Iowa State coach Matt Campbell issues big challenge to offensive line

AMES, Ia. — Following Iowa State's first spring practice, Cyclones coach Matt Campbell turned a question about running back David Montgomery into a challenge for his offensive line.

Campbell was asked what Montgomery could do to improve in 2018.

And then ...

“His growth will come a little bit as well with the offensive line’s growth,” Campbell said. “The greatest challenge to this football team is: Can this offensive line grow? And can this offensive line become what championship teams look like?”

The Cyclones are still trying to figure that out.

But in Campbell's eyes, the group has to figure that out if the Cyclones are going to take the next step in his process. Some actual returning experience is one reason to believe they will.

During Campbell’s first season in 2016, the Cyclones had to replace all five starters on the line. A year later, the Cyclones returned only Julian Good-Jones. The most experienced member of the group was Jake Campos, who had missed all of the 2016 season with an injury.

In 2018, they’ll bring back even more. Good-Jones, who started all 13 games is back. So is guard Josh Knipfel, who also started all 13. Bryce Meeker, who started seven games a season ago, and Sean Foster (six) are also back. The only starting spot the Cyclones have to replace is at left guard.

“I think (the line) has come a long way,” Good-Jones said. “I think we had to kind of scramble together some stuff in the past. I think we’ve got a long of good guys that we can really rely on.”

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But the group still has a long way to go. The group’s inexperience last season was most noticeable in Iowa State’s running game. Despite rushing for 1,146 yards, Montgomery had to do most of it on his own in forcing a nation-high 109 missed tackles.

If Montgomery could perform at that level with the line struggling in opening up holes, just think about what he could do if they did. Thus, Campbell issued his challenge. That’s why new Iowa State offensive line coach Jeff Myers wasn’t surprised to hear about it, either.

“We know what David Montgomery is and we know what he’s been able to do with not enough depth at offensive line, not good enough movement up front. We’ve see what the guy’s been able to do,” Myers said. “And now we’ve got to focus our attention on the offensive line and if we really want to get the running game to where it can be to help David out, it puts all the onus on us up front.”

To help get them to that point, Myers has been preaching versatility. The goal is to find the five best linemen, regardless of position. So Good-Jones, who started all 13 games at center last season, has even worked in at left guard. Colin Newell, who will be a redshirt freshman in 2018, practiced at center last season and has taken reps this spring at guard. Redshirt senior Will Windham can also help at center.

“We have a fluid offensive line,” Good-Jones said.

The Cyclones also have a room full of talent. Junior college transfer Oge Udeogu, who redshirted in 2016 and sat out 2017 with an injury, could finally help this season. Redshirt freshmen Robert Hudson and Jacob Bolton, who both made cases to play last season, might see the field. Even true freshman Trevor Downing, who graduated high school early and enrolled at Iowa State, is turning heads.

“He’s been the most impressive for being a young guy to being able to come in and handle the playbook on Day 1 and to be able to come off the football and drive people vertically,” Myers said. “He’s been more than what we could ask for.”

It’s a spot the Cyclones have been planning to get to for a while now. Year 1 of Campbell’s tenure was about bringing in talent. Year 2 was about gaining some experience and adding some depth to the line. Year 3 is a chance for the group to put it together.

Based off what Campbell said, they have to. It's a message Myers has been stressing to his group already. If the Cyclones are going to have success in 2018, they must be able to run the ball. And the line must be able to produce.

“I think we’re at a point now where our guys are strong,” Myers said. “They do look the part. But right now, we’re trying to create that mentality. We’re trying to create the run-first mentality. And I think that’s the biggest thing. The way we drill it now, the way we put the priority on the run game now, those guys understand that the run does come first and we need to be better for our offense to be better.”