McNutt's touches few and far between

AMES -- Marvin McNutt is money, but he's not automatic.

Iowa State didn't do anything drastic to take the 6-foot-4, 215-pound NFL prospect out the game Saturday, covering him straight up man-to-man with some zone. McNutt put up fine numbers, catching four passes for 61 yards in Iowa's 44-41 triple overtime loss at Iowa State.

After flashing some brilliance last week -- well, after flashing some brilliance for nearly three seasons -- McNutt's role wasn't as vital as you'd think it would be for a team searching for difference-makers.

McNutt caught one pass in the first quarter. He didn't catch No. 2 until less than 10 minutes were left in the fourth.

"People know who he is," said Iowa quarterback James Vandenberg, who completed 16 of 28 for 207 yards and two TDs. "They aren't going to let him get much free space. They're going to play with guys over the top. We're taught to never force the ball and we've got plenty of good players to pick it up."

Saturday's game flowed junior Keenan Davis' way. The former Cedar Rapids Washington prep caught five passes for 95 yards and a TD, career highs in receptions and yards.

McNutt is still a giant piece to Iowa's offense. He will get his. Maybe more perplexing was the near disappearance of Iowa's tight ends in the passing game Saturday.

Tight ends were targeted only a handful of times. Sophomore C.J. Fiedorowicz caught one pass for 24 yards and that was it. Senior Brad Herman had a drop. Last week, Herman and junior Zach Derby each caught a pass.

"They had a good gameplan and they executed it well," said McNutt, who has 10 catches for 201 yards and two TDs this season. "We didn't execute."