ISU defense better on field than on paper

On paper, Iowa State's defense looks average after three come-from-behind wins to start the season.

On the field and on tape, it appears much better than that.

“There were several key third-down situations where our guys were just located in the right places and gave us a chance to get off the field,” said Cyclones Coach Paul Rhoads, whose team improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2005 after Friday's 24-20 triumph at Connecticut.

ISU - which played a tougher-than-most non-conference schedule that included FCS power Northern Iowa, Iowa and the defending Big East champion Huskies - ranks 39th or lower nationally in several key defensive categories, including total defense (66th) and scoring defense (74th).

But when the game's outcome has hinged on a stop, the Cyclone defense has jelled.

UNI went 0-for-3 on third-down situations in the fourth quarter of the Cyclones' 20-19 season-opening win.

Iowa converted all its third-down chances in the fourth quarter and two overtimes, but couldn't in the third overtime. The Hawkeyes settled for a field goal and ISU answered with a James White rushing touchdown for a 44-41 win.

The Cyclones held UConn to 1-of-3 on fourth-quarter third-down tries last week and allowed just five such conversions overall.

“They haven't tried to do too much and they've tackled pretty well,” Rhoads said of his defense, which enjoys a week off before facing No. 19 Texas at 6 p.m. Oct. 1 at Jack Trice Stadium. “We haven't had a lot of sacks (average of one per game), but I feel like our pressure on the quarterback has been better than it was a year ago and it's got to continue to improve.”

Jake Lattimer hounded the Huskies' quarterbacks repeatedly Friday but didn't record a sack. Instead, Jacques Washington notched one on a safety blitz and defensive linemen Cleyon Laing and Patrick Neal combined for another.

“I thought Patrick Neal (eight tackles, 1.5 for loss) played his best game he's played as an Iowa State Cyclone,” Rhoads said. “To see him take the coaching, I think that's a big positive.”

More positive are needed - beginning in two Saturdays against the Longhorns.

“We're going to have to be better than good,” Rhoads said. “And we're going to have to score points as an offense. ... We've got a big task ahead of us.”

Notes

 Rhoads said he was pleased with cornerback Jeremy Reeves‘ effort at UConn - despite being whistled for two pass interference penalties and yielding a touchdown in Friday's win.

“You know what? I'm proud of how he played,” Rhoads said. “I think he played dang good football and we'll encourage him to keep playing it in the manner that he played.”

 Rhoads said the Cyclones' defensive execution this season has improved.

“We're getting off blocks,” he said. “We're running better and getting off blocks better overall as a defense than we did the previous two seasons.”