win right out the gate. Will they?\u00a0 Maybe.\u00a0 Texas Tech will be the last game that KU could win.\u00a0 Look for, at best, a four win season.\u00a0 Two wins in conference would be a <\/span><\/span>push as Tech won<\/span><\/span>\u2019t be easy in Lubbock.\u00a0 I\u2019d say, 3 up and 9 down in Rhoads last season in Ames.\u00a0 Points will be scored but without a satisfactory defense, the Cyclones will suffer another tough year.\u00a0 It could be the coach’s last in Ames.<\/span><\/span><\/h5>\n <\/p>\n<\/a>Steven Branscombe\/USA TODAY Sports<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/em>Schedule:\u00a0 As mentioned, ISU has opportunities to win right out the gate. Will they?\u00a0 Maybe.\u00a0 Texas Tech will be the last game that KU could win.\u00a0 Look for, at best, a four win season.\u00a0 Two wins in conference would be a <\/span><\/span>push as Tech won<\/span><\/span>\u2019t be easy in Lubbock.\u00a0 I\u2019d say, 3 up and 9 down in Rhoads last season in Ames.\u00a0 Points will be scored but without a satisfactory defense, the Cyclones will suffer another tough year.\u00a0 It could be the coach’s last in Ames.<\/span><\/span><\/h5>\n <\/p>\n<\/a>Steven Branscombe\/USA TODAY Sports<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n