At the beginning of the season, the ISU defensive line was characterized as the weakest unit on the defense by coach Paul Rhoads.

Almost four months later, the defensive line played a major role in making things uncomfortable for OU quarterback Landry Jones in the Cyclones’ (6-5, 3-5 Big 12) 26-6 loss to Oklahoma on Saturday in Norman, Okla.

“Even without sacks Saturday, we hit [Jones], we flushed him, we made him move and because of that, he was uncharacteristically inaccurate with some of his throws,” Rhoads said at his weekly news conference on Monday. “That relentless effort they’re all putting forth is allowing our defense to play better.”

The mentality of relentlessness had been adopted by the unit well before the team’s bout with the Sooners (9-2, 6-2) last Saturday.

“You try to play with as much energy as possible, that’s certainly a focus throughout the week,” said defensive end Patrick Neal. “The coaches always tell us to break on the ball through every pass, and I think that kind of adds to that mental side of playing relentless.”

Jones was held to a 91.9 passer rating — his lowest of the season — after failing to pass for a touchdown and throwing two interceptions that resulted from the line’s pressure.

The defensive line was also instrumental in pressuring Brandon Weeden in the Cyclones’ 37-31 double-overtime victory against Oklahoma State on Nov. 18.

Weeden threw three interceptions — which tied for his season-high — as a result of the line’s pressure as well.

“We weren’t able to get [Weeden and Jones] to the ground, but we were able to get them off their point,” Neal said. “We made them move their feet, which in turn gets them out of their rhythm, which I feel is just as important as a sack.”

The defense, as a whole, has managed to hold opposing offenses to three points or less in 14 quarters — nine scoreless — through the last five games with the relentless mentality of the defensive line playing a big role.

“It’s the d-line’s job to stop the run and rush the passer,” said nose tackle Stephen Ruempolhamer. “As a unit, we finally started to understand [that] we do have the ability to stop the run, we do have the ability to rush the passer, and we do have the ability to change games. I think we take it personal that way.”

Rhoads said the defensive line’s success has also stemmed from the depth that his team has at those positions, managing to go as much as 10-deep to keep players fresh and energized during games.

“At the same time it takes reps, but it gives energy so it’s a give and take,” Ruempolhamer said. “When the backers are able to hold their own and when we’re able to regain our energy and play hard the whole game, it pays off.”

Woody’s play ‘elevated’

From short-yardage role player to a staple at the running back rotation, Jeff Woody has met his transition this season without missing a step.

The redshirt sophomore has averaged 40.7 rushing yards in six games — a streak that started with a then-season-high 31 rushing yards off five carries.

“Without a doubt his game has been elevated,” Rhoads said of Woody. “The fact that Shontrelle [Johnson] is done, we have one less back. But I think Jeff has elevated his game the second half of the season.”

Quarterback Jared Barnett said Monday that Woody has been running the ball a lot harder than he has in the past, but that is not the only aspect that has improved his game.

“He’s been in the film room a lot, learning the offense,” Barnett said. “Normally, I’m the only person on the field who knows all the calls, all the signals, what everybody’s doing. But now Jeff is becoming that guy, he also knows everything.

“That’s really good because he can go out and see a route and see what I see in the defense and think, ‘OK, J.B. is about to change this, and he’ll be there right with me step-by-step, and that’s just made him a lot better running back.”

Inaugural round-robin schedule coming to a close

The Big 12’s 10-team round-robin conference schedule is seeing its inaugural bout come to a close with its final regular season games on Saturday.

Rhoads said he enjoyed seeing how all the teams in the league competed against one another and wished other conferences would do something similar.

“As we come down to voting on players in the league, we have a true knowledge of everybody in this league and how to vote for them,” Rhoads said. “In past years, heck, if we hadn’t seen a player, we wouldn’t have paid any attention to him and wouldn’t have known that.”

However, not everyone shares Rhoads’ opinion.

“I would prefer having a championship game,” Barnett said. “But [the round-robin is] just how the conference is right now. We play everybody and go through the schedule, and I have no problem with that.”

For Neal, a seasoned six-year veteran on the team who has spent most of his college career in the previous format of playing all five Big 12 North opponents and only three Big 12 South teams for eight conference games in a single season, the new format has been a blast.

“I think it’s fun to play everyone in the conference,” Neal said. “That way you get to play all the great, talented teams that this conference has to offer whereas other years, you may miss out on playing Oklahoma and Texas so it’s a great challenge.”