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Iowa State football had a lot of success on the defensive side of the ball last season.
The Cyclones were top-40 defense in points allowed, rushing yards and third-down stop percentage, top-50 in yardage allowed and produced NFL talents like TJ Tampa on their way to a bowl berth and 7-6 season. Those numbers alone were enough to push Iowa State to success.
However, one area prevented the Cyclone defense from turning good into great:
The pass rush.
Iowa State ranked 109th in sacks, only six power-five programs recorded fewer. The group was 101st in total tackles for loss. So, while the pass defense had talents like Tampa and several All-Big 12 safeties on the back end, they struggled when forced to stay in pass coverage for long stretches. Even with all of that talent, they ranked 73rd in passing yards allowed, slightly under the top half in the nation.
More: Iowa State football’s Matt Campbell on the 2024 season outlook: ‘A lot of work to be done’
The stat sheet lays it out clear as day: the Cyclones did not get to the quarterback enough. However, senior J.R. Singleton saw two silver linings.
“We were close a lot of times,” Singleton said. “But, we were young.”
For Singleton and the defensive line, they felt they were close to unlocking something special. Missed tackles and missed opportunities were left on the field for a unit that felt it was too green for the moment.
Heading into 2024, coach Matt Campbell and the rest of the staff see a unit that is ready to not only improve but emerge as a strength.
“We were really young on that D-line a year ago, so we did take a step back,” Campbell said. “But, what I saw emerge this offseason is… we got older, we got a little bit more veteran and what you’ve seen is there was great talent in there. It’s that talent beginning to play consistently to its ability.”
How will Iowa State…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/iowa-state-footballs-defensive-line-190114539.html
Author : The Des Moines Register
Publish date : 2024-08-02 19:01:14
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