 TOLEDOROCKETS.NETYour source for information on Rocket Football! |
TOLEDOROCKETS.NETYour source for information on Rocket Football! |
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By Mike Sopher Just three days away from the season opener in Ames, Iowa, and the Cyclones appear to be the favorites for this highly anticipated matchup. But Toledo is used to being the underdogs in these situations. Iowa State looks to be in contention for the Big 12 North title this season. And with the offensive firepower to go along with a veteran offensive line returning, it’s probably a no brainier that the Cyclones are poised for an 8-9 win season despite a tough schedule. Signal caller Bret Meyer, a Maxwell Award nominee, is possibly one of the best quarterbacks the Rocket defense will face this season. The Cyclones relied heavily on Meyer’s arm last season, and may continue to do so early on with a questionable running game. Meyer’s targets for 2006 begin with two highly talented receivers in Todd Blythe and Austin Flynn. Both combined for 107 catches, 1,624 yards, and 12 touchdowns last season. Flynn draws comparisons with Toledo’s Steve Odom in that both are reliable playmakers that can break off into big runs. Blythe on the other hand is a 6-5 target who will score in the redzone as his large frame is surely a target for several fade routes. Defensively, the Cyclones lose several starters in the secondary and the defensive line but still should be formidable in stopping the run. Although Toledo’s spread offensive with its various formations is hard for any opponent to slow down much less stop, Amstutz and his staff have been known for not opening up the playbook this early into the season. Expect Toledo to be conservative much of the first half with a few looks downfield, but mostly testing this Cyclone defense on the ground. The key for this Cyclone defense is to get to Clint Cochran early and often. If the young Toledo quarterback makes some mistakes early on, it could be a long night for the Rockets. Iowa St wins if… • Meyer has a big game. He is the heart and soul of this offense and if given the time to pick apart Toledo’s secondary, Iowa State will easily score in the thirties. • They create turnovers. Cochran is a young, untested quarterback who may get rattled if Toledo doesn’t move the ball early on, gets sacked several times, or if the Cyclone secondary picks off a few passes. True, the Cyclone defense is young, but a few early stops against Toledo will shift the momentum of the game. • The offensive line is as good as advertised. With depth, experience, and lots of senior leadership, many Iowa State fans, including Coach Dan McCarney, consider this year’s group the best ever. If the line can protect Meyer and give him plenty of time to look downfield, and if the Cyclones can establish some sort of a ground attack, the Rockets will have headaches trying to slow down this potent offense. Toledo wins if… • They can get pressure on Bret Meyer. Mike Alston and Toledo’s front three needs to have a big game to keep Toledo in this one. If Alston can get to Meyer similarly to what happened with Jordan Palmer in Mobile, the Rockets may get some key stops early in the game. The battle is won in the trenches and the Rockets will be tested against this talented offensive line. • Cochran defies the critics. Yes, Toledo is breaking in a new quarterback and that is never a good sign on a bowl caliber team. But Toledo’s history with quarterbacks suggests that Cochran should be fine. A strong first half to go along with a few touchdown passes will rattle the young Cyclone defense and may propel Toledo into a huge momentum swing if the Rockets get on the board early and often. • Coach Tom Amstutz can open up the playbook. Toledo Tom has enough offensive weapons to give the Cyclones trouble but he needs to give Cochran some leverage in throwing the ball downfield. If Amstutz and offensive coordinator John Shannon stick to a conservative but occasional aggressive game plan, the Rockets will be able to move the football. However, if the Rockets run for first and second down and then look for a quick slant play on third down, it could be a long night. It appears that Iowa State will be ready for Toledo. Coach McCarney has broken down film from every Toledo game last season and has shown his team every possible Toledo formation that Amstutz may throw at them. The Cyclones are not taking Toledo lightly. On the other side, Amstutz knows Iowa State is a formidable opponent. Despite Toledo’s lack of success on the road against BCS schools, Amstutz is itching to leave Ames with a victory. The Rockets want to build on last year’s monumental win over UTEP and I expect them to come out aggressive and looking to make plays. This game will be closer than the experts think, but Iowa State should pull this one out in the last few minutes of the game. Hopefully, I am wrong on this one. Prediction: Toledo 31 Iowa State 34 Have a question or comment for Mike? Email |