Cyclones win in Lincoln for the first time since 1977
By Adam Bendiksen
Game Notes: In a shocking upset, Iowa State defeated the Cornhuskers for the first time in 32 years in Memorial Stadium, and did so without the services of starting QB Austen Arnaud and Big 12 leading rusher Alexander Robinson. Led by redshirt freshman QB Jerome Tiller and a defense that accounted for eight turnovers (3 picks, 5 fumbles), the Cyclones confidence grew as the game went on, and undoubtedly will continue to do so, as Iowa State (5-3) needs only one more victory to become bowl eligible. For Nebraska, it was a stunning and demoralizing defeat in what has been an up and down season.
College: Iowa State -- Conference: Big 12
WR - Marquis Hamilton, #82 - 6' 2.5" - 221 - 4.60 - 2010: Quiet game for the big WR without the services of Arnaud, but did catch three passes, two for first downs, and in a tight game, all first downs are critical. Thick, strong, tough target who goes over the middle and blocks with a vengeance, though sometimes will draw penalties. Solid quickness and OK speed, but did not have much opportunity to showcase his talents in this contest. Good hands, body control and concentration. Plenty of big WR’s available in this year’s crop, so he’ll have to finish strong to make a case for himself. GRADE: Neutral
TE - Derrick Catlett, #84 - 6' 2.5" - 246 - 4.80 - 2010: H-back type of player who lacks the size and ballast of a true TE, but a decent receiver and a willing blocker. Lines up in the slot much of the time. Smooth athlete with OK quickness but not much deep speed. Can make the tough catch, but not a focal point of this game plan. Finesse blocker, but gives it all he’s got. As with Hamilton, needs to finish strong to make a camp. GRADE: Neutral
OG - Reggie Stephens, #73 - 6' 3.0" - 313 - 5.40 - 2010: Big, thick lineman playing center this season. Good athlete for a man of his dimensions, with decent feet. Has a bit of quickness and can run some and pull in a short area. Seems to have adjusted to the pivot, and was solid on his line calls. Has shown the ability to muscle and maul in the run game in the past, but it wasn’t evident in this game due to the competition lined up across from him. NFL tools, but need to watch him play against a mere mortal to judge how much he’s improved this season. GRADE: Somewhat Positive
P - Mike Brandtner, #13 - 6' 0.1" - 211 - 5.00 - 2010: Named Big 12 special teams player of the week, largely for a great first half performance which featured a terrific fake taken for a first down (which he sold so well he should be nominated for an Oscar) and a beautiful coffin-corner kick, an art which is dying. Badly shanked two punts in the second half, though, so his consistency needs work. When on form, he has an NFL leg and hang time. GRADE: Somewhat Positive
S - James Smith, #2 - 5' 8.5" - 191 - 4.50 - 2010: Little big man with a bit of Bob Sanders in him. Team leader who competes on every play, but sometimes gets too emotional (was ejected from this game for throwing a “punch”). Tackles low due to his size but is effective, and strips at the ball (forced a turnover in the red zone). Gets in on a lot of plays. Smart in zone coverage, and used man to man in the slot, where he was effective. GRADE: Somewhat Positive
LB - Jesse Smith, #54 - 5' 11.5" - 235 - 4.80 - 2010: Team Captain was named Big 12 defensive player of the week following a terrific showing. Not the biggest or the fastest, but has great instincts and leads the Big 12 in tackles, no small accomplishment. Has some room to grow. Hard worker with a knack for reading offenses; obviously spends considerable time studying film. Good hitter and a fine, form tackler. Can be bounced around by bigger blockers, but displays the ability to shed. Much better when protected. Plays much faster than he times and seems to flow to the ball before the snap. Makes very quick reads and penetrates the backfield. Instinctual in pass coverage and is fluid going in reverse. Tipped a pass in the red zone which resulted in a pick, then had an interception to seal the game. Would be looking at a first round prospect if he were 6’3”. Has some Zach Thomas in him and will play in the NFL. Could be a late-round gem. GRADE: Very Positive
College: Nebraska -- Conference: Big 12
S - Larry Asante, #4 - 6' 0.5" - 210 - 4.60 - 2010: Quiet game for this much improved prospect, but largely because most of the Cyclones’ plays were stopped by the front seven. Has a safety’s physique and instincts, and plays both the run and the pass. Good hitter and tackler, and honors his assignments. Good in coverage, and will sacrifice his body. Keep an eye on him as he will be in the NFL. GRADE: Positive
LB - Phillip Dillard, #52 - 6' 0.5" - 245 - 4.80 - 2010: Listed as an OLB but plays mainly in the middle, and stays in on most pass downs. In the doghouse early in ’08, but has worked and played himself back into favor. NFL size and frame, and plays a very physical brand of football. Solid athlete who is OK in coverage, but likely will be a two down, 3-4 ILB in the pros. Plays inside out and cleans up all the trash behind the great DT’s. Hits hard and is money as a tackler. Has enough speed to chase to the sidelines, but does his best work in the box. Strong enough to take on and stuff blockers at the point. GRADE: Positive
DT - Ndamukong Suh, #93 - 6' 3.0" - 300 - 5.20 - 2010: At the risk of sounding redundant, this is the best player in all of college football and will certainly be one of the first, if not the first, player chosen in the 2010 draft. Read either Nebraska review from this season and you’ll get the picture. The most complete prospect since Steve Emtman at the position, but is a quicker/more explosive athlete and doesn’t have the knee problems which led to Emtman’s early NFL demise. Cannot be blocked on the college level and won’t be blocked often in the pros. Suited to be a 4-3 tackle or a 3-4 end, but could play NT in a pinch and be better than most. Terrific kid who returned to school despite being a first round prospect last year. Will give you everything he has and never seems to run out of gas. Completely dominating. Oh, and add something else to his resume’: he blocked a FG and an extra point in this contest, proving there is virtually nothing he can’t do. GRADE: Very Positive, probably THE best
C - Jacob Hickman, #67 - 6' 3.0" - 295 - 5.20 - 2010: Warrior who tried to play with a badly sprained ankle, but had to take a seat after one series. When healthy, he’s an ideal zone-blocking center with long, strong arms and good quickness/athletic ability. Quick off the ball and can run and get to the second level, and blocks well in space. Drops quickly and mirrors and slides well, but occasionally plays too high and loses the leverage battle. GRADE: Positive (based on other tape)
RB - Roy Helu Jr., # 10 - 5’11,5” - 215 - 4.6 - 2011: Second leading rusher in the Big 12 had a very poor outing along with the rest of the Huskers’ offense. Had a fumble on the game’s first play and fumbled again later in the red zone, and basically took himself out of the game plan. Looks to be an ideal zone-style back with patience, vision, balance, burst and the ability to break arm tackles, but has been up and down lately and must gain consistency. Not used as a receiver and must learn to block, but has another year to do so. GRADE: Somewhat Positive (based on seasonal output, not this contest)
DE - Barry Turner, # 99 - 6’2” - 265 - 4.8 - 2010: Hybrid-type player who is really coming on this season. Good athlete who runs and chases all over the field, and has shown athleticism and fluidity in his zone drops. Keeps his feet. Good pass rusher off the edge, but is not overly explosive. Has long arms and a big lower unit, with room to grow. Solid instincts and is disciplined in his assignments, but plays too high and needs more strength at the point. Benefits greatly from the talent around him, but appears to have the raw tools to get a shot in the NFL. GRADE: Somewhat Positive
Other Players of Note:
For Iowa State, senior DE Christopher Lyle had a strong game and got better as the contest progressed, and sophomore DB Leonard Johnson made some big plays, but was also victimized a time or two. Both were instrumental in the Cyclone’s great defensive performance. Nebraska WR/PR Niles Paul made some great plays in a dismal offensive performance for the ‘Huskers, but did have a critical fumble in the red zone and another big dropped pass.
