Iowa State football hasn't allowed a sack in 2 games. Jarrod Hufford still expects better play.
For the first time since 2012, the Cyclones’ offensive line hasn’t allowed a sack in back-to-back games. Iowa State is one of seven teams nationally to not allow a sack yet this season.
A lot of that has to do with Ryan Clanton, Iowa State’s new offensive line coach.
“Oh, I would give credit to coach Clanton,” Cyclones offensive lineman Jarrod Hufford said. “His training us in the pass protection, our pass protection all around between the first and second group is elite compared to past years.”
Pass protection is especially important for Iowa State, which travels to Ohio University for an 11 a.m. game Saturday (ESPNU). The Cyclones' top two options at quarterback are Rocco Becht, a redshirt freshman, and JJ Kohl, a true freshman.
For either of those players to find their footing and succeed, they need a solid line of protection up front.
“Obviously, with a new quarterback, that’s been our focus,” Hufford said. “We’ve got to protect him, let him settle down and let him throw the ball.
“That’s a small part, with a new quarterback, just letting him settle down. But I think that’s just the standard of the offensive line that we really strive for.”
Head coach Matt Campbell has seen the growth in his offensive line which has, in turn, allowed his young quarterbacks to grow, as well.
It’s because of the Cyclones’ offensive line that Becht has gotten into a good rhythm and been able to execute – instead of “running for his life,” as Campbell put it – in tough situations.
The statistics are great, according to Hufford. But he and his fellow linemen aren’t just satisfied with one statistic through two games. The goal on Saturday – and through the rest of the season – is to get even better.
“From an offensive line standpoint, it’s just making people fear us,” Hufford said. “If you look back at the film, we actually had pretty good movement sometimes, and most of the time pass protection’s been pretty good.
“But I think it’s just that next elevation of putting bodies on the ground and really like having people feel what we’re about.”
Hufford has lots of fans in his home state
Hufford laughed when he was asked about the total number of people he’s expecting at Saturday’s matchup against Ohio.
“Right now, I need 43 tickets, (and) that’s not even counting the people that have already bought their own ticket.”
Hufford hails from Newark, Ohio, which is about an hour and a half north and slightly west of Athens, where Iowa State will travel to play the Bobcats in the final non-conference game of the season.
Saturday’s matchup marks a homecoming of sorts for several Cyclones, including head coach Matt Campbell. Hufford is looking forward to the trip, and he’s expecting family, friends and former coaches to be in the crowd showing their support for the visiting team.
“It’s fun,” Hufford said of returning to Ohio in his senior season. “We’ve already made jokes about all the Ohio people getting to be there. But it’s still just another game, so it’s not like the front point of our mind but it is kind of cool.”
This is Iowa State’s first road test of the season. The Cyclones are looking to bounce back from last Saturday’s loss to Iowa.
So, even the players with Ohio connections are thinking about the game first and going home second. For Hufford and the rest of the offensive line, this game is also about continuing success from the first two games of the year.
Alyssa Hertel is the college sports recruiting reporter for the Des Moines Register. Contact Alyssa at ahertel@dmreg.com or on Twitter @AlyssaHertel.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State one of seven football teams with no sacks allowed this year
