Peterson's final Cy-Hawk thoughts: Julian Good-Jones' spot is wherever ISU needs him
Randy PetersonAMES, Ia. — So, where does Julian Good-Jones play on Saturday? Which offensive line spot does he assume when in Iowa City?
The depth chart for the Cy-Hawk game says left tackle, the position at which he practiced mostly before being suspended for last weekend. He watched from the stands as Sean Foster played that position during the Cyclones’ five plays last Saturday against South Dakota State.
He started at center last season. In 2016, he was the starting right tackle.
Wherever he plays, if he starts, he extends a 24-game starting streak to 25 — and my gut says he’ll play wherever Iowa State needs him. After all, he’s the Cyclones’ best offensive lineman.
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So much for JaQuan Bailey becoming Iowa State’s career sack leader this season. The junior entered the season needing nine to break Shawn Moorehead’s record of 18 ½. Bailey had seven sacks last season in 13 games.
Unless a replacement opponent for South Dakota State is unearthed, Moorehead’s record, which he set between 2004-06, is likely to be safe until 2019.
Bailey didn’t have a sack last season until the third game against Akron. He followed with two against Texas, half-a-sack against TCU, 1½ sacks against Oklahoma State and two sacks against Memphis in the Liberty Bowl.
He was sackless against Iowa, although he broke up a pass and had a quarterback hurry.
When it comes to suspensions, Matt Campbell is consistent. Kareem Hunt, his talented tailback at Toledo, was suspended for the first two games in 2015. The first game was canceled because of weather. Hunt didn’t play in the second game. He played his first game — against Iowa State — in Week 3.
And to those who say the only reason Good-Jones, De’Monte Ruth and Kamilo Tongamoa are eligible to play Saturday is because the opponent is Iowa, there’s this:
The Iowa State coach suspended his starting quarterback three days before last season’s big upset at Oklahoma, and he suspended a starting safety before last year’s Liberty Bowl.
He’s consistent like that.
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There’s more to a suspension than simply not suiting up. There’s the embarrassment of sitting in the stands while your teammates run onto the field for the season-opening game. There’s the humility of practicing for weeks with the scout team.
There’s the reality of not being part of the team during the final days leading up to a game.
“There’s a lot of things that go into it besides the game,” Campbell said. “It’d be naïve to say it’s just an entire game situation.
“When you don’t get to practice with the first team for the last month or you’re on the scout team for the last three weeks ... or you had to get up in front of your teammates and apologize and maybe earn your way back onto the team ... those are the teachable moments.”
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The offensive line must grow up quickly; however, there are ways to scheme around one of the best defensive fronts Iowa State will face this season.
Bubble screen to one of the speedsters like Hakeem Butler or Deshaunte Jones? Quick-hitter by tailback David Montgomery, who Kirk Ferentz Tuesday called one of the best his team will face this season? Tempo-changing quarterback Re-al Mitchell?
Stay tuned.
“That’s a veteran defensive front we’ll be playing,” Campbell said. “When they’ve needed to make a play — when good things needed to happen — that defensive line spearheaded things.
“We’re facing one of the best defensive lines in the country.”
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Yes, there were positives from the cancellation. Start with linebacker Mike Rose.
He’s a true freshman. He’s filling a middle linebacker role that Joel Lanning played so well last season.
He ran onto the field for the first time. He started. He was all over the field during the Jackrabbits’ five plays. He even made a tackle.
“It was great for a guy like Mike Rose, who hasn’t got to play in a college football game — getting out there, getting a taste of that environment and energy,” Campbell said. “There were some great positives to take from it, but what did we miss?
“We missed playing. We missed getting the opportunity to make adjustments — some of those things all teams want to do, because that’s what builds teams and because that’s ultimately how you’re defined as a football team at the end of the year.”
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Campbell's bunch remembers what happened the last time in Iowa City. “Felt the wrath of not having the background of doing the little things in the heat of the moment,” Campbell said about a 42-3 loss in his first season at Iowa State. “We certainly got exposed. We got handed a lesson of culture, attitude and effort."
Iowa State columnist Randy Peterson has been with the Register for parts of five decades. Randy writes opinion and analysis of Iowa State football and basketball. You can reach Randy at rpeterson@dmreg.com or on Twitter at @RandyPete.