Cyclones growing into stingy defense

After allowing 228 first-half yards in last week's 13-10 win over Kansas, Iowa State's defense regrouped.

But how much did a talking to at halftime from Cyclone Coach Paul Rhoads contribute to a far stingier second-half with 73 yards allowed?

Safety Durrell Givens smiled at the question.

“It's a joint effort,” said Givens, who forced a Jayhawk fumble in the red zone before sustaining a sternum injury. “Everyone has to partake in it.”

Lately, everyone on ISU's defense has been rising up for big plays when it matters most.

The Cyclones (5-4, 2-4) have allowed just 17 points the past two weeks in wins over Texas Tech and Kansas. No other conference team has held a Big 12 foe to 10 or fewer points more than once.

And ISU's fortified resistance came on the heels of allowing an average of 42.8 points in its previous four games.

So how'd it happen?

“I think it's just the program, the progress we've made, having these kids in the system, learning the system,” Cyclone defensive coordinator Wally Burnham said in Monday's Big 12 coaches teleconference. “They had a good game plan as far as execution and what we were trying to do. They've been focused in. I think it's a just a lot of things that go in with growing as a team. Our secondary's experienced. Our linebackers are experienced. We've got some guys up front that have played a lot of football. So I think all of that goes in, along with preparation and trying to win football games.”

Givens, who dubbed his injury a minor one, was the only defensive player to partake in Saturday's postgame news conference. He said no cryptic formula could explain how much better ISU played in the second half against the Jayhawks.

“We just fitted where we needed to fit,” Givens said. “Stuff like that.”

They also regained their cool. In the first half, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on cornerback Leonard Johnson extended a Kansas drive for several plays after what would have been a third down stop.

Safety Ter'Ran Benton also drew a whistle for the same infraction later, aiding the Jayhawks' drive for a field goal. Rhoads stressed the word “foolish” when describing those penalties in the postgame - and then praised the defense for its second-half resilience and execution.

Givens said emotional confrontations can flare in an instant.

“It's like you're mad, but it's in the heat of the moment, so you understand,” he said. “You've just got to talk to them, like, ‘Man, you've just got to chill out, man.'”

No time to chill now - not in the broader sense - with a three-game slate of top-14 BCS teams on tap, beginning with No. 2 Oklahoma State on Nov. 18 at Jack Trice Stadium. After that, it's Oklahoma and Kansas State on the road.

The Wildcats pushed the Cowboys to the limit Saturday before falling, 52-45.

“We've taken a look (at that game tape) twice already,” Burnham said. “We'll study that game extensively because we feel like our scheme - what they do and what we do are very similar. So we'll take as much from that as we can.”