Cyclones offensive line returns experience in 2015

AMES - Taking lumps became the norm last season for Iowa State on the offensive line. Injuries were typically the catalyst for the changes in rotation, but if there's one by-product of that change it's that the Cyclones won't be short on experience.

Sure Iowa State lost four-year starter Tom Farniok to graduation, but the position will return six players that have combined for 76 career starts. Of the returnees, a handful have had their shot at other positions along the line, setting up a chance for seasoned players to erase some question marks.

'Experience is awfully important and knowing what it's like in those trenches at the level of play Big 12 football is, is awfully important,” Rhoads said. 'Now you take those starts from a year ago and where that puts us from an experience standpoint and you've got to build skill level.”

Skill level has started to build during the course of the first three days of fall camp, but something else has shown through too.

Offensive line coach Brandon Blaney has preached physical play from the position since spring ball and has seen that mentality carry through. He's tried to instill the pillars of a more physical style of play with the help of older players.

'It's explosion, it's effort and it's toughness,” Blaney said. 'If you don't have those you don't have a chance. We're continuing to build on that with a veteran group. There's a better understanding of what we're trying to do from a run standpoint and from a pass protection standpoint.”

Along with the physical nature the offensive line has adopted, more competition has been bred within the position.

Redshirt junior Daniel Burton and fifth-year senior Brock Dagel are among those vying for starting spots at their positions. Burton started every game in 2014 and had knee surgery after the season finale last year while Dagel started the first four games of last season before undergoing season-ending surgery.

Dagel has worked his way back into the starting right tackle spot, but hasn't taken every rep with the first-team offense. Rhoads said they've tried to give him eight to 12 snaps off in between his repetitions to ensure continued health.

'He's a mature young man,” Rhoads said. 'He's been around this level of football for a while and he's taking care of his body. If you stick around here, he'll be one of the last ones over because he's in the training room just doing smart things.”

Dagel has been able to move through his rehabilitation smoothly and said his body is feeling the way it should with the start of fall camp. But what he's also been able to do this fall is take on a new perspective in the meeting room.

In an effort to get the running game to take off, the running backs have sat in the offensive line position room and broken down film together. Even for a veteran like Dagel, the new perspective is something he hopes will translate to game days.

'That helps me as an older guy,” Dagel said, 'and now that I know all of the plays to get a running back's point of view and help me with my points here and there with some little adjustments that will make huge differences.”

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