Richardson, ISU offense hope to get back on track against Toledo

AMES - Iowa State Coach Paul Rhoads tries not to let himself be controlled by superstitions.

Rhoads does joke, however, he is a believer in routines and, at first glance, those will look almost exactly like superstitions. If he feels good about the routine, chances are he'll feel good about the things that follow.

His Cyclones players are like him in that sense.

'There are certain games all season long that players are going to feel good about and some will feel good about this one, some will feel good about the last one and so forth,” Rhoads said.

And one game senior quarterback Sam Richardson has to feel good about is how he performed against Toledo last season. Now that the Rockets (1-0) are up next on the Cyclones (1-1) schedule, Richardson will try to replicate the good vibes he felt last season.

Toledo returns three seniors and two juniors to its secondary, so Richardson watching film from last year's game has been a key component to game prep. The fifth-year senior said he's seen maturity at every level of the Rockets' defense, too.

'I think they've changed their defense a little bit and kind of chilled out a little bit from what they ran last year,” Richardson said. 'But definitely watching (Toledo's) first two games and our game from last year, it's kind of basing our stuff of that.”

In last year's 37-30 ISU win, Richardson was 37-of-53 passing for 351 yards and three touchdowns. His 37 completions was a school record and 351 yards a career best, and Rhoads credited that to a more up-tempo switch to the offense near the end of the first half.

'I think that's something that allowed us to operate as successfully as we did,” Rhoads said. 'It was something they had not seen on tape from us, so they had to adjust to that on the fly.”

Richardson and the offense will have to find a way to get back into that form after dropping off in the second half of last week's loss to Iowa. He was 7-of-20 passing for 61 yards with an interception in the second half of the 14-point loss to the Hawkeyes.

Part of the growth Richardson wants to see in himself and the offense this week is being quicker at recognizing defensive looks. First and second down success always is crucial, but getting the calls communicated as quickly as possible will help in any situations.

'It definitely wasn't a confusing look at all,” Richardson said of the Iowa defense, 'but it's having the calls ready to check to something we need to when we're in those third-and-long situations.”

Ayeni-Hunt Reunion II

From the first moment Lou Ayeni saw Kareem Hunt play in high school, there was an instant connection.

Then the assistant head coach and run-game coordinator at Toledo, Ayeni remembers meeting him at a game and the impression was immediate. During the next year-and-a-half, Hunt became like a son to Ayeni and still is the only player to call Ayeni, 'Coach Louie.”

Now for the second-straight year, Ayeni will face his former pupil as the Iowa State running backs coach while Hunt suits up for the Rockets.

'He's a really likable kid, a lovable kid,” Ayeni said. 'I'm like a proud dad kind of watching him doing what he's been doing the last few years. The great thing about him is that he's always got a smile on his face.”

On Toledo's signing day in 2013, he remembers telling head coach Matt Campbell that Hunt would be the biggest recruit in Toledo history. So far, things look that way with Hunt rushing for at least 100 yards in 11 straight games.

Ayeni calls him the total package and is perhaps the best running back the Cyclones will see this season.

'He's a special kid, special talent,” Ayeni said. 'It'll be fun to see him out there, but hopefully we can corral him. I want to win this game.”

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