Similar offenses take the field for Iowa State, Kansas

Blake Lanser/Iowa State Daily

Redshirt junior quarterback Sam Richardson runs the ball on the keep during the game against Oklahoma on Nov. 1. Richardson had 15 completions, rushed for 20 yards and scored an 18-yard touchdown. The Cyclones fell to the No. 19 Sooners with a final score of 59-14.

Alex Gookin

Iowa State and Kansas share identical records and have experienced similar results offensively and defensively this season, and the offenses they run are just as similar.

Despite running a two-quarterback system, the Jayhawks run similar plays that remind ISU coaches and players of their own system.

“A lot of stuff that both offenses try to utilize, from blocking schemes to routes and so forth,” coach Paul Rhoads said. “[Quarterback Michael Cummings] throws a really good deep ball and he’s had success with it.”

Kansas offensive coordinator John Reagan served as offensive line coach under ISU offensive coordinator Mark Mangino when he was at Kansas.

For the defense, the familiarity makes life just a bit easier, but the unit doesn’t expect to see a carbon-copy of their team when the team travels to Lawrence, Kan.

“They have a lot of the same pass concepts that we do,” said cornerback Sam E. Richardson. “I think on the field it will be a little similar, but they’ve got different guys so it’s still going to be a different game.”