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Defense still a work in progress
By Bobby La Gesse
Date Posted: 2009-04-20
Spring football is over, but the work has just begun.
If the Iowa State defense, which allowed 35.8 points last season, is to play like the ball-hawking, turnover-producing unit that defensive coordinator Wally Burnham envisions, the Cyclones still have a ways to go.
“We have 29 (fall) practices before the first game, so we will move on a little bit and add some things to get to where we have to be,†Burnham said.
Because it took ISU longer than expected to pick up Burnham’s version of the Tampa Two, he only installed one-forth of his scheme. Burnham said that’s fine because the Cyclones will be able to put in the rest once fall practice starts in August.
But his biggest concerns lie with his team’s lack of speed and fundamentals.
While he was happy with the pace at which ISU picked things up by the end of the spring, he’s concerned with its quickness. The big plays his defense is intended to make — sacks, interceptions, forced fumbles — rely on an abundance of speed that can disrupt offenses and put players in a position to succeed.
To counteract that, Burnham said he will limit the number of things he asks the Cyclones to do because if they memorize their assignments, they can play faster and get into position quicker.
And if they get in position, they should still have a chance to make a big play.
“We don’t have that speed so we have to be sound technically, schematically sound,†Burnham said. “We have to let our kids know this is what you have to do right now so that’s how we are going to improve it.â€
Being in position won’t matter if ISU can’t wrap up.
Coach Paul Rhoads said the Cyclones ended spring as an averaging tackling team and must become above average if they are to win games next year. ISU used at least 10 minutes during individual drills addressing the problem during each spring practice.
“We’ve spent a humungous amount of time teaching tackling,†Burnham said.
And defensive end Roosevelt Maggitt said the Cyclones must continue to work on it this summer.
“We know it’s big,†Maggitt said. “We know that can help improve the defense.â€
Burnham has found a few players he believes can help turn things around.
He likes what he’s seen out of linebacker Jesse Smith because he’s always in the right spot at the right time. Defensive tackle Nate Frere has also stood out with his consistency and work ethic.
Burnham also said no one in the secondary is “head and shoulders above anyone elseâ€.
“(There are) no surprises because I don’t know who we should be surprised by, but we’ve seen some good things,†Burnham said.
He just hopes to see a lot more during the 29 fall practices.
“We’ll really get after things then,†Burnham said.
Bobby La Gesse can be reached at (515) 663-6929, or rlagesse@amestrib.com.
By Bobby La Gesse
Date Posted: 2009-04-20
Iowa State defensive coordinator Wally Burnham said the defense is improving little by little.
Tribune file photo
Tribune file photo
Spring football is over, but the work has just begun.
If the Iowa State defense, which allowed 35.8 points last season, is to play like the ball-hawking, turnover-producing unit that defensive coordinator Wally Burnham envisions, the Cyclones still have a ways to go.
“We have 29 (fall) practices before the first game, so we will move on a little bit and add some things to get to where we have to be,†Burnham said.
Because it took ISU longer than expected to pick up Burnham’s version of the Tampa Two, he only installed one-forth of his scheme. Burnham said that’s fine because the Cyclones will be able to put in the rest once fall practice starts in August.
But his biggest concerns lie with his team’s lack of speed and fundamentals.
While he was happy with the pace at which ISU picked things up by the end of the spring, he’s concerned with its quickness. The big plays his defense is intended to make — sacks, interceptions, forced fumbles — rely on an abundance of speed that can disrupt offenses and put players in a position to succeed.
To counteract that, Burnham said he will limit the number of things he asks the Cyclones to do because if they memorize their assignments, they can play faster and get into position quicker.
And if they get in position, they should still have a chance to make a big play.
“We don’t have that speed so we have to be sound technically, schematically sound,†Burnham said. “We have to let our kids know this is what you have to do right now so that’s how we are going to improve it.â€
Being in position won’t matter if ISU can’t wrap up.
Coach Paul Rhoads said the Cyclones ended spring as an averaging tackling team and must become above average if they are to win games next year. ISU used at least 10 minutes during individual drills addressing the problem during each spring practice.
“We’ve spent a humungous amount of time teaching tackling,†Burnham said.
And defensive end Roosevelt Maggitt said the Cyclones must continue to work on it this summer.
“We know it’s big,†Maggitt said. “We know that can help improve the defense.â€
Burnham has found a few players he believes can help turn things around.
He likes what he’s seen out of linebacker Jesse Smith because he’s always in the right spot at the right time. Defensive tackle Nate Frere has also stood out with his consistency and work ethic.
Burnham also said no one in the secondary is “head and shoulders above anyone elseâ€.
“(There are) no surprises because I don’t know who we should be surprised by, but we’ve seen some good things,†Burnham said.
He just hopes to see a lot more during the 29 fall practices.
“We’ll really get after things then,†Burnham said.
Bobby La Gesse can be reached at (515) 663-6929, or rlagesse@amestrib.com.
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