Offense will set the pace for Cyclones

Fast and furious or slow and steady?

Iowa State's spread offense will need to play at both speeds to keep up with its high-powered opponents and protect a still-shaky Cyclone defense that has significant holes to fill on a unit that was one of the worst in the college football a year ago.

Coach Paul Rhoads said Wednesday at ISU's media day that the offensive tempo figures to change throughout the course of a game.

“If the offense is clicking and we are scoring points, let's let it roll,” Rhoads said. “If the defense is struggling, (offensive coordinator) Tom (Herman) is going to have to keep them out on the field a little bit and keep the other guys off it.”

Herman arrived in Ames from Rice, where he created point-producing machines during his two seasons managing the Owls' offense. The key to running his offense is a quickened pace that keeps the defense on its heels and minimizes the opportunity for substitution.

“Every single time that ball is whistled for play we are going to be up on the line of scrimmage with at least the threat of snapping the football right away,” Herman said.

“We are going to control the tempo and dictate the tempo, but we know this is a team game and we've got to help our defense as much as possible.”

The Cyclones surrendered 452.8 yards and 35.8 points a game last year. Those numbers were worse in Big 12 Conference play (497.5 and 41.8). Opponents scored 59 touchdowns, 23 more than ISU.

“There's a lot of things we need to get better at this year, and tackling is one of them,” said linebacker Jesse Smith.

That would help, yes. So would controlling the football and giving defenders time to rest between series. The defense was on the field a lot in 2008 as ISU's offense sputtered during much of the 2-10 season.

That shouldn't be the case this fall with quarterback Austen Arnaud in his second year as the starter and playmakers around him at running back and receiver.

Herman said his offense at Rice last season snapped the ball on average with seven to nine seconds remaining on the 40-second play clock. He'd like the timing to be about the same this year.

“Just because we are no huddle doesn't mean we are hurry-up,” Herman said. “We can slow down when we feel like we need to.”

Players on the sideline will get the play call from him and signal it in to Arnaud. Herman, 34, prefers the bird's eye view from the press box.

“I know guys do it from the field, but I'm not smart enough. I can't see the big picture,” he said. “I get up there and it looks like a chess match to me.”

Coach: Paul Rhoads (first year)Last year: 2-10 (0-8 in Big 12)Top starters: QB Austen Arnaud, RB Alexander Robinson, WR Houston Jones, WR Darius Darks, TE Derrick Catlett, LG Reggie Stephens, C Alex Alvarez, RG Ben Lamaak, RT Matt Hulbert, DE Rashawn Parker, NG Nate Frere, MLB Jesse Smith, WLB Fred Garrin, CB Leonard Johnson, FS James Smith, P Mike Brandtner, K Grant Mahoney, DS Dakota Zimmerman2009 schedule: Sept. 3 - North Dakota State, 7 p.m.; Sept. 12 - Iowa, 11 a.m.; Sept. 19 - at Kent State, 6 p.m.; Sept. 26 - Army; Oct. 3 - vs. Kansas State in Kansas City; Oct. 10 - at Kansas; Oct. 17 - Baylor; Oct. 24 - at Nebraska; Oct. 31 - at Texas A&M; Nov. 7 - Oklahoma State; Nov. 14 - Colorado

Last year: 2-10 (0-8 in Big 12)

Top starters: QB Austen Arnaud, RB Alexander Robinson, WR Houston Jones, WR Darius Darks, TE Derrick Catlett, LG Reggie Stephens, C Alex Alvarez, RG Ben Lamaak, RT Matt Hulbert, DE Rashawn Parker, NG Nate Frere, MLB Jesse Smith, WLB Fred Garrin, CB Leonard Johnson, FS James Smith, P Mike Brandtner, K Grant Mahoney, DS Dakota Zimmerman

2009 schedule: Sept. 3 - North Dakota State, 7 p.m.; Sept. 12 - Iowa, 11 a.m.; Sept. 19 - at Kent State, 6 p.m.; Sept. 26 - Army; Oct. 3 - vs. Kansas State in Kansas City; Oct. 10 - at Kansas; Oct. 17 - Baylor; Oct. 24 - at Nebraska; Oct. 31 - at Texas A&M; Nov. 7 - Oklahoma State; Nov. 14 - Colorado

Rhoads has a pretty good idea of who'll be on the field offensively. The other side of the ball ... not so much. The Cyclones return just six starters from a defense that was manhandled a year ago.

The first of 29 practices before the Sept. 3 season opener against North Dakota State begins today. Saturday is the first day in pads.

“Depth is not settled on offense, but it is a little more established (than the defense),” Rhoads said. “We are wide open on defense and the kids know we are approaching camp that way.”

ISU will be facing offenses much like its own this season. The Big 12 has become an offense-dominated league.

“This is one of the better conferences as far as quarterbacks and passing attacks. Every week we are getting tested 50 or 60 times a game,” said cornerback Leonard Johnson.

That might depend on the Cyclone offense's ability to control the clock and the pace of the game.

“There's going to be games where I don't want to run 80 plays,” Rhoads said. “There's going to be others that we choose to.

“The No. 1 goal of our offense is to score points.”