An absent component of the ISU defense in years past has been consistent pressure on the opposing quarterback.

In his this week’s news conference on Monday, Sept. 1, ISU coach Paul Rhoads said his defensive line has more depth than it did when he got to Ames four years ago, allowing the unit to apply that precious pressure to the quarterback.

“There’s a big difference in the guys that we’re putting out there and the production we’re getting out of them,” Rhoads said.

In the Cyclones’ 38-23 season-opening win last Saturday, the defensive line kept Tulsa quarterback Cody Green uncomfortable by rotating 12 players, allowing everyone to avoid fatigue late in the game.

It was toward the end of the game when Rony Nelson, who entered the game as the No. 3 right defensive end, sacked Green for a 10-yard loss.

“Rotating at d-line, that gives us a better chance of having a higher success rate,” Nelson said. “Last year I got my first sack, this year it’s even better because I’m better as a pass rusher. I figured getting that sack was probably the right way to do it.”

Along with Nelson, redshirt freshman Nick Kron also sacked Green, having come in as the No. 2 right end.

Juco transfer Cory Morrissey was another reserve Rhoads mentioned who made a significant impact, having forced a fumble on one of his two tackles for loss.

“These are guys that are three deep on the two-deep,” Rhoads said. “To be running them out there and keeping guys fresh … really helps your football team make steps forward to reaching another level of play.”

The added depth at the defensive line has made things easier for the linebacking corps with the offensive line getting worn down more than usual.

“We wore their offensive line down last week because we had fresh legs and we had new stunts,” said senior linebacker A.J. Klein. “We had the athleticism up front to run the types of stunts and twists we have been.”

Looking ahead to Iowa, which is renowned for its offensive linemen, the rotation fixes to be a key factor in maintaining pressure on quarterback James Vandenberg.

“Every time I went out there, there was a new four in front of me,” said senior linebacker Jake Knott of the defensive line. “When you can do that, you have complete faith in the guys that they’re going to do their job. It makes a huge difference.”

Arceo settled in as kicker

One of the main questions leading into last Saturday’s season-opening victory against Tulsa was who would fill the void as the starting kicker.

Edwin Arceo was given the nod, drilling a 30-yard field goal to end the first half and going 4-for-4 in extra points.

“Getting out there, just getting used to the crowd, used to playing against a different team, it was just good to play against somebody else,” Arceo said after the game.

Even though Rhoads never formally announced who the starting kicker would be until game time, his hinting of true freshman Cole Netten still having a redshirt allowed some to believe he was leaning toward Arceo.

However, Arceo said the decision had been made earlier in the week.

“I used the word ‘composed’ a lot with Steele [Jantz] after the game, but Edwin was certainly that way also,” Rhoads said. “He doesn’t get rattled easily and believe me, I try to do it with our kickers as we go through practice.

“He was kicking in the spring and he was hitting the ball really well, and I was behind him trying to get in his ear and asking him why he didn’t hit this well in training camp earlier in the year. He calmly approached the ball, kicked the ball, put it right through the uprights and turned around and told me: ‘Because you didn’t invite me.'”

However, Rhoads said Arceo’s kickoffs need more consistency. Arceo tallied just two touchbacks from six kickoffs on Saturday, averaging 64.3 yards per kickoff.