Rhoads takes notes from spring game into Cyclones offseason

AMES - Paul Rhoads recognizes the challenges in evaluating a spring game. Going in, he knows he has to look at it a bit differently than he would in the fall.

The stoppage in play and sudden change in possessions doesn't exactly represent a game-day experience for Iowa State, but that in itself is a part of the evaluation process.

'You certainly don't get any type of game planning going on, so you're out there playing fundamental, technique football,” Rhoads said. 'It's hard to find consistent success when that's the way you're playing.”

As there is with any scrimmage in the spring, Rhoads could take away plenty of notes from the unique set up of the Cyclones annual spring game. The most prominent performance came from the defense.

The defense's overall efficiency in tackling jumped out to Rhoads initially. Willie Harvey and Kamari Syrie led the team in tackles with seven each, while Brian Peavy, Brian Mills, Jarnor Jones and Vic Holmes each recorded six.

Even though it was linebackers and defensive backs putting up most of the tackling numbers, the bolstered defensive line caught Rhoads' eye.

The secondary has been able to reap more of those benefits this spring, and junior Nigel Tribune establish himself as an example for his teammates.

'I've been in the film room a lot more,” Tribune, who was credited with four tackles on Saturday, said. 'Just staying square in my back pedal and getting in shape, getting repetition and getting as many reps as I can and stay in the film room.”

Injuries kept a host players on the sideline for the Cyclones, and the offensive line was no exception. Daniel Burton and Brock Dagel did not suit up, causing some shuffle with the guys up front.

Even though it was injuries that kept key players out, it's Tom Farniok's departure that is still being figured out.

Farniok was a four-year starter at center and Iowa State is feeling the effects of searching for a replacement. Senior Jamison Lalk took first-team reps at the position with Nick Severs as a reserve.

Junior college transfer Patrick Scoggins also received reps at center this spring, and it's a position that will be a work in progress heading into fall.

'Offensively we've had too many balls batted down and with some of the things we're trying to do as an offense, that can't take place,” Rhoads said. 'You can't operate an offense efficiently without having a good center-quarterback exchange, and that plagued us today.”

For the first time in five years, Iowa State will be without a starting quarterback controversy when fall camp commences. Senior Sam Richardson has been tabbed the guy, but there is still a competition of sorts taking place behind him.

Junior Grant Rohach and sophomore Joel Lanning are the second and third quarterbacks, and both showed flashes of success last Saturday. Lanning was a highly-touted product coming from high school at Ankeny, but has yet to see the field in the regular season at quarterback for the Cyclones.

ISU coaches have discussed the possibility of implementing special packages for the back up quarterbacks this fall, which Lanning said will be coming at a great time for him.

'I don't feel like I've hit my peak yet, I'm still striving for it because there are still things I have to learn,” Lanning said. 'But I've grown a lot since last spring and this spring was way more productive on my part than last year.”