Season Preview: How OSU’s Aggressive Defense Can Slow Down Iowa State’s Balanced Attack

The biggest news for Iowa State’s offense heading into 2018 was the sixth year of eligibility which was granted to quarterback Kyle Kempt.

Let’s take a look at Kempt, the weapons around him and how Oklahoma State would like to slow them down.

Scouting Report

Kyle Kempt is low-key one of the best options at quarterback in a retooling league and he brings a couple of underrated traits to Iowa State’s offense, not the least of which being experience.

Kempt has been a classic college football journeyman. He spent two seasons on the bench at Oregon State before a year at Hutchinson Community College. He finally arrived in Ames for the 2016 season in time to attempt two total passes behind the likes of Jacob Park and QB-turned-LB Joel Lanning.

But four weeks into the 2017 campaign, his would-be final year, Kempt was thrust into a starter’s role to spell Park who had taken a leave of absence. His opponent? The Sooners in Norman.

His debut went about as well as anyone could expect as Kempt tossed the rock for 343 yards and three scores with no picks while completing 75 percent of his passes.

He proceeded to lead the Cyclones to their first win in Norman since 1990 and just their second win over the Sooners since 1961. The ‘clones were riding an 18-game losing streak to OU.

Against OSU in Ames, Kempt was held to limited action due to a shoulder injury he sustained a week earlier in Morgantown. But he still managed a 12-of-18 showing with 101 yards and a score before leaving the game in the first half.

Kempt’s Supporting Cast

The Cyclones are retooling a bit along the offensive line — though they return four linemen who have at least some starting experience.

After Allen Lazard’s 16th year of eligibility finally ended. ISU also lost as senior receivres Marchie Murdock and Trever Ryen. Those three accounted for 54 percent of Iowa State’s receiver production last year. But the Cyclones have some playmakers like Kareem Hunt, Deshaunte Jones and others, and welcome 2018 four-star receiver and Top 300 recruit Joseph Scates.

And we haven’t even mentioned the beast that is David Montgomery. The junior running back tied preseason all-conference votes with Justice Hill which resulted in a third RB on the list. Kempt will lean on Montgomery heavily and he is a load for anyone. Just ask OSU’s linebackers who were punished for 111 yards and three scores on 5 yards per carry in on that rainy day in Ames.

How will OSU’s defense hold up?

As Mike Gundy would say, we’ll know a lot more about this team (and this defense) when the Cyclones come to town in early October. But right now, in August, things are much less clear.

We know that Jim Knowles’ philosophy is a stark contrast from what we’ve grown accustomed the last few years. The question is whether or not he can make it work in Year 1, with the players currently in the program.

The first name that comes to my mind is Calvin Bundage, the pissed-off, arms-flailing torpedo of a linebacker who has apparently now been let loose by his new DC.

“He just wants us to play fast and reckless, and know what we’re doing most of the time,” Bundage said of Knowles. “If we make plays then he’s okay with it.”

Kempt’s strength lies in his quick thinking and his accuracy. Among returning Big 12 QBs, he ranks first in passer rating on quick throws (less than 2.5 seconds) according to Pro Football Focus. He also leads all returning FBS signal callers in efficiency on standard passing downs. That’s where Bundage comes in.

Oklahoma State would like to dial up the type of defense that puts Kempt’s quick wit to the test and Bundage could be just the weapon to spearhead that.

“I get to blitz, I have the option to blitz, almost every play,” said Bundage. “I get to go off the edge, rush like I want to. I get to do a lot of different stuff.”

Stuff like this where he just destroys Chris Warren III, who at the time was over 40 pounds his better.

The downside to Kempt’s game is his lack of elite arm strength. He came in seventh among Big 12 throwers in long passing plays, albeit in just nine games. But he still averaged just under three 20-plus yard passes per game and one 30-plus yard pass per game. In contrast, Mason Rudolph averaged 5.3 and 3.3, respectively,

The point is that with his arm and in that offense (and without Lazard), the Cowboys are less likely to get beat over the top by Kempt, making their new aggressive attitude all the most appealing in this matchup.

For Jim Knowles to feel good about controlling Iowa State’s balanced offensive attack, he will need to try to pressure the Cyclones’ experienced QB and limit the big plays from their talented all-conference running back. With some of the playmakers he has to work with, I’ll give Knowles a puncher’s chance.