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ISU has one option: learn to stop the option
By Bobby La Gesse
Date Posted: 2009-09-21
Iowa State linebacker Josh Raven has an advantage.
At Mariner High School in Fort Myers, Fla., Raven played tailback on a team that ran the triple option. He remembers how it works.
But for most of the Cyclones, this week will be the first time they’ve faced the triple option in years. So in the four days before they host Army at 6 p.m. on Saturday, they’ll have to learn how to defend it all over again.
“I have a little idea about it,” Raven said.
What the Black Knights do isn’t all that different from what many high school teams do every Friday night. The quarterback can give the ball to the fullback, keep it himself or pitch it to the tailback.
In only a few weeks, Army (2-1) has perfected first-year coach Rich Ellerson’s version of it. The Black Knights are seventh in the nation with 773 rushing yards, an average of 257.7 per game.
Running back Patrick Mealy leads a balanced Army ground attack with 236 yards and a touchdown. Fullback Kinglsey Ehie (159 yards, two touchdowns), running back Jameson Carter (142 yards, two touchdowns) and quarterback Trent Steelman (134 yards, one touchdown) also get carries.
ISU coach Paul Rhoads said running an offense teams likely will see only once a year is an advantage for the Black Knights.
The Cyclones (2-1) will have only a few practices to prepare for an offense that requires defensive discipline and calls on each defender to perform a specific assignment, such as guarding a gap or shadowing the tailback. Army, meanwhile, has been perfecting its offense all fall.
“You’ve got to be able to run to beat the blocks and get leverage against their defenders to try to stop all components of the option,” Rhoads said.
ISU defensive end Rashawn Parker said he’s never faced the option before and said the key for him is to watch the offensive tackle on every play.
“They do a lot of things to try and screw us up as defensive ends,” Parker said. “They can get us thinking a little bit (but if we’re) reading the tackle and seeing what he does and reacting to it, (we can) be where we need to be,” Parker said.
Army game on Clone Zone
The ISU-Army game will be available to Clone Zone subscribers on the Internet. The Clone Zone is part of the ISU athletic department Web site, www.cyclones.com, and airs Cyclone games, press conferences and archives other ISU video and audio material.
There is no TV broadcast of the game.
Army game activities
Several Army-related events are going on along with the game. There will be an interactive display area manned by 20 soldiers. Military parachuters will land on the field at about 4:45 p.m.
Two M119 Howitzers will be fired every hour starting at noon from the Jacobson Plaza. Also, Black Hawk helicopters will fly over the stadium during the national anthem.
ISU pairing up with Special Olympics
The ISU athletic department and Special Olympics Iowa are teaming up to raise money for Special Olympic athletes in Iowa at Saturday’s game. Volunteers will be inside the Jack Trice Stadium gates collecting donations from 4:30 to 6 p.m.
Bobby La Gesse can be reached at (515) 663-6929 or rlagesse@amestrib.com.
By Bobby La Gesse
Date Posted: 2009-09-21
Linebacker Josh Raven and the Iowa State will have a unique week of preparation as it gets ready to face Army's option offense.
Tribune File photo
Tribune File photo
Iowa State linebacker Josh Raven has an advantage.
At Mariner High School in Fort Myers, Fla., Raven played tailback on a team that ran the triple option. He remembers how it works.
But for most of the Cyclones, this week will be the first time they’ve faced the triple option in years. So in the four days before they host Army at 6 p.m. on Saturday, they’ll have to learn how to defend it all over again.
“I have a little idea about it,” Raven said.
What the Black Knights do isn’t all that different from what many high school teams do every Friday night. The quarterback can give the ball to the fullback, keep it himself or pitch it to the tailback.
In only a few weeks, Army (2-1) has perfected first-year coach Rich Ellerson’s version of it. The Black Knights are seventh in the nation with 773 rushing yards, an average of 257.7 per game.
Running back Patrick Mealy leads a balanced Army ground attack with 236 yards and a touchdown. Fullback Kinglsey Ehie (159 yards, two touchdowns), running back Jameson Carter (142 yards, two touchdowns) and quarterback Trent Steelman (134 yards, one touchdown) also get carries.
ISU coach Paul Rhoads said running an offense teams likely will see only once a year is an advantage for the Black Knights.
The Cyclones (2-1) will have only a few practices to prepare for an offense that requires defensive discipline and calls on each defender to perform a specific assignment, such as guarding a gap or shadowing the tailback. Army, meanwhile, has been perfecting its offense all fall.
“You’ve got to be able to run to beat the blocks and get leverage against their defenders to try to stop all components of the option,” Rhoads said.
ISU defensive end Rashawn Parker said he’s never faced the option before and said the key for him is to watch the offensive tackle on every play.
“They do a lot of things to try and screw us up as defensive ends,” Parker said. “They can get us thinking a little bit (but if we’re) reading the tackle and seeing what he does and reacting to it, (we can) be where we need to be,” Parker said.
Army game on Clone Zone
The ISU-Army game will be available to Clone Zone subscribers on the Internet. The Clone Zone is part of the ISU athletic department Web site, www.cyclones.com, and airs Cyclone games, press conferences and archives other ISU video and audio material.
There is no TV broadcast of the game.
Army game activities
Several Army-related events are going on along with the game. There will be an interactive display area manned by 20 soldiers. Military parachuters will land on the field at about 4:45 p.m.
Two M119 Howitzers will be fired every hour starting at noon from the Jacobson Plaza. Also, Black Hawk helicopters will fly over the stadium during the national anthem.
ISU pairing up with Special Olympics
The ISU athletic department and Special Olympics Iowa are teaming up to raise money for Special Olympic athletes in Iowa at Saturday’s game. Volunteers will be inside the Jack Trice Stadium gates collecting donations from 4:30 to 6 p.m.
Bobby La Gesse can be reached at (515) 663-6929 or rlagesse@amestrib.com.
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