2003 Statistics

Quarterback
Austin Flynn started seven games a year ago, but failed to etch himself as "the man". Now he and Bret Meyer will battle into the fall to see who'll emerge as the guy McCarney and new offensive coordinator Barney Cotton want to start in this ambiguous offense. Both have the mobility McCarney has favors, but neither have a firm grip on their role. Meyer saw more time with the first group than Flynn, but his performance in the spring game did little to keep him in the driver's seat. A wildcard to look out for if nothing improves is JUCO transfer, Terrance Highsmith. Someone has to take control, or ISU risks another bland campaign.

Running Back
Cotton comes over directly from Nebraska, where the Huskers finished seventh in the country in rushing offense (84 spots higher than the Cyclones). He has just the right guy to revolve around in Stevie Hicks. A poor man's Ricky Williams, Hicks has impressed the coaching staff ever since his arrival three years ago. Cotton's entrance will give Hicks more of a role so as to take advantage of the type of back he is. When healthy, he poses as big a threat running the ball as any back in the Big 12. As good as he is, though, he might still be looking over his shoulder at some impressive freshmen, headed by Jason Scales, who enrolled early to partake in spring drills. Improvement is destined in this area and Cotton is the right man to bring Iowa State back to the status they had in the nineties as one of the country's premier running teams.

Receiver
Thin. Raw. Unproven. Throw in any marginally qualitative synonyms you want and they'll likely be accurate in describing the receivers for ISU. Put it this way, the team's leading returning receiver is Todd Miller, who had ONE catch last season. RSF Todd Blythe has good size and deceptive speed that will test opposing defenses. Though playing in just his first season for the Cyclones, he'll quickly become the go-to-guy for whichever QB arises. Miller also returns, but his scrappy abilities are more suited for an offense that throws the ball more. McCarney also feels that if the aforementioned Highsmith doesn't crack #1 at QB, Miller could be an all-conference WR. This unit is destined to be what most opposing defenses will clamp down on as their focus, so these guys will likely be out on islands and in two-deeps until they prove they can beat more-experienced secondaries.

Tight End and Offensive Line
Tight Ends are abundant and the Cyclones will regularly throw three in the mix. James Wright is the better receiver, but all three possess blocking abilities that will come in handy in helping revive the run-game.

The O-line is the security of this offense, bringing back four starters. Brant and Zehr played well as freshmen last year and return to anchor their veteran comrades. Injuries have plagued center Luke Vander Sanden the last two seasons, and the shuffling has consequently affected the QB play. Responsibility will weigh heavy on this group as the effort to improve the run game increases. A healthy, consistent season will mean positive results all-around. Anything otherwise will spell out the lack of quality depth here.

OFFENSIVE BREAKDOWN
The run game will improve, but the passing dimensions are still iffy. The offensive line is one of the Big 12's best. So why doesn't this offense fill us with assurance(s)? Because (almost) anyone can stop the run if there's no substantial threat of the pass. One of the QBs in the mix needs to make a point to his teammates about leadership. If that doesn't happen, this offense will struggle to break 2003's 21 TDs and 173 points scored. We think the new coordinator will bring ISU back to respectability on this side of the ball, but how long this takes is directly proportionate to the QB position's development. Injuries on the line would quickly negate any expectations.

Defensive Line
ISU displays one of the scariest fronts in the Big 12. They're led by last year's freshman sensation, Jason Berryman, who finished with 110 tackles (61 solo) from his rush end spot! He runs like a safety, hits like a linebacker, and has the strength of a DT. You're likely to see two or even three bodies responsible for keeping him away from the ball, so the adjunct presence of his line mates, Curvey, Leaders, and Johnson will be paramount. As a unit, these guys totaled 313 tackles and 21 TFLs- a very active bunch. But in 2003, 5.0 yards per try for opponent's rushing average, 14 total sacks, and 34 rushing TDs allowed mean these guys have much to prove before their 109th-ranked run-stopping efforts are meaningful.

Linebacker
MLB Brandon Brown is a tackling machine, finishing among the top three in that area for the Cyclones the last two years. He's out of the classic LB mold with size and strength, but what stands out is his speed to the play/ball. Questions lie on the outside. Tyson Smith makes the move from DE to LB, where he excelled in high school, but he's better fit against the run than the pass. Teams will look to exploit this, so the line's needed development will directly affect his impact. ISU has some depth that will rotate often until a concrete group materializes. With both weak all-around defensive results from 2003 coupled with how thin this corps will likely be spread, do not expect the LBs to be able to bail out the other units consistently.

Defensive Back
This is the weakest group on defense. Hobbs is the veteran, and Moser has seen the field as a linebacker. Paris has problems with consistency and game maturity, and Poullard is exploited for being undersized - opposing QBs will throw his way early and often until he gives them reason to do otherwise. McCarney brought in some JUCO help to bolster this crowd, namely CBs LaMarcus Hicks and Josh Hargis (as well as FS Jerry Gair). The latter two finished the top two in INTs among the JUCO ranks a year ago. Poor numbers here could have been worse had teams not been able to run all over ISU. But with so many new faces, this unit could easily surprise, too.

DEFENSIVE BREAKDOWN
Numbers from '03 were dismal, especially when in such a strong conference. 53 total TDs allowed (ranked 109th in scoring defense), foe's 42% third-down conversion rate, allowing (at least) 99 points per quarter as they gave 200-plus yard both on the ground and in the air per game - this all equals only one way to go, up. Defensive coordinator John Skladany has built some pretty impressive defenses, and they all showcased stellar lines. This line has the potential to rank right up there with the best of them. However, their success will depend on how much agony the DBs place on the opposing passing game. If they can mesh, solidify and play stubborn pass defense, that will allow Skladany to put more men near the line of scrimmage and take away the short game.