Effort keys success for Iowa State's Lyle

Heading into his senior year of high school, Christopher Lyle eagerly awaited another basketball season.

Football? Nah, it wasn't for him - until he realized something.

“I saw people I knew I was better than doing good on the football field,” Lyle said, recalling the moment. “I said, ‘I should try it.'”

So he did. And wouldn't you know it, he became a football player.

That one year of high school ball was enough to get Lyle a spot on the team at Butler Community College in Kansas and now, in his senior year at Iowa State, he's primed to start at defensive end in the Big 12.

He'll be part of a defensive line that's undersized but hopes to compensate with speed and quickness while playing more aggressively under defensive coordinator Wally Burnham.

“This defense is more of an attacking defense, I feel like,” said Rashawn Parker, another senior and the returning starter at the other defensive end spot. “We have a little more freedom to get off the ball and make plays.”

For Lyle, playing under a first-year staff is merely the continuation of a learning process that has been going on since he first donned a helmet and shoulder pads for Westlake High School in Waldorf, Md.

He had played pickup football in the streets, but varsity ball was a big leap from those carefree games.

“It never hurts to try,” Lyle said. “If you fail, you just try again. If it's not for you, it's not for you. But I wouldn't be here right now if I didn't try first.”

Lyle has shown a knack for making big plays even as he keeps learning. In his lone season at Butler, he returned a fumble 65 yards for a touchdown and had eight sacks.

While playing sparingly his first season at Iowa State in 2007, Lyle blocked an Iowa field goal attempt in the Cyclones' 15-13 victory.

Last season, as his playing time increased, Lyle shared the team lead with five sacks, forced two fumbles, recovered a fumble, batted down a pass and made 38 tackles. He's expecting even more from himself this year.

“Starting is a big thing,” he said. “This is going to be my first season starting, if everything goes well in camp, so that would be a big deal. If you're on the field more, you should be able to make more plays.”

Lyle and his teammates will have to do that if the Cyclones are to have any chance of improving on last year's 2-10 record.

Lyle described last season's defense as “just short,” meaning he felt the team was close to making a lot of plays, but just couldn't finish the job.

A more apt description could be soft, because the Cyclones became every opposing offense's best friend.

ISU gave up an average of 453 yards and 35.8 points and allowed opponents to complete 67.4 percent of their passes.

“You've got to have a pass rush,” Lyle said. “Without that, you're going to get your eyes beat out.”

ISU defensive line at a glance

Starters: Rashawn Parker, sr., 5-11, 254 (21 tackles, one sack); Austin Alburtis, jr., 6-1, 266 (eight tackles, one interception); Nate Frere, sr., 6-1, 291 (26 tackles, three sacks); Christopher Lyle, sr., 6-4, 257 (38 tackles, five sacks).Others in the mix: Roosevelt Maggitt, fr., 6-2, 239 (no stats); Patrick Neal, soph., 6-0, 227 (one tackle); Bailey Johnson, jr., 6-2, 267 (injured last season); Stephen Ruempolhamer, soph., 6-3, 287 (eight tackles); Jerrod Black, soph., 6-0, 287 (two tackles); Cleyon Laing, fr., 6-3, 269 (no stats).In the know: Lyle is a late bloomer who played only one season of high school football. Even though he didn't start, Lyle led ISU's defensive linemen in tackles last season and tied for the team lead in sacks. He has size needed to play defensive end and could be headed for a big season.Bowling if ... The defensive line can turn up the heat on quarterbacks while ensuring it's not susceptible to the run. The Cyclones had only 17 sacks last year, a total that needs to increase. More pressure on quarterbacks also could help the Cyclones improve on last season's interception total (11).

ISU defensive line at a glance

Starters: Rashawn Parker, sr., 5-11, 254 (21 tackles, one sack); Austin Alburtis, jr., 6-1, 266 (eight tackles, one interception); Nate Frere, sr., 6-1, 291 (26 tackles, three sacks); Christopher Lyle, sr., 6-4, 257 (38 tackles, five sacks).

Others in the mix: Roosevelt Maggitt, fr., 6-2, 239 (no stats); Patrick Neal, soph., 6-0, 227 (one tackle); Bailey Johnson, jr., 6-2, 267 (injured last season); Stephen Ruempolhamer, soph., 6-3, 287 (eight tackles); Jerrod Black, soph., 6-0, 287 (two tackles); Cleyon Laing, fr., 6-3, 269 (no stats).

In the know: Lyle is a late bloomer who played only one season of high school football. Even though he didn't start, Lyle led ISU's defensive linemen in tackles last season and tied for the team lead in sacks. He has size needed to play defensive end and could be headed for a big season.

Bowling if ... The defensive line can turn up the heat on quarterbacks while ensuring it's not susceptible to the run. The Cyclones had only 17 sacks last year, a total that needs to increase. More pressure on quarterbacks also could help the Cyclones improve on last season's interception total (11).

- Chuck Schoffner