Efficiency on first downs was something coach Paul Rhoads said was widely ignored by the media as other storylines commonly surfaced.

But after his team managed only one play of more than four yards out of 23 first-down snaps in a 27-21 loss to Kansas State last Saturday, Rhoads said converting for big yardage on first down has become a much larger point of emphasis in working toward offensive efficiency as a whole.

“Offensively, we want to gain 4 or more [yards] on first down and put ourselves in manageable situations,” Rhoads said at his weekly news conference Monday.

“I think we shied away from taking some shots as that game went along, being afraid of second-and-long to get to third-and-manageable to convert third-and-manageable because we weren’t doing a very good job of that.”

Lack of execution by quarterback Jared Barnett — who went 3-for-10 for 11 yards and an interception on first downs — stalled the offensive flow of the Cyclones (4-2, 1-2 Big 12). The offense as a whole averaged 1.3 yards per play on first downs against the Wildcats.

“If you have a deadline and your boss says: ‘This is due by 3 [p.m.]’ If he tells you that at 8 o’clock in the morning, you go, ‘All right, I’ve got some time to work on this,’” said running back Jeff Woody. “But the equivalent of second-and-10 or third-and-10 is if he says: ‘You have this due at 3 o’clock’ and he tells you that at 2:51 — you are pressed, you’re stressed out.

“It’s just a lot harder to do your job, and it’s a lot harder to do it well when you know you have that much longer to go or that little wiggle room.”

Woody was held without a yard in his two first-down runs while the running attack for the Cyclones managed 20 yards on 13 carries (1.5 per carry). Improving the running game has also been a point of emphasis Rhoads has been stressing to his team.

After six games, Iowa State currently ranks 85th nationally in average rushing yards with 143 per game.

“If we can get to 200, we’re probably having a pretty good day overall as an offense,” Rhoads said. “Right now, I’d settle for 180.”

The only contest in which Iowa State has recorded more than 200 rushing yards this season was in its win against Western Illinois of the FCS on Sept. 15 (264 yards).

Having success on first down, Barnett said, will take the pressure off the offense to feel the need to pass on second-and-long and third-and-long situations and facilitate a more balanced offense with the run game involved.

“It will make the difference between what the next play is, if it’s a run play or it’s a pass play,” Barnett said. “If it’s second-and-long, the defense knows that we’re going to have to pass it. They’re probably going to send some heat or they’re going to sit their safeties back farther.”

Brun makes history

With a 30-yard touchdown reception on Saturday that required a full extension across the pylon, Ernst Brun became the first tight end in ISU history to record four touchdowns in a season since Al Dixon did so in 1976.

Having a 6-foot-3, 240-pound tight end line up as a receiver and serve as a deep threat has helped Barnett.

“It makes it a lot easier from a passing standpoint,” Barnett said. “[Mike] Hammerschmidt and Ricky [Howard] are really good run blockers … but Ernst, he’s huge in the pass game because he can threaten safeties down field. He adds a different dynamic to the offense.”

Brun said his previous experience as a basketball player has translated into his game on the football field.

“I feel like I can jump,” Brun said. “Also, people don’t really see it, I use my body a lot if a ball’s ever coming outside of me, I use my body to box out like I’m playing basketball.”

His arrival at Iowa State, Brun said, has seen him develop in ways of becoming more coachable and motivated.

“I was in for a rude awakening my first couple days, I went against Patrick Neal and Jake Lattimer and just got manhandled; it wasn’t even fair,” Brun said. “From there, I was like, ‘I’ve got to gain weight and get stronger.’”