The Cyclones keys to victory against TCU

AMES - Pride and confidence are on the line today when Iowa State travels to TCU for a Big 12 football game on Saturday.

The Cyclones have played with plenty of the former, but far less of the latter during their four-game slide, and must find a way to have fun on the field again as they seek to secure bowl eligibility for the seventh time in the past eight seasons.

Perhaps going on the road to be jeered and slighted after suffering two straight tough home losses is precisely what this banged-up ISU team needs.

Keys to Victory

Hound Hoover

Iowa State’s defense is a shell of itself. Four of its top players — cornerbacks Jeremiah Cooper and Jontez Williams, and linebacker Will McLaughlin — are out of the season and another key player, safety Ta’Shawn James, is out at least this week.

So that helps form a caveat when it comes to pressuring TCU quarterback Josh Hoover, who’s ultra-efficient and lethally precise in the passing game. Lots of inexperienced players have been forced to play for the Cyclones’ defense, especially in the secondary, where starting safety Jamison Patton also could be out. He was listed as doubtful in the initial injury report.

But ISU’s too-few sacks have been coming mostly from linebackers lately, as McLaughlin blitzed for two against BYU, and the team couldn’t take down Arizona State backup quarterback Jeff Sims once in the backfield in last week’s loss. The Cyclones simply can’t let Hoover park in the pocket and calmly cycle through all his reads. His top targets, such as wide receiver Eric McAllister, are too good and will get open against that inexperienced ISU secondary.

TCU’s rushing game also ranks last in the Big 12 (124 yards per game), so the Cyclones should be able to contain that part of TCU’s offense and judiciously create pressure on Hoover when the Horned Frogs that to the air.

Be aware, be precise

ISU’s defense has been stung by a handful of big plays in each game during the team’s four-game skid, and that’s largely because someone missed their read, fit the wrong gap or couldn’t disengage from a blocker to make a play.

Sims made them pay last week, particularly on the 88-yard touchdown run that proved to be decisive. He ran through one tackle and was gone. The good news for the Cyclones is Hoover — although he’s reasonably athletic — isn’t a dual-threat quarterback, which should help the defense be less discombobulated. But ISU’s players on both sides of the ball need to be in the right spots at the right time at all times if the Cyclones are to finally notch their sixth win as underdogs on the road.

The wide receivers haven’t been on the same page with quarterback Rocco Becht during the team’s recent struggles, which is one reason he’s thrown just two touchdown passes to five interceptions in the past three losses. In short, better communication will yield more desirable results.

All take, no give

The Cyclones forced three turnovers last week against Arizona State — all by Sims — but still lost. That proves that winning the turnover battle (ISU lost one, on a Becht interception) doesn’t guarantee wins, but it does make victory far more likely.

Hoover’s thrown just six interceptions this season, and only one in home games, but the Horned Frogs have lost three fumbles, so there will be opportunities for takeaways, which must be turned into points every time.

The Cyclones’ offense has turned the ball over at least once in each of the four straight losses. ISU can’t afford to give TCU a single extra offensive possession on Saturday if I hopes to secure the upset win on the road.

Prediction

The Cyclones are in deep danger of experiencing their third five-game losing streak in the Matt Campbell era, and the litany of mistakes that have marred the previous four setbacks must vanish if they’re to have a chance against the Horned Frogs in Fort Worth.

ISU improves and plays cleaner football than it has recently, but can’t contain TCU quarterback Josh Hoover in the passing game. Horned Frogs score the winning touchdown in the closing minutes.

TCU 38, Iowa State 31

Comments: robgray18@icloud.com