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Iowa State University Athletics
Offense Thriving In Year Two Of Campbell Era
09.13.2017 | Football
AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State offense has been sharp in its first two games of 2017. The statistics prove this.
This shouldn't be a shock, however, because the offensive resurgence actually began in the final half of the 2016 season.
After a slow start in 2016, Tom Manning's offense started to pick up steam. By the end of the season, the Cyclones still managed to set a school record for passing yards per game (258.8) and their 421.6 average yards of total offense ranked fourth in school history.
ISU currently has a streak of five-straight games with 400 yards of total offense dating back to last season, averaging 499.5 yards per game during that span. That streak ties a school record.
Scoring has also increased. ISU has clicked 40 points on the scoreboard in its first two games (42 vs. UNI, 41 vs. Iowa) of a season for the first time since 2008. Another 40-point outing vs. Akron this weekend would tie the school mark for consecutive games with 40 or more points.
The last time ISU had three-straight games with 40+ points was in 1976, the highest scoring team in ISU history at 33.5 points per game.
What makes ISU's offense so potent is its diversity, finding success on the ground and through the air.
Junior QB Jacob Park, who is averaging 309.0 passing yards and is tied for ninth nationally in touchdown passes (6), has a slew of quality receivers to throw to.
Allen Lazard and Hakeem Butler are one of 10 tandems nationally to average 6.0 catches per game through the first two weeks. They have each recorded a 100-yard receiving game this season to increase ISU's school-record streak of consecutive games with a 100-yard receiver to five (Lazard-4, Butler-1).
The ground game is solidified by sophomore David Montgomery, who is third in the Big 12 in rushing at 97.0 yards per game.
Montgomery, who is averaging 107.0 yards per game, with three 100-yard outings in his last five games, has been a huge bright spot with his tenacity and bruising runs. The Doak Walker Award nominee leads the nation in forced missed tackles with 22, eight more than any other player in FBS.
"I think what you see from David, through even these first two football games, is the work ethic and the commitment to self and team that he has," Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell said. "I think that's what really makes him special for us. Obviously, for our fan base and watching him play, he plays relentlessly, but what he does in terms of a heartbeat for this football program and this football team, outside of those great runs, it's nothing short of incredible for a young guy to be able to do that."
The Cyclone line has also played a significant part of the team's offensive success.
ISU has allowed only one sack this season and is perfect (4-of-4) on fourth down conversions, tying for first nationally. The Cyclones also have an unblemished mark in the red zone, converting points on all nine possessions (7 TDs, 2 FGs) inside the opponents' 20-yard line.
"I think Jacob has done a really good job of getting rid of the football, making his reads, and distributing the ball where it needs to be," Campbell said. "But, a lot of credit should go to the line. We also use our backs a little bit in protection. I think it has been a combination of everybody so far this season. Certainly knowing what our identity is, and what's our game plan to give our team a chance, I think has allowed us to be successful in the first two games."
Players Mentioned
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