Editor’s Note: The Northern Illinois football team opens its season at Iowa State on Thursday night. Leading up to the game, the Daily Chronicle will provide readers with an occasional story about the Cyclones from the Ames (Iowa) Tribune as a part of a content sharing agreement.
Iowa State football coach Paul Rhoads might as well be wearing a hard hat at practice.
Rhoads describes his defense as under construction. He sees the unit making strides, but knows it still has a ways to go before it’s ready for the Big 12 Conference schedule.
The Cyclones will find out where exactly the defense stands when they host Northern Illinois on Thursday night.
“It’s a work in progress is how it’s developed,” Rhoads said. “I think it will continue to be throughout the season.”
Last year the defense was hit or miss, winning all seven games it gave up 23 points or less and losing the six games where it gave up more. ISU was 11th in the Big 12 in total defense, giving up 415.8 yards.
While Rhoads considers several stats more important than total defense — points allowed and turnovers created are his favorites — he expects the defense to hold its ground better in 2010.
“Rush yardage, pass yardage, total yardage are alls areas that we need to improve upon if we are going to begin to become a good defensive team in the Big 12 Conference,” Rhoads said.
Rhoads called the secondary the strength of the defense Monday. He believes the Cyclones have four capable cornerbacks and thinks cornerbacks Ter’ran Benton and Leonard Johnson could be in for breakout years.
ISU is breaking in three new starting linebackers. Rhoads likes the talent at linebacker, but admits the position group is thin.
“We are going to have to be healthy there all season long for it to be effective,” Rhoads said.
Bailey Johnson moved ahead of Jake McDonough on the depth chart at defensive tackle. Rhoads said Johnson will start the season opener because he’s done a great job of shedding blockers the last week.
Johnson, who started eight games last season, was limited in spring practice while recovering from a broken leg, which he suffered in the Insight Bowl. Johnson’s healthy now and looking like his old self.
“He will do great things for us the first game,” defensive end Rashawn Parker said. “He’ll have another good season.”
Like Rhoads, safety Michael O’Connell likes how the defense has grown.
But there’s too much construction going on around him to know exactly where things stand.
“That first game, that’s when we’ll find out how far we’ve really come,” O’Connell said. “That will be the true test for our defense.”
Kuehl leads punting derby: Senior Daniel Kuehl has an edge on true freshman Kirby Van Der Kamp for the punting job. A decision won’t be made until after Tuesday’s practice, but Rhoads said Kuehl would have to “fall on his face a little bit” to lose the job.
Four newcomers to play Thursday: Rhoads said four newcomers — cornerback Anthony Young, tight end Ricky Howard, running back Shontrelle Johnson and linebacker Jeremiah George — will likely play against the Huskies.
Rhoads said all the redshirt decisions won’t be finalized until the second or third game.
