Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads knows exactly what the Cyclone defense is up against next weekend. ISU visits a 12th ranked Baylor team that has posted staggering offensive numbers in a 5-0 start to the season.
“Sixty-three points a game, 715-yards a game, 56-percent 3rd down conversions. Oh yeah, they play defense too, 18-points a game 346-yards a game is all they are giving up, 33-percent on third down,” Rhoads says. He says their quarterback has completed 70-percent of his passes with only one interception. “We are very sober in the offices this week in trying to figure out how to slow these guys down,” Rhoads says.
He says the Baylor offense is based on speed and efficiency as the ball is out of the quarterback’s hand very fast — whether it be a run or pass. Bryce Petty is the third different quarterback in the last three years for the Bears and there has been no drop in production.
Petty has 13 touchdown passes and only one interception. Rhoads says Petty is every bit as good as the last two quarterbacks for Baylor — including Heisman Trophy winner and now NFL quarterback Robert Griffen the third.
Controlling the time of possession is one way of trying to counter the Baylor offense. Rhoads says that only works if you score at the end of the drives. “You’ve got to score at the same time,” Rhoads says. He says Baylor is well behind in time of possession, but it’s relative because they score when they have the ball.
Iowa State is putting up some good numbers as well but the wins have not followed. ISU is 1-4 after a 42-35 loss at Texas Tech. He says things will eventually fall their way, but the Big 12 is a very competitive conference. Rhoads says the Cyclones are not going to be able to just outscore Baylor and need to find a way to slow the Bears down.