Cyclones focus on 'horrible' rush defense

AMES - One unmanned gap morphs into a gaping hole.

A single slightly missed assignment sparks an opponent's big run.

For Iowa State's beleaguered defense, being off a little can cost a lot - as evidenced by the 689 rushing yards yielded in recent lopsided losses at Baylor and Missouri.

“It's frustrating for the kids and for us, because we know we're better than we've played the last two weeks,” Cyclone defensive coordinator Wally Burnham. “But you've got to prove it on the field - me standing here saying it's not going to make it true.”

Proof of a resurgent defense could be provided in Saturday's 2:30 p.m. KCRG-televised homecoming game against No. 17 Texas A&M (4-2, 2-1).

ISU (3-0, 0-3) allowed 619 rushing yards in its first four games, but because of the nearly 700 yards given up in the past two efforts, has fallen to 110th nationally in run defense.

“Horrible,” Cyclone Coach Paul Rhoads said. “It's awful - in the last two games. It needs addressed. It needs fixed and Wally and the staff and the football players are working hard to shore that up. I think we tackled poorly for probably the first time Saturday down in Columbia. But what (Missouri) did created a lot of space and too many holes.”

The Bears and Tigers rank among the nation's top 22 teams in rushing offense. They also slashed ISU by spreading it out, making gaps hard to fill, and dealing with cutbacks a top priority.

“We were always one man short somehow,” Burnham said. “It is very difficult to get all your spacing when everybody is spread out. They'd go out of the empty formation and have the back out here and bring him in back in motion. We had to move and make adjustments on the run, so it's hard to get back to your gaps, get your reads because you're doing it on the move.”

The Aggies pose another dangerous, if slightly more traditional, threat up front. Christine Michael and Cyrus Gray spearhead a ground attack that's been the 16th-most productive in the nation, churning out 227.7 yards per game.

“They're both the same in that they're very talented,” Rhoads said. “They both have speed, the ability to make you miss. I think they're comparable backs and very dangerous football players.”

To slow them, ISU's defense needs to delve deeper into its blue-collar roots. That means working harder, being tougher, and executing better than the opponent.

And that hasn't happened for a while.

“It's just one of those things that you've got to get your mind right,” said Cyclone linebacker Jake Knott, who continues to play through a myriad of injuries and ailments. “We've got to all do that, really. As long as we can do that and everybody stays mentally focused and stays on the right track, we'll be fine.”

That begins with each gap and assignment.

Miss one, miss a lot.

“We've failed to execute some of those,” defensive end Jake Lattimer said. “And when we've failed, the other team has taken that opportunity and they've gashed us. But moving on from the past few games, we're going to work our best to stay gap sound and make sure to execute all our assignments and not let as many big plays happen to us.”