Big Twelve Football Preview: Iowa State Cyclones have a chance…….
Written By: Fred Pahlke
Posted in: Posted in: • July 27, 2016
Big 12 Preview: Iowa State University
Head Coach: Matt Campbell, 1st season (0-0)
First year head coach Matt Campbell (previously at Toledo) has two pieces of an offense that can be called better than average. Freshman running back Mike Warren (111.6 yards a game) and junior quarter Joel Lanning (10 TD passes and 4 interceptions) give Iowa State a fighting chance when they take the field. An offensive line of four new starters does not help but only one does not have any college experience. The wide outs, slot recievers, and tight ends are average at best in this league. On offense, with a new system being put in place, don’t look for a lot of yards and scoring, especially in the first month of the season. Offensive grade: D
The defense will be a strong point for the Cyclones, even with limited all-league performers. Kamari Cotton-Moya, a Freshman All-American two years ago comes back, off a hamstring injury last year that cost him his final six games of his sophomore season. He is one of the better safety’s in the Big 12 at 6’1 and 197 pounds. The defensive line will be tested but ISU will be adequate against the run. Six seniors will man the middle and all have extensive playing time. Defensive grade: C
Special Teams: Nothing special here. Special Teams grade: C
Eight wins in the final three seasons for the disposed head coach Paul Rhoads did not please the folks in Ames, even if Rhoads bled Cyclone colors. Matt Campbell has a good track record and given time the forcast for the Clones is partly cloudy for 2016, but sunny skies for the future. Campbell can coach and given a couple of good recruiting classes, ISU might make some headway in the conference. Excellent fan support in Ames does not hurt. The difference makers such as runner Mike Warren are needed for the northern most Big 12 team to win. Expect that to happen.Five wins would be a good season and that is a possibility if the Cyclones win games that they have a chance. But nothing is given in Coach Campbell’s first year and some blowout losses are going to happen.
Will win games: none
No chance: TCU, Baylor, Oklahoma State, Texas, Oklahoma
Could win games: Northern Iowa, Iowa, San Jose State, Kansas State, Kansas, Texas Tech, West Virginia
Prediction: 3-9; 2-7, 9th in conference
Kansas Jayhawks 2016 Football Preview
Kansas might get that first win for Coach Beaty; Big Twelve Preview
July 20, 2016
Written By: Fred Pahlke
Big 12 Preview: Kansas Jayhawks
Head Coach: David Beaty 2nd season-0-12 career
The most important game for Kansas this season will not be their visit to Manhattan in game twelve to play instate rival Kansas State. They do not have much of a chance to win that one, and will not be favored to win any other game in 2016 except their season opener with lowly Rhode Island, a FCS member. The Rams did the Jayhawks one better in 2015. They won a game, something that Kansas did not do in Head Coach David Beaty’s inaugural season in Lawrence. Thus, when the fresh Jayhawks come onto the turf at Memorial Stadium on September 3rd, they better get it on or we will see, in all probability, back-to-back winless seasons. Some Kansas fans will jump me and say that a home game with Ohio is winnable, which it just might be. But don’t think Frank Solich’s Bobcats won’t be a tough out. Ohio is a better football program right now. Put your money down at your own risk Hawk fans . Ohio will beat Kansas a week later. For Kansas to win (Memphis is the other non-conference game on the road) any other game would be more than a mild upset. This team is that bad.
Offense: With deficiencies at many positions, scoring will be a chore. Sophomore quarterback Ryan Willis will get the start and will be directed by Head Coach David Beaty who will be calling the plays. Willis threw nine scores last year and had one nice game with a 330 yard performance against Texas Tech. But then again, it was against the Red Raiders.. He suffered a wrist injury in spring ball. His back-up will be redshirt sophomore Montell Cozart. Neither signal caller can be considered upper echelon even with the positive spin by the Kansas coaching staff, Kansas will suffer at this most important position. As for the offensive line, mediocre at best. Texas A&M transfer LaQuvionte Gonzalez had 26 catches the past two seasons for the Aggies and will be the best receiver Kansas can offer. At 5’10 and 170, he is average at best. Running backs currently show no big time talent. Kansas will not be able to score enough to keep pace in most games. Grade: D
Defense: South Carolina transfer linebacker Marcquis Roberts will lead the Hawks as he is the best player on this side of the ball. He played all twelve games for the Gamcocks in 2012, starting in eleven. Solid linebacker Joe Dineen Jr, a 6’2 225 junior will again make a presence. Fish Smithson, a 5’11 201 senior averaged ten tackles a game last year. He is a nice stopper and again will be looked upon making touchdown saving from his roaming safety position. Junior College transfers Isi Holani at defensive tackle (6’3 325) will start. Defensive end Dorance Armstrong Jr, at 6’4, 241 will be counted on as its new anchor on the defensive line. His play last year was just so so. As a group, this defensive unit is not going to stop many people and will be on the field more than off. Holding the score down will be difficult, especially against average to better offensive elevens. Look for the scoreboard to ring up like a slot machine on most Saturday afternoons. Grade: D
Special Teams: Nothing to write home about. Grade: D
In total: Head Coach Beaty has bit off more than he can swallow. His recruiting into the Texas high schools should lend to wins in seasons three and four, but conference wins sooner than later are just not happening. Five new assistant coaches tell that the direction upward is going to be slow. I will repeat, this Jayhawk team is bad. The coaching is good but the recruiting has been disappointing, losing a hometown recruit, Amani Bledsoe Jr, a four-star high school defender to Oklahoma. With respect to this Power Five bottom feeder, Kansas should beat the Rams of Rhode Island and finish their 2016 season at 1-11 without a conference win.
Can win: Rhode Island, Ohio
Prediction: 1-11 and 0-9 in conference. 10th place in the Big 12
The most important game for Kansas this season will not be their visit to Manhattan in game twelve to play instate rival Kansas State. They do not have much of a chance to win that one, and will not be favored to win any other game in 2016 except their season opener with lowly Rhode Island, a FCS member. The Rams did the Jayhawks one better in 2015. They won a game, something that Kansas did not do in Head Coach David Beaty’s inaugural season in Lawrence. Thus, when the fresh Jayhawks come onto the turf at Memorial Stadium on September 3rd, they better get it on or we will see, in all probability, back-to-back winless seasons. Some Kansas fans will jump me and say that a home game with Ohio is winnable, which it just might be. But don’t think Frank Solich’s Bobcats won’t be a tough out. Ohio is a better football program right now. Put your money down at your own risk Hawk fans . Ohio will beat Kansas a week later. For Kansas to win (Memphis is the other non-conference game on the road) any other game would be more than a mild upset. This team is that bad.
Offense: With deficiencies at many positions, scoring will be a chore. Sophomore quarterback Ryan Willis will get the start and will be directed by Head Coach David Beaty who will be calling the plays. Willis threw nine scores last year and had one nice game with a 330 yard performance against Texas Tech. But then again, it was against the Red Raiders.. He suffered a wrist injury in spring ball. His back-up will be redshirt sophomore Montell Cozart. Neither signal caller can be considered upper echelon even with the positive spin by the Kansas coaching staff, Kansas will suffer at this most important position. As for the offensive line, mediocre at best. Texas A&M transfer LaQuvionte Gonzalez had 26 catches the past two seasons for the Aggies and will be the best receiver Kansas can offer. At 5’10 and 170, he is average at best. Running backs currently show no big time talent. Kansas will not be able to score enough to keep pace in most games. Grade: D
Defense: South Carolina transfer linebacker Marcquis Roberts will lead the Hawks as he is the best player on this side of the ball. He played all twelve games for the Gamcocks in 2012, starting in eleven. Solid linebacker Joe Dineen Jr, a 6’2 225 junior will again make a presence. Fish Smithson, a 5’11 201 senior averaged ten tackles a game last year. He is a nice stopper and again will be looked upon making touchdown saving from his roaming safety position. Junior College transfers Isi Holani at defensive tackle (6’3 325) will start. Defensive end Dorance Armstrong Jr, at 6’4, 241 will be counted on as its new anchor on the defensive line. His play last year was just so so. As a group, this defensive unit is not going to stop many people and will be on the field more than off. Holding the score down will be difficult, especially against average to better offensive elevens. Look for the scoreboard to ring up like a slot machine on most Saturday afternoons. Grade: D
Special Teams: Nothing to write home about. Grade: D
In total: Head Coach Beaty has bit off more than he can swallow. His recruiting into the Texas high schools should lend to wins in seasons three and four, but conference wins sooner than later are just not happening. Five new assistant coaches tell that the direction upward is going to be slow. I will repeat, this Jayhawk team is bad. The coaching is good but the recruiting has been disappointing, losing a hometown recruit, Amani Bledsoe Jr, a four-star high school defender to Oklahoma. With respect to this Power Five bottom feeder, Kansas should beat the Rams of Rhode Island and finish their 2016 season at 1-11 without a conference win.
Can win: Rhode Island, Ohio
Prediction: 1-11 and 0-9 in conference. 10th place in the Big 12
