Two potential upgrades over Belcher

[RustShack]

AMES, Iowa — Iowa State’s program has come to be defined by the fiery, passionate persona of coach Paul Rhoads.

The on-field identity of the Cyclones has been forged by seniors Jake Knott and A.J. Klein, a pair of once-overlooked linebackers who’ve blossomed into one of the top defensive duos in the country.

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The Cyclones are off to their second straight 3-0 start behind a defense that’s been better than most expected. They’re 13th in the nation in scoring defense at 10.7 points allowed per game and they haven’t allowed a touchdown in two weeks — a feat that hasn’t been pulled off at Iowa State since the mid-60s.

The performance of Iowa State’s defense so far has solidified Knott and Klein’s reputation as like-minded program changers.

“Coach Rhoads has been preaching since Day 1 about changing the culture. To be a part of that and to be the foundation of that is huge,” Knott said.

It’s hard to imagine where Iowa State’s once-porous defense would be without Knott and Klein.

Rhoads promised the Cyclones during their first meeting together before the 2009 season that they’d be a winning program right away. It was a bold statement to a team that had lost the final 10 games of the previous season and their coach, Gene Chizik, to a more high-profile job at Auburn.

But Knott and Klein, a pair of lightly recruited kids from the Midwest, helped Iowa State reach that goal immediately.

Knott grew up in suburban Des Moines and was considered a mid-level Division I prospect — though rivals Iowa and Northern Iowa wanted him to play baseball. Klein grew up in Kimberly, Wis., where his choices beyond Iowa State were Northern Illinois, Western Michigan and Wyoming.

They became fast friends after being paired as roommates in the dorms, and each showed enough in fall camp that Rhoads felt comfortable ditching their redshirts and playing them right away.

Knott and Klein played every game as Iowa State beat Minnesota in the Insight Bowl to cap a surprising 7-6 season.

“It was kind of crazy how similar we were when we got here,” Klein said. “Our work ethic is alike. Our communication is alike, and I think that is because we’re humble people. We come from humble beginnings. We weren’t blown up. We were overlooked by a lot of teams and we wanted to prove ourselves.”

It didn’t take long.

The pair earned starting jobs in 2010 and they’ve been swarming the football together ever since.

Knott was second in the Big 12 in tackles and Klein was fifth. Knott also picked off four passes and forced four fumbles, while Klein became the first Iowa State player in 15 years to return interceptions for touchdowns in consecutive weeks.

In 2011, Knott was a first-team All-Big 12 selection with 115 tackles, four more forced fumbles and a pair of picks out of the middle linebacker spot. Klein did him one better with 116 tackles and the Big 12’s co-defensive player of the year award.

“It’s easy to go out there and have a guy that you trust on and off the field playing next to you,” Knott said.

The pair often come off as interchangeable, so much so that Knott said he was confused with Klein while getting a flu shot earlier this week.

Knott and Klein play a similar brand of hard-nosed, physical football, and have developed a connection that makes them better together than apart.

“The understanding of the entire defense, not just a single position, allows us to be a little more active in the passing game. It all comes with film study and just experience,” Klein said. “With our communication and our bond that we’ve developed over the past couple of years, it’s the kind of thing we had to do so we could perform better.”

Their playmaking skills and hard-working mentality has rubbed off on a defense that’s often was on the wrong end of blowouts in the past.

The Cyclones opened the season by allowing 16 points in the first quarter to Tulsa. But Iowa State has only allowed 16 points since then — and Knott’s leaping tip and interception of Iowa’s James Vandenberg with 1:11 left provided the Cyclones with their signature moment thus far.

About the only difference between Knott and Klein is that Knott sports a Mohawk, while Klein has opted for shoulder-length locks.

Other than that, they’re eerily similar and equally successful.

The rest of the Cyclones have followed them.

“I think they just play hard. They’re serious. They like to prepare,” Rhoads said.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[jspchief]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

And no, the fact that the chiefs drafted Poe shows they are thinking outside the scheme. Poe isn't a traditional 2 down lineman. They want him to be in on every snap and it's rare for a guy his size to have upside to be good at multiple techniques.

Either that or they went into the off season with nothing at NT, and had to reach for the best available NT, even though he wasn't a good fit for the scheme.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by jspchief

Either that or they went into the off season with nothing at NT, and had to reach for the best available NT, even though he wasn't a good fit for the scheme.

No. Poe was a terrific pick. The new nfl requires you to have a nose tackle with the versatility to play multiple techniques. Gone are the days when you have 2-down nose tackles who become a liability if the offense goes no huddle and dials in a pass play, or audibles into a pass.

But the fact is, Poe walked in as a 2-3 year project, which means pioli won't have made nose tackle a priority until after his fifth year. Qbs will be a 2-3 year project too, so even if he drafts one, that means pretty much the same thing.

Poe is the kind of gamble pioli should have made years ago. Good that he fnally took that risk. But too little too late, and he's being exposed for it big time.

[RustShack]

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

True story.

[htismaqe]

I'm a Hawkeye fan but Jake Kuh-nott is a stud...

[DaKCMan AP]

Originally Posted by RustShack

True story.

Jarvis Jones & Alec Ogletree
Nico Johnson & CJ Mosley
Jelani Jenkins & Jon Bostic
Chase Thomas & Shayne Skov

All disagree with you.

[whoman69]

Originally Posted by BossChief

Belcher isn't bad as a run stuffer. He was our second leading tackler next to DJ and did a he'll of a job blowing up the lead blocker the last two years.

He is just a 2 down backer though and we would be well served to get a guy that can stay on the field for 3 downs and can effectively defend the pass in today's NFL, though.

The whole team has turned the switch off this year, though.

Belcher included.

Problem is that you can't force the other team to run if you are in your base defense. We have 4 guys on the field who absolutely disappear when we are in base defense against the pass.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Good idea. We can pass on these guys just like that scrub QB for the Clones

[RustShack]

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

Jarvis Jones & Alec Ogletree
Nico Johnson & CJ Mosley
Jelani Jenkins & Jon Bostic
Chase Thomas & Shayne Skov

All disagree with you.

Jake Knott and AJ Klein are in the discussion with them. Did you miss the "arguably" part in arguably best?

[milkman]

Whether you recognize it or not, you still have to be able to stop the run.

We were gashed by the Bills in the running game.


Belcher started to show some progression as a pass defender last year, but has regressed this season.

But in the base 34, Belcher is one of the reasons that DJ was blowing up plays over the last couple of seasons.

Belcher isn't the useless player many/most of you make him out to be.

When he is not on the field, this run defense is terrible.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by RustShack

Jake Knott and AJ Klein are in the discussion with them. Did you miss the "arguably" part in arguably best?

People used to laugh at mecca's nomeristic USC posts.

Your ISU homer posts make his homer USC posts look negative by comparison.

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by milkman

People used to laugh at mecca's nomeristic USC posts.

Your ISU homer posts make his homer USC posts look negative by comparison.

this. At least USC players bust in the NFL.

ISU players bust in the arena league, if they even get there...
Posted via Mobile Device

[Sorter]

Originally Posted by milkman

Whether you recognize it or not, you still have to be able to stop the run.

We were gashed by the Bills in the running game.


Belcher started to show some progression as a pass defender last year, but has regressed this season.

But in the base 34, Belcher is one of the reasons that DJ was blowing up plays over the last couple of seasons.

Belcher isn't the useless player many/most of you make him out to be.

When he is not on the field, this run defense is terrible.

Yup. Pretty obvious to those who watch the games.

[RustShack]

Originally Posted by milkman

People used to laugh at mecca's nomeristic USC posts.

Your ISU homer posts make his homer USC posts look negative by comparison.

Because I think these two are the only two locks to be drafted, which they are? And almost anyone who knows college football would agree this is one of the best duo's in college football?

[RustShack]

Even Bleacher Report who hates Iowa State gives them love, even though they are still ranked too low.

#11 LB- Jake Knott
As a whole, Iowa State's defense was far from stellar last season, as the Cyclones ranked 95th in the country in total defense in 2011, giving up an average of 427 yards per game.

Still, it would be unfair to blame the unit's struggles on the team's two leading tacklers—linebackers Jake Knott and A.J. Klein, as the two defensive leaders both played at an elite level last year.

Both 'backers deserve plenty of credit for their performances in 2011, but the real player to watch this season will be Knott.

Last year, the 6-foot-3, 239-pound senior was one of the most productive linebackers in the country, registering 115 total tackles, including six games with at least 10 tackles.

Knott may have been an unheralded 2-star recruit coming out of Iowa's Waukee High School. However, he's proven that while he may not be be an top-notch athlete; he's got the type of heart, passion and desire that it takes to thrive and succeed in a prestigious conference like the Big 12.

#25 LB- AJ Klein
Like his fellow teammate Jake Knott, A.J. Klein was not a very highly rated recruit coming out of Wisconsin's Kimberly High School. In fact, the only BCS scholarship offer he received was from Iowa State.

The former lightly recruited high school prospect has definitely made all of those big BCS schools that didn't give him a chance regret their decision, as he's developed into one of the Big 12's most disruptive defenders during his time in Ames.

Last year, the 6-foot-2, 244-pound senior earned Big 12 Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors after leading the Cyclones with 116 total tackles.

Klein and Knott belong in the discussion with every other top linebacker duo in college football, and the two tough, gritty 'backers have what it takes to go toe-to-toe with any offense that the Big 12 has to offer.

[Sorter]

TBF RustShack, I haven't watched them play at all. I'll try to watch some tape on them and give an opinion.