Paul Rhoads Q&A Part II

Can you go into more detail about what is involved in down-sizing the team for speed?

“There was an exact type of coaching program I was looking for in our strength and speed development, and we certainly got that with (ISU strength and conditioning coach) Yancy McKnight. The number one thing that we were looking for is explosiveness on the football field. To create that explosiveness and transfer it from the weight room to the football field, there's a certain methodology of training needed. It's a tier method just to keep it simple and our kids have bought into it whole heartedly and they buzz around that weight room. We're seeing excellent strength gains as well as speed development, conditioning and ultimately the explosiveness gains that are necessary for us to be a better football team. The training method in itself provides lean muscle mass and so without engineering a weight loss program, our kids naturally are losing the bad weight and putting on the good muscle and look more like a Division I college football team should look.

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Part I Q&A	_	_

What is your vision for the defense?

“I think you will see an attacking, aggressive defense. And what we hope to see, what we're working to see with our defense is a team that almost always looks like it's blitzing, but is not bringing any pressure. To me that's a true mark of an aggressive attacking style team. Even if you're playing zone and rushing four, you look like you're attacking and bringing folks. I think that's a change you'll see with the 2009 Cyclone defenders. We'll be sound in taking care of the football and contain opponent's offenses as we mix both zone coverages, zone pressures and straight man coverages.

Defense starts in the trenches. What do you have there?

This is maybe the group I have the least feel for until I see more of them in pads. I think Chris Lyle has the chance to be a great one. He's got the long body that you like, that long lever to keep offensive guys off him and get to the quarterback. I see flashes of it on film; I see flashes of it in the indoor. Curtis Bray, who was our defensive ends coach at Pitt in my early years and is coaching that position here, saw Panthers that went on to NFL careers. That's encouraging. You must have a speed end to play good defense. I believe Chris Lyle is that speed end. From there, Rashawn Parker brings experience, he's battle tested, I like that. After those two, you got guys that are eager and are hard charging right now, but untested.

Inside (defensive tackle/nose guard) you have a group that I don't know much about yet. I don't know if they're capable of rushing the passer. I don't know if they're capable of getting off blocks, I don't know if they're capable of stopping the run. I'm most anxious when we put the pads on to see that group play. I love how Austin Alburtis and Stephen Ruempolhamer have worked in the offseason program. If you're walking onto the football field and you're donning your hard hats, Nate Frere's the first one you see that looks like that type of guy. He's blue collar all the way, he's gonna fight and slug and battle it out for the entire game. I like having that guy on our football team in our first year. Jake McDonough is developing. I think every day Jake McDonough discovers something about himself and his abilities and that's a huge plus. Jerrod Black and Bailey Johnson remain unknowns. Jerrod was in a boot all winter long, but is cleared to practice. Bailey is just coming off of a knee injury and has not been ok to go full speed yet. But that depth of having six bodies going into spring practice inside at a position (defensive tackle/nose guard) that must stay fresh is awfully important. I can't wait to see that group with pads on and see what we truly have.”

Jesse Smith is back with 160 career tackles. What are you looking for from him this season?

Jesse Smith is a prototype linebacker. Big, physical, nasty, strength to him, smart, you better have a couple guys out there that always have everybody in the right position and Jesse's that guy. For Jesse to be a consummate linebacker he would need to develop his open field skills as far as pass coverage, covering down, extending receivers and being able to tackle in the open field. He's working hard to do that in his last campaign. (Josh) Raven and (Fred) Garrin actually bring a young eagerness to workouts every day. These are senior veteran guys who are showing up to work like pups. It feeds me as a coach. It gives me all the information and knowledge that you can provide. I love to see that in young men going to work.

The team has players at defensive back. How important is depth in the secondary?

“If you are going to play big-time defense, you've got to have a defensive tackle and a speed end and you've got to have a couple of corners. You have to have 11 starters but you've got to have difference makers, play makers at those positions if you're going to play great defense.

“We have some difference makers that can play with anybody on our schedule at the cornerback position. Cornerback is one of the spots that you can play as a true freshman and not be overwhelmed. To have two guys in Leonard Johnson and Ter'ran Benton that have done that, now having a year experience, now you've got a chance to see a major jump in their level of play. Throw in Allen Bell, Kennard Banks, and Devon McDowell and you've got a group that as opposing receivers rotate, you can rotate cornerbacks as well. The number of snaps of nickel that we're going to be able to play this season, underscores the importance of depth in the secondary. Having a deep secondary group is a luxury.”

At safety?

“It's great to have the lead tackler back in James Smith, another veteran, who understands this league and the pressures that go along with facing Big 12 offenses. I think we have a nice mix of range and intelligence in Zac Sandvig and Mike O'Connell. When you add David Sims into the mix, I really think this group has the chance to be one of the most improved on the team."

Players Mentioned

Austin Alburtis

Austin Alburtis

Austin Alburtis

Kennard Banks

Kennard Banks

Allen Bell

Allen Bell

Jerrod Black

Jerrod Black

Nate Frere

Nate Frere

Bailey Johnson

Bailey Johnson

Leonard Johnson

Leonard Johnson

Jake McDonough

Jake McDonough

Rashawn Parker

Rashawn Parker

Stephen Ruempolhamer

Stephen Ruempolhamer

Zac Sandvig

Zac Sandvig

David Sims

James Smith

James Smith

Jesse Smith

Jesse Smith

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