Iowa State: Big plays can have humble beginnings

AMES - Iowa State wide receiver Quenton Bundrage ran the route.

His quarterback, Sam Richardson, calmly and soundly executed the pass.

Presto: A long touchdown reception that proved to be the offensive highlight of the Cyclones' first fall practice materialized Monday in the shadow of Jack Trice Stadium.

More to come - and when it counts?

Stay tuned.

“We're not going to call a lot of shots,” ISU coach Paul Rhoads said. “We've got to do a smart job of setting them up when we do. And when we get the opportunities like we had right there, we've got to hit paydirt. The more we do that, the more points we'll put on the board and the more opportunities we'll have to win.”

It's not about rolling the dice.

Measured tactics can yield spectacular results.

And for the Cyclones, that's rooted in a philosophy that remains run-first, despite recent struggles on the ground.

“The more success we have running the football, the more opportunities exist for play action and the more opportunities you have for open receivers on longer plays like that,” Rhoads said.

Last season, the Cyclones ranked ninth in Big 12 games in scoring offense (24.5 points), rushing offense (147.6 yards) and passing offense (205.7 yards).

Total offense?

Last, at 353.2 yards per game.

But a deeper backfield that combines speed and power, plus big-play potential at wide out and tight end has created at least an internal buzz around ISU's offense.

“Our biggest thing we say every day is, ‘Make plays and finish drives,'” said Richardson, ISU's first clear-cut No. 1 playcaller opening fall camp since Austen Arnaud was the obvious starter for 2010. “Definitely high expectations this year.”

Three starters return on the offensive line, led by two-time reigning summer workout strength champ Ethan Tuftee.

Run-first sounds good to him.

“When you are on O-lineman you do kind of hang your hat on being able to run the ball downhill,” Tuftee said. “Let some little guy tuck in behind you and get yards and line them up again. That's the way I like to play and I think we'll see more of that this year.”

You'll also see lots of running backs - initially, at least.

It's one of the key position battles Rhoads mentioned Monday and it's easy to see why with leader James White atop a tailback list that also includes a healthy Shontrelle Johnson, and elusive runners such as Aaron Wimberly and DeVondrick Nealy.

“If that means playing some two backs stuff, so be it,” Cyclone offensive coordinator Courtney Messingham said. “It that means playing two back and putting a running back out there flexed out as a wide out, whatever it is - we have to figure out how to get the best players on the field and if those happen to be running backs, I can't sit and stay in a one-back set.”

So chances could come fast and may be fleeting.

The best set-up men will see the field.

Shots will then come as a matter of course.

“We will hit a few longer ones this year,” Richardson said.

 THROWBACKS: ISU announced Monday its players would wear Jack Trice era-themed throwback uniforms for the Sept. 14 game against Iowa.

Rhoads stood next to a mannequin adorned with one of those uniforms, modeled after the ones worn by the team in 1923, in the post-practice interview session.

“I think it's a great looking uniform,” he said. “Certainly a fine tribute to Jack Trice and that era.”

 SCHOLLY EARNED: Wide receiver Justin Coleman, who transferred from Nebraska-Omaha after its football program was cut, is now in scholarship. He's also No. 1 on the depth chart at one wide out slot. “I had no idea,” Coleman said. “I was excited.”