As we move on to week three for the UConn Huskies football team, it’s time for another Q&A with a blogger from the opponent.
This week, Ross from Cyclone Planet, reached out to me to answer some questions which can be over at Cyclone Planet. Ross was also happy to return the favor as well. Be sure to check out Cyclone Planet if you’re an Iowa State fan and you can follow him on Twitter @CyclonePlanet as well.
Now on to the questions for the week.
1. After the big win on Saturday over Iowa, do you expect a letdown from the Cyclones?
Cyclone Planet: Paul Rhoads has three signature wins in his career so far. In his first year he knocked off Nebraska in Lincoln in 2009 and then beat Texas in Austin the following year. After the Nebraska win, the Cyclones lost at Texas A&M, 35-10. The Cyclones were losing at half-time to a bad Kansas team the week after they beat the Horns. In the second half, the Cyclones scored 21 points and eventually beat the Jayhawks, 28-16.
I don’t think the Cyclones are going to have letdown against the Huskies. I’m sure Paul Rhoads has been preaching to the team to focus on this week’s game and put the last week’s win behind them. The players seem focus from what I’ve read on Twitter and through the local press.
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2. UConn’s defense has allowed just 138 yards rushing this season. How will Shontrelle Johnson try and breakthrough the stout defense of the Huskies?
CP: Shontrelle Johnson’s success depends on the play of the offensive line. In the first game against Northern Iowa, All-Big 12 OT Kelechi Osemele didn’t play a lot due to an injury and OG Hayworth Hicks didn’t play due to a suspension. Shontrelle Johnson struggled and only rushed for 27 yards on 9 carries against Northern Iowa. Johnson rushed for 108 yards on 18 carries the following week against the Hawkeyes when both Osemele and Hicks returned to the field.
Shontrelle Johnson’s greatest strength is his ability to change directions in an instant and juke past defenders.
3. How do the Cyclones plan to stop the rushing attack of the Huskies?
CP: Iowa State will be able to stop the rushing attack of the Huskies if the defensive line can hold their ground and allow the linebackers to make the plays. Iowa State’s defense is led by their two All-Big 12 caliber linebackers in A.J. Klein and Jake Knott. Alongside Knott and Klein is Matt Tau’fo’ou who racked up 8 tackles against Iowa. I think you get my point that Iowa State’s linebacking core is pretty dang good and may be the best in the Big 12. Besides the linebackers, the secondary have done a good job of coming up and stopping the runner. I’ve noticed free safety Jacques Washington in particular making some plays near the line of scrimmage. Stopping the run should be Iowa State’s main priority on defense on Friday.
4. How can UConn put pressure on Steele Jantz behind your huge offensive line?
CP: Your best bet it is to attack the freshman center Tom Farniok and sophomore left guard Ethan Tuftee because of their inexperience.
Farniok, Tuftee, and the offensive line as a whole were great against Iowa but the performance against Northern Iowa wasn’t the same. When Osemele and Hicks were out of the game, the remaining members of the line really struggled. Northern Iowa was putting a lot of pressure on Steele Jantz, sometimes with only a 3-man rush. It was the worst performance by the Cyclone offensive line in a long time but like I said earlier, the line was great against the Hawkeyes. If the Huskies get pressure on Jantz, they must be able to contain him. Last week, the Hawkeyes got pressure a couple times but Jantz was able to somehow escape the pocket and make big plays. Cyclone fans were calling him “Houdini” after the game on Saturday.
5. Besides the stars, who are one or two players Huskies fans should keep their eyes on
CP: The first player I would watch out for is wide receiver Aaron Horne. This is Horne’s first year with the Cyclones after he transferred with Steele Jantz from City College of San Francisco.
Horne was Jantz’s go-to guy in the Northern Iowa game as he caught seven passes including one that lead to the game-winning touchdown.
He made a big play on a short pass and it ended up being a 57-yard gain against Iowa last week. Without him, I doubt we would currently be 2-0. Another player that flies under the radar is punter Kirby Van Der Kamp. I know, I’m naming a punter as a player to watch but is crazy how much of a difference this guy makes. As a freshman last year, he had the 13th highest average in the nation. He consistently puts the opponent in bad field position and has been a key to Iowa State’s early success.
6. What is your prediction for the final score of the game?
CP: It will be interesting to see how the Cyclones perform on national television and being on the road for the first time this year. I think the Clones will escape East Hartford with a win, 24-14.
