Cyclones looking for deeper passing game in 2011

AMES - Iowa State receiver Darius Darks was forced to play some defense.

Answering questions about his team's pass-catching corps, Darks was put to the test. Missing your top two receivers from a group that had the fewest pass plays (20) of 20 yards or longer in the Big 12, who will be the Cyclones' playmakers in the passing game this fall?

Darks sees opportunity for a collection of players who right now don't strike fear in defenses.

“Sometimes we are probably overlooked for the talent and speed we have, but we have guys who can play,” Darks said. “It's just that we haven't maybe put out the highlights of people out in open space making moves going 60 yards down the field.”

Nope, they haven't.

In fact, ISU was the only team in the conference without a pass play longer than 40 yards. Darks, who will be a senior in the fall, is the top returning receiver with 29 catches for 355 yards and a touchdown, a far cry from his school freshman record of 49 receptions set in 2008.

He - and others - feel they have the potential. They just have to do it.

“If it's only potential and we never reach that potential we are holding the team back,” Darks said.

Darius Reynolds and Josh Lenz are the wideouts with the most experience - and capability of turning routine catches into big gainers. Reynolds is the fastest of the group and a threat to go deep.

“There's a time when designing a play and going and getting seven (yards) is OK,” Coach Paul Rhoads said. “That happened all too often.”

Junior Kurt Hammerschmidt replaces all-Big 12 tight end Collin Franklin, whose 54 receptions last season ranked second nationally at that position.

Newcomer Aaron Horne and red-shirt freshman Jarvis West are being looked at to make plays as well. A hamstring injury kept West from contributing at receiver a year ago.

“This guy is legit,” said cornerback Leonard Johnson. “I think he could've played last year as a true freshman but he got hurt.”

A change in position coaches could help jump-start things. Courtney Messingham is in charge of the receivers, and Luke Wells is taking Messingham's spot as tight ends coach.

“Sometimes you just look to create a little change ... and people respond to that,” Rhoads said. “It's something I want to look at and I think it'll help our football team.”

Amid the uncertainty at receiver, there'll be a new starting quarterback and someone other than Alexander Robinson lining up in the backfield. Big plays - running and passing - can come from that spot.

Shontrelle Johnson showed last year as a freshman he had that ability. Another speedy back with big-play potential is sophomore James White.

“He's shown us flashes and he's had an outstanding off-season,” Rhoads said. “We've got to identify and develop guys who can make things happen individually, regardless of what we do as a scheme.”