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Rhoads adjusting to being head coach
By Bobby La Gesse
Date Posted: 2009-08-07
Paul Rhoads may be spending a lot of time with the punters and kickers.
The first-year Iowa State football coach isn’t used to wandering from position group to position group during practice like most head coaches do.
He likes working hands-on with a group of players, and that’s why his favorite part of the Cyclones first fall workout Thursday, and his first as the man in charge, was when he taught the kickers and punters how to tackle.
“Might still be the highlight of practice,” Rhoads said.
Rhoads, an Iowa native who was named coach in December, spent roughly 10 minutes of Thursday’s practice showing the special teams standouts how to keep their “numbers”, or midsection where their uniform numbers are, over their knees and not over the grass. After kicker Zach Guyer made a solid tackle, Rhoads nearly jumped out his shoes.
“That’s how you use your hips,” Rhoads said.
For the other 190 minutes or so of practice, Rhoads took notes while observing his football team. When ISU started stretching, Rhoads took a minute to chat with a recruit who was watching practice.
During a defensive pursuit drill, Rhoads barely uttered a word, letting defensive coordinator Wally Burnham, secondary coach Chris Ash and defensive line coach Curtis Bray show the Cyclones the proper angle to take to the football. But during team drills, Rhoads was back in his element.
He took cornerback Devin McDowell aside during a punting exercise, and worked with the junior on his blocking. A few minutes later, he once again showed his trademark enthusiasm by screaming, “That’s the way to do it,” when a trio of punt blockers performed a drill flawlessly.
the end of the day, Rhoads gave a passionate speech about team improvement and being team-oriented.
By Bobby La Gesse
Date Posted: 2009-08-07
Paul Rhoads may be spending a lot of time with the punters and kickers.
The first-year Iowa State football coach isn’t used to wandering from position group to position group during practice like most head coaches do.
He likes working hands-on with a group of players, and that’s why his favorite part of the Cyclones first fall workout Thursday, and his first as the man in charge, was when he taught the kickers and punters how to tackle.
“Might still be the highlight of practice,” Rhoads said.
Rhoads, an Iowa native who was named coach in December, spent roughly 10 minutes of Thursday’s practice showing the special teams standouts how to keep their “numbers”, or midsection where their uniform numbers are, over their knees and not over the grass. After kicker Zach Guyer made a solid tackle, Rhoads nearly jumped out his shoes.
“That’s how you use your hips,” Rhoads said.
For the other 190 minutes or so of practice, Rhoads took notes while observing his football team. When ISU started stretching, Rhoads took a minute to chat with a recruit who was watching practice.
During a defensive pursuit drill, Rhoads barely uttered a word, letting defensive coordinator Wally Burnham, secondary coach Chris Ash and defensive line coach Curtis Bray show the Cyclones the proper angle to take to the football. But during team drills, Rhoads was back in his element.
He took cornerback Devin McDowell aside during a punting exercise, and worked with the junior on his blocking. A few minutes later, he once again showed his trademark enthusiasm by screaming, “That’s the way to do it,” when a trio of punt blockers performed a drill flawlessly.
the end of the day, Rhoads gave a passionate speech about team improvement and being team-oriented.
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