AMES, Iowa—When talk of Iowa State’s improved defense began back in September, first-year coach Paul Rhoads joked that the Cyclones were hardly “The Steel Curtain.”
While Iowa State hasn’t developed a Steelers-like defense, the Cyclones have gotten significantly better at stopping people this season—perhaps the biggest reason they are off to a surprising 4-3 start that is the best since 2005.
The Cyclones, who ranked 111th out of 120 teams with 35.8 points allowed per game in 2008, have cut that number down to 21.6 points per game this season. Iowa State (4-3, 1-2 Big 12) has also allowed 17 points or less in all four of its wins, including just 10 in a comfortable win over Baylor last weekend that snapped an 11-game conference losing streak.
The Cyclones will hope for another solid performance out of its defense Saturday when it faces Nebraska (4-2, 1-1). The Cornhuskers, despite their recent turmoil at quarterback, are averaging more than 32 points a game.
“Tackling has been a lot better the past few weeks. We’ve drastically lowered our missed tackles, and just cleaning up missed assignments,” ISU defensive lineman Nate Frere said. “It’s a lot of little things that add up to a lot.”
Iowa State’s defensive resurgence has come with essentially the same players who allowed 430 points in 12 games last season. But the team has a new defensive coordinator in Wally Burnham, and senior linebacker Jesse Smith said after last week’s win that the Cyclones have more confidence in the schemes they’re playing in this season.
The numbers back up Smith’s assertion. Iowa State has 10 interceptions through seven games, an encouraging sign for a team playing in the high-flying Big 12.
“Pass coverage from Kansas to Baylor was significantly increased in their level of play. Wally Burnham and the defensive staff did a great job of taking something that was a problem and attacking it with their practice preparation,” Rhoads said.
Iowa State knows that things will only get tougher. High-powered offenses such as Nebraska, Oklahoma State and Missouri are left on the schedule, and the Cyclones allowed 41.8 points per game in conference games last season.
But Iowa State has held two of its first three Big 12 opponents under 24 points after allowing at least 28 points in all eight league games a year ago.
Rhoads believes it’s simply a matter of mindset.
“We talked about shedding skin. We have to quit living in the past thinking ‘Here we go again,'” Rhoads said after the Baylor game. “We have good football players and players who can help us win on defense.”
