By Chris Williams, CycloneFanatic.com Publisher
Going “inside the numbers” is kind of a tough thing to do after only one week of football but I’m going to attempt to do so right now on CF. A lot of you might remember this weekly column from last year. Again, I cannot stress how lame trying to dissect statistics after one week of mostly lopsided matchups actually is. So what I’ll try to do here is point out some positive, negative and interesting tidbits that have to do with your Cyclones.
CLICK HERE to check out all of these stats in their entirety.
Note: Sunday and Monday games are not included in the following numbers
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
– Iowa State’s sophomore linebacker A.J. Klein recorded 15 tackles against Northern Illinois last Thursday. Only one player in America had more tackles than Klein in week one. That was Oregon State defensive back Lance Mitchell, who had 18 in a loss against TCU. Tied for second with Klein in tackles at 15 are Tim Fort (Eastern Michigan) and Tony Dye (UCLA).
– Speaking of Iowa State’s young linebackers, Jake Knott’s two interceptions against Northern Illinois have him atop of the nation’s chart in that category. Only one other player in America picked off two passes in college football’s opening weekend. That was Mississippi State defensive back Maurice Langston.
– Iowa State quarterback Austen Arnaud racked up 310 total yards in last Thursday night’s win and after one game, he’s 10th in the nation in that category. Arnaud is in good company too. Michigan’s sophomore quarterback Denard Robinson tops the chart with 383 yards. Other notables in the top 10 are North Carolina’s T.J. Yates, Arizona’s Nick Foles, Texas A&M’s Jerrod Johnson and Stanford’s Andrew Luck.
THE OFFENSE
Iowa State’s offense put up 403 total yards in week one, a stat that ranks the Cyclones 58th nationally and sixth in the Big 12. Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Nebraska, Baylor and Oklahoma top the Cyclones in that category.
The Cyclones passed for 265 yards against Northern Illinois, which puts them at number three in the Big 12 in pass offense and 32nd nationally.
Iowa State’s 138 rushing yards ranks the Cyclones 69th overall and eight in the Big 12.
THE DEFENSE
After week one, Iowa State’s defense is ranked in the top five in one category. That is pass efficiency defense. Northern Illinois only gained 3.21 yards per passing attempt last Thursday. That stat ranks Wally Burnham’s defense third nationally and first in the Big 12 conference.
To carry on from that, Iowa State is ranked 15th nationally in pass defense, after only giving up 93 passing yards to Northern Illinois. The Huskies were 14-for-29 in the passing game against Iowa State, with a completion percentage of 48.28.
The Cyclones are currently the nation’s 71st ranked rush defense, after giving up 156 yards on the ground to Northern Illinois.
After giving up 10 points, Iowa State is tied for 28th nationally in scoring defense.
Combine all of that and the Cyclones are currently sitting at number 32 nationally in total defense and fifth in the Big 12.
OTHER TIDBITS
– Big 12 running backs had a huge weekend. Oklahoma State’s Kendall Hunter ran for 257 yards against Washington State. Kansas State’s Daniel Thomas ran for 234 yards against UCLA. Oklahoma’s DeMarco Murray rushed for 218 yards against Utah State. Those backs are currently one, two and three on the nation’s rushing leaders chart.
– Iowa State’s three week one turnovers ties the Cyclones for last on that chart. Kansas also lost three turnovers.
– Needless to say, Iowa State’s average of 18 yards per punt ranks the Cyclones last in the Big 12 and 102nd nationally.
– Nebraska rushed for 289 yards as a team on Saturday in their win against Western Kentucky. What’s interesting is that no Husker carried the ball more than seven times. Quarterback Taylor Martinez lead the Huskers in rushing with 127 yards.
