Tulsa will run-and-run on Saturday in Ames

AMES - It's a good thing Iowa State linebacker Jake Knott's fully healthy.

Breaks and blows will be few and far between when Tulsa's offense is on the field in Saturday's 2:30 p.m. season opener at Jack Trice Stadium.

“It's going to be tough to defend and we're really going to have to be on our game,” said Knott, who combined with A.J. Klein for 331 tackles last season.

Why?

Tulsa puts the “fast tempo” into so-called fast tempo spread offenses.

The Golden Hurricane were out-possessed by more than five minutes per game last season, but they outscored foes by six points while winning eight games and earning a seventh bowl trip in nine games.

“They're a very explosive team, offensively and defensively,” said Cyclone free safety and Tulsa native Jacques Washington. “I know what they're capable of and I'm trying to keep everyone focused.”

H-back Willie Carter led the team with 61 catches for 868 yards last season.

Receiver Bryan Burnham poses a downfield threat.

Running backs Ja'Terian Douglas and Trey Watts combined for 1,764 yards on the ground last season.

And quarterback Cody Green .... has yet to take a competitive snap for Tulsa behind center.

“I suspect they're going to do what they did last year,” Wally Burnham said. “It's fast tempo, It's a lot of personnel running the same plays. I don't know what (Green) can do or can't do.”

The Cyclones hope Green, a former Nebraska player, won't be sure after Saturday, either.

Small but swift ISU corners Jeremy Reeves (5-7) and Jansen Watson (5-9) plan to take big passing plays out of Green's rebuilding effort.

“Just get out fast,” Watson said. “Trust everything.”

That applies to coaching, technique and reads.

Precision will be required.

“They're definitely going to take shots,” Washington said of Tulsa's quick-strike approach. “I think they take nine or 10 shots a game. More than anybody in the country they're going to take shots.”