Cyclones get physical
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BY CURT McKEEVER / Lincoln Journal Star
It's painful duty being a scout-team tailback on this year's Iowa State football team. Just ask senior cornerback Ellis Hobbs, who began his career wanting to be the Cyclones' next workhorse.
"The physical play back then was nowhere near what it is now," Hobbs said Wednesday. "I'm glad to be on this side of the ball."
Hobbs — who was switched to defense after two-a-days during his freshman season — is part of a unit that's well on its way to going down as the best run-stopping bunch in Iowa State history.
Entering Saturday's game against Nebraska, ISU is allowing an average of 118.8 yards per contest. That's 30 yards below the existing school record.
No ISU opponent has rushed gained 200 yards on the ground.
Not Oklahoma State, which ranks No. 6 in the nation in rushing. Not Northern Illinois, which is 10th. Not No. 20 Texas A&M.
In Nebraska, the Cyclones will be facing an offense that ranks 24th in rushing.
"If they want to run, let them run," Hobbs said. "If they want to pass, let them pass. I think any defense, regardless of what the offense tries to throw at you, you just try and stop them.
"It's (a matter of) bringing your hard hat to work and grinding it out. We know every time we go out how important the mental part of the game is in handling assignments — but effort and physical play can make up for a lot of things. I think there's more of a want-to this year. We understand we have to be physical."
Evidence of that comes from the fact that 10 of Iowa State's 11 starters, and 14 of the 22 on the two-deep list, have recorded tackles for loss.
Senior end Tyson Smith, who missed most of last season with a broken leg, leads the way with 10½.
"Any time you have a guy out there, especially a senior with his type of caliber, it makes a big difference," Hobbs said. "With his ability there, we don't have to bring another defensive back into the game to cover a tight end."
Not that Hobbs needs any help in the secondary. His interception with a minute and 14 seconds to play against Kansas last Saturday allowed the Cyclones, for the first time since 1969, to win a game in which they didn't score an offensive touchdown.
In the 13-7 win, the ISU defense limited the Jayhawks to 208 yards and came up with three other turnovers, including a 30-yard fumble return for a TD by Brent Curvey. The sophomore defensive tackle's second score of the season (he rambled 65 yards after scooping up a loose ball at Baylor the previous week) was the Cyclones' fifth defensive score this season.
"We have a good, united group of guys that play hard — for each other and for the team. We don't feel one guy is better than the other," senior strongside linebacker Erik Anderson said.
Anderson could be the poster boy of the bunch. He walked on at Iowa State, got to participate in some two-a-day practices his freshman season only because another player was injured, and then ended up playing in eight games.
As a sophomore, he made his first start in ISU's 36-14 win against Nebraska. This season, he's one of seven Cyclones who have at least 41 tackles.
Considering ISU ranks 106th nationally in scoring, the Cyclones probably wouldn't be sitting with a chance to move into a tie for first place in the Big 12 Conference North Division against Nebraska on Saturday without the play of their swarming defense. Indeed, the Kansas game represented the fewest points Iowa State has scored in a victory since 1986.
But to Anderson and Hobbs, the offensive struggles are not an issue.
"We try to understand that regardless of where we get the ball, or how we get it, we want to get them more opportunities," Hobbs said. "Turnovers or three-and-outs — whatever. We have faith in them."
It's one reason why the defense quietly goes about its business, not looking to do anything more than its part.
"No numbers," Hobbs said when asked what kind of yardage the defense would consider respectable. "You just go out there and play."
Physically.
"It'll be a physical match," he said of Saturday's game. "Both teams know what's at stake."
Reach Curt McKeever at 473-7441 or cmckeever@journalstar.com.
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