Before the 2010 season began, ISU football coach Paul Rhoads called for his offense to improve on its performance from 2009.

In Rhoads’ first season, the Cyclones scored 20.54 points per game, a number the coach said must improve if they want to win close games.

Through the first three games of 2010, though, Iowa State (1-2, 0-1) is averaging 18 points per contest.

“It’s extremely disappointing,” Rhoads said Monday. “We sit here at 1-2, in large part, because we’re not scoring points.”

Rhoads said he spent the weekend talking with the offensive coaching staff about ways to increase scoring output.

While Rhoads said different play-calling could lead to more explosive plays, he also said that things like field position and penalties have worked against the offense.

“Explosive plays is something that we’ve got to find a way to get into the offense,” Rhoads said. “Alexander Robinson, getting free on some runs, which we’ve only done once, contributes to that.”

Robinson’s struggles have likely come from his success in 2009.

The Minneapolis native was the Big 12’s third-leading rusher last season, but has seen defenses stack the box against him.

Rhoads said opponents are focusing on stopping Robinson, which in turn slows down the rest of the ISU offense.

“We’ve got to be more effective in the passing game,” said quarterback Austen Arnaud. “When it comes down to it, teams are going to key on Alexander. We have to make more plays in play action and down the field to have us be more effective.”

Robinson has 237 yards and two touchdowns through three games this year. His 75.7 yards per game is good for ninth in the Big 12.

Arnaud and the passing game are struggling to move the ball, too. Arnaud is averaging 194.7 yards per game through the air, also ninth in the Big 12.

“We haven’t thrown the ball with enough success to make people fear that,” Rhoads said. “One of the things you have to do with your passing game to make people fear it is hit big plays.”

To start hitting more big plays, Rhoads said the offense may try stretching the field vertically.

However, the coach also said that for the offense to set up longer pass plays, Arnaud must have more time in the pocket. In the first three games, though, that time has been cut down by the pass rush brought by the Iowa and Kansas State defenses.

“I think that will come into play as we move throughout the season,” Rhoads said. “You’ve got to be able to throw the ball vertically down the field, at times, and make people respect it.”

Arnaud described explosive plays as runs longer than 16 yards or passes of more than 18 yards.

Against Kansas State, the Cyclones’ offense only had two such plays, a 20-yard run by Robinson and a 16-yard run by freshman Jeff Woody in the fourth quarter.

“We definitely need to get that up and make more plays in space,” Arnaud said. “K-State did a good job of containing us, it felt like all day, but in the end we shot ourselves in the foot.”

Arnaud said the lack of deep shots downfield to receivers like Darius Reynolds or Darius Darks comes from situations the offense ends up in.

Against Iowa, the Cyclones were playing from behind throughout and needed to move the ball however possible, but against Kansas State, the Wildcats’ defense did its job to limit ISU deep threats.

“When you take shots, especially in the Big 12 and at this level, you have to take them wisely,” Arnaud said. “We’re taking our time, but we know we need to move the ball better through the air, and that’s what we’re going to work on.”

Injury updates

Arnaud was injured late in the third quarter against Kansas State, with what Rhoads called a bruised shoulder.

Monday, though, Arnaud didn’t hesitate when he said his injured left shoulder was recovering.

“It’s fine,” Arnaud said. “Just pains here and there.”

Rhoads said he didn’t expect the injury to keep Arnaud off of the field Saturday against Northern Iowa.

Arnaud was held out of practice Sunday, but he has been using the shoulder to speed recovery.

“The fact that he had a similar injury two years ago in his throwing shoulder and played through it, I don’t see any issues,” Rhoads said.

Defensive lineman Bailey Johnson, though, could be held out of Saturday’s game with leg soreness.

Johnson, a senior, had a stress fracture in his leg two seasons ago and has had bone growth in his lower leg because of it.

Rhoads said Johnson will be day-to-day going forward.

A permanent punter?

True freshman Kirby Van Der Kamp has been the full-time punter in Iowa State’s last two games, and he has not disappointed Rhoads or his staff.

The West Des Moines Valley grad has 10 kicks and averaged 43.6 yards per kick in two games as the starter.

“Kirby’s funny, he is so poised when it comes to everything that he does, and he showed that under the pressure and averaged over 50 yards on three punts,” Rhoads said.

Van Der Kamp has taken over after senior Daniel Kuehl had one kick for 18 yards in the Cyclones’ first game against Northern Illinois.

“He’s doing an exceptional job of directionally punting the ball and putting it in a position that our guys can cover,” Rhoads said.