A simplified playbook with fewer plays run in more formations. A less fiery demeanor on the practice field. Formations that will include the quarterback under center with a new-look power running game.

ISU fans have read and heard about these changes in the first spring under former wide receivers coach and new offensive coordinator Courtney Messingham, but they’ll get their first live and in-person example on Saturday during the Cyclone Gridiron Club spring game at Jack Trice Stadium.

“If we score points every single drive obviously I’d be jumping up and down,” Messingham said when he met with reporters on Friday. “I know that’s not going to happen, but if we don’t turn the ball over and give the other team a short field I’m going to be very happy as well.”

Messingham, whose college playbook as a quarterback at Northern Iowa in the late 1980s was less than 20 plays, said the playbook — which still is based out of the spread offense — still needs to be refined. But when it is, it will allow players to focus more on just being athletes and not have to worry as much about where to line up and what route to run or read to make.

“I want our quarterbacks especially but all of our guys to know it like the back of their hand so they can play as fast as possible and let their own athletic ability take over,” Messingham said.

One of those quarterbacks, redshirt sophomore Jared Barnett, likes the condensed playbook and noted that the sense of urgency that Messingham has tried to instill in his players has contributed to an up-tempo and productive spring practice slate.

“We have so much speed on the field just being able to get back on the ball and not allowing the defense to get lined up,” Barnett said. “Then he can get a quick call called whenever the defense isn’t set and then maybe we can catch them off guard and pick up a couple yards here and there from people not being set.”

While the jet tempo that former offensive coordinator Tom Herman called often last season will remain, the location from where Messingham calls plays might differ from that of the now Ohio State OC.

Messingham said on Friday that the decision wasn’t final yet but that if he had to say right now, he would be coaching from the sideline and not from the press box for the 2012 season.

“He’s told us that he likes being on the sideline, he likes being able to sub people in and out whenever he wants to and he likes to feel the demeanor on the sideline between everybody and just making sure that everybody has the right mindset and that nobody is getting down on themselves or that there’s not a lot of arguing going on or anything like that,” Barnett said.

Whereas some will look at the number of run plays versus plays to describe the offense under Messingham, the first-year OC will focus his coaching from now until the fall on having a physical, competitive squad of 11 on the field.

“The biggest thing that I really still want to instill in our kids is be physical, be physical and be competitive,” Messingham said. “If you’re physical and competitive then you’ve got a chance to play on Saturdays and have a chance to be successful on Saturdays.”

The spring game starts at 2 p.m. and is free to the public. Entrance to the stadium will be through gate one on the North side of the stadium and seating will be limited to the East side of the stadium.