Iowa State defense putting teams in a Cyclone
The biggest strength for this Iowa State team has been their defense, a defense highlighted by Jeremiah Cooper and TJ Tampa. Tampa was a second team All-Big 12 selection in 2022, and a 2023 Preseason First Team selection voted on by the media. Tampa is arguably one of the best lockdown cornerbacks in the Big 12 and has been a huge part of the Cyclones success over the last few seasons. Jeremiah Cooper has burst onto the scene this season as the sophomore is tied for the nations lead in interceptions with four.
“Iowa State has finished top three in the Big 12 in terms of defense the last six years. They have always been a really good defensive football team,” Scott Satterfield said. “It’s a unique defense, a little different than what most teams play, basing out of a three down, they will drop eight frequently. They do a really nice job defensively. It will be a great challenge again for us. Jeremiah Cooper is a guy that is very athletic, has good hips, can run. They are an aggressive secondary, they are very physical. They aren’t scared to mix things up with the receivers. They force a lot of tight throws. They don’t give you those big windows, they stay on their guys pretty heavily. Cooper has done a great job this season reading those 8–10-yard routes, where he has jumped some resulting in those interceptions, he did it vs Oklahoma on a pivot route to Stoops. Cooper has nice anticipation, the way their defensive scheme is, their safeties have an opportunity to get interceptions the way they rotate each other.”
However, for the Bearcats, they know they will have to be smart with the ball offensively and not let those two experienced defensive backs force Emory Jones into a turnover. “That defense does a lot of unique things,” Emory Jones said. “They have a lot of guys back there playing the 3-3-5. It’s a defense to really stop the RPO’s. We really have to be careful throwing the ball every single play, they have a lot of guys there in the middle of the field. They really defend the flats really well; they really cover the field well. I just have to be on time and very accurate come Saturday.“
The Cyclones defense is something the Bearcats haven’t seen much of this season, but it is something they are very familiar with for those still around that played for former head coach Luke Fickell, as it is a 3-3-5 defense. A defense that consists of five defensive backs, instead of four, something Mike Tressel and the Bearcats ran very well over the last few seasons.
