Defensive Players to Watch: Iowa State at TCU

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Iowa State

Defensive Line

Again, perhaps a softball answer here, but the Iowa State defensive line is going to need to be on it’s A-game this week and probably every week after now (and every week really in conference play) with the injury pileup in the secondary. Getting pressure on the quarterback and forcing whoever it is (in this case, Josh Hoover) into uncomfortable situations in the passing game is going to be key. It will also be key for the Cyclones to limit the Horned Frog running game to try and make them as one-dimensional as possible. TCU is 11th in the country passing at just over 300 yards per game while sitting down at 108th in the country rushing at 124 yards per game. It’s time for the Iowa State defensive line to show up and to be a difference maker this season… even if Dom Orange and Tamatoa McDonough are among those listed as questionable for Saturday…

TCU

Jamel Johnson

#2 in purple this weekend on the defensive side is going to make a difference. Jamel Johnson has four interceptions so far this year, a pair in their win over SMU early in the year, and one each against Colorado and Baylor. The safety has made 62 tackles on the year (40 solo) in addition to his ability to make on the ball and will be all over the field for the Horned Frogs defense. He’s hit double-digit tackles in a game twice this year while leading the team in solo tackles and sitting second in total tackles, behind only linebacker Kaleb Elarms-Orr. When Iowa State has the ball, Rocco Becht and Co. are going to need to keep a watchful eye on #2 in the secondary. Take care of the football, and don’t give Johnson a chance to make that play that he’s made many a time already this year.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos