Texas Tech must get creative to move the football against Iowa State

Today, the Texas Tech football team will face its toughest test yet this season by taking on No. 11 Iowa State on the road. That means that the Red Raiders will have to deal with one of the best statistical defenses in the nation.

Currently, ISU ranks 19th nationally in total defense (304 yards per game allowed), second in passing defense (133.7 yards per game allowed through the air), and ninth in scoring defense (14.4 points per game allowed). However, there is one area where the Cyclones don't rank highly; rushing yards allowed.

ISU sits at just No. 99 in the NCAA in rushing defense. Giving up an average of 170.3 yards per game on the ground, the Cyclones have been vulnerable against the run.

However, there's a catch. ISU's run defense stats are a bit skewed by two big rushing performances by opposing running backs.

In their last game, the Cyclones were gashed for 196 yards and two touchdowns by Central Florida's R.J. Harvey. And earlier this season, Iowa's Kaleb Johnson put up 187 yards and two TDs against the Cyclones.

Other than those two performances, no running back has gone for more than 79 yards against Iowa State. While Texas Tech's Tahj Brooks is no ordinary running back, Tech likely won't be able to rack up enough yards with a conventional rushing attack to have enough offense to pull the upset today.

What might help the offense, though, is a healthy dose of the quarterback run game. That's what Central Florida used to the tune of 154 yards and two touchdowns as the Knights nearly stunned the Cyclones in a last-minute 38-35 loss in Ames. What's more, West Virginia's QB, Garrett Greene led his team in rushing against Iowa State with 87 yards on ten carries.

Of course, Texas Tech fans know that Red Raider starting quarterback Behren Morton is not a dual-threat QB. He's run for only nine total yards this year. What's more, given that he injured his left shoulder while trying to run last week against TCU, it doesn't seem likely that the coaching staff will ask him to run the ball all that much today.

So how can the Red Raiders capitalize on the QB run game in Ames? It will require some creativity from offensive coordinator Zach Kittley.

Perhaps this will be the day when the Red Raiders major in the "wildcat" formation running game where non-quarterbacks take a direct snap from the QB position. That type of running game is often effective against defenses like Iowa State's because it provides an extra blocker for the runner by using the player at the running back position as a lead blocker.

Fortunately, there are a number of players on the Red Raider roster who could be effective at running the ball out of the "wildcat". One such player is tight end Jalin Conyers. In fact, last season at Arizona State, he ran the ball 22 times for 92 yards and a touchdown. That included eight carries for 43 yards and a score against Arizona.

Conyers is comfortable carrying the football. What's more, his size makes him difficult to tackle one-on-one and yet he also has the athleticism to break off big plays with his legs.

Additionally, the Red Raiders could ask a speedy player such as wide receiver Drae McCray to take direct snaps in the backfield to give ISU a different look. That of course is in addition to third-string QB Cam Brown who is known as a strong runner but who is a liability when he throws the football.

However the Red Raiders try to run the ball, though, they must make ISU pay for playing a light box with a three-man front. Perhaps this will be the week when the Red Raiders throw it all to the wind and get funky with the way they run the ball. After all, there's nothing to lose and it could provide an added wrinkle to help the offense do enough against one of the best defenses in the country.