Paul Rhoads

Paul Rhoads

Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads expects receiver Jarvis West to be at full strength when the Cyclones host 19th ranked Oklahoma on Saturday. West has been nursing an injured left foot and played sparingly in an October 18th loss at Texas and his return adds another weapon to the ISU offense as a playmaker as he says the things they do with West involve the horizontal passing game more than the vertical passing game. And he says West is a also a run threat.

Iowa State has scored 82 points in the last two games and a big reason is the play of junior quarterback Sam Richardson, who has 73 completions in the last two games. “I think he is playing at a high level, but there is still a ceiling to reach with him, and with a year and a half to go, I am excited to see the growth that’s going to take place,” Rhoads says.

Rhoads says another factor is the offensive line is giving Richardson time to throw it. A year ago he spent most of his time trying to avoid the pass rush and he says he is now running only when he has too.

Rhoads says it won’t be about trying to outscore the Sooners, as he says it will take better defense, and it is more about how they can limit Oklahoma’s offense. And that means the defense will need to show marked improvement as he says they were not pleased with the performance against Texas.

Rhoads says they need to find a way to slow down a Sooner ground game that begins with an outstanding offensive line.

Oklahoma began this season as one of the favorites to reach the first college football playoff but the Sooners are now a long shot to grab even a share of the Big 12 title following a loss to Kansas State in their last outing.

The Cyclones are 2-5 and the Sooners are 5-2.