I need to put credit where credit is due, and that is the defense showed up in Fort Worth against the Horned Frogs a few weeks back. Iowa State looked solid, had very few broken coverages, played with grit, and got this amazing sound bite that makes me hope Jon Heacock never leaves.
Iowa State
With Jalon Daniels being the star of the Kansas offense, it’s only fitting that we focus on our seniors along the front six. Domonique Orange and
Tamatoa McDonough (when healthy) have been our anchors on the defensive line this season, and Caleb Bacon at linebacker has been a serious help for pass rushing, along with run gap support. They have a tough task this week in keeping a mobile quarterback in check, as well as staying home on play-action and RPO passes.
Big Citrus and Tamatoa have combined for 43 tackles and two sacks, and Dom has a big hit, pass breakup on the stat sheet. The issue some may see is that they aren’t flashy, and they don’t have a lot of sacks. But their ability to break loose or eat up multiple blocks to allow another rusher to get to the quarterback and force an error cannot be forgotten. Most of the defense’s top plays were off the defensive line and linebackers getting home and forcing Josh Hoover into making bad throws.
Kansas
Leroy Harris III has been on a mission this year for the Kansas Jayhawks. In 10 games, he has accumulated 25 total tackles, 5.5 for a loss, and 4.5 of those being sacks. Even as an edge rusher, he also has four pass deflections and would’ve had a pick-six if it wasn’t for a flag that took it back.
Iowa State’s offensive line is going to have to know where Leroy is at all times since he is able to be so versatile. Be on the lookout for Number 33 and see how well we can adapt our blocking to prevent him from being in Rocco’s face.
