A fast-paced offense is not easy to shut down, and this season will be no different for the ISU linebacking and defensive backs corps.

With no positions officially filled, the biggest area of concern for the Cyclone defense is how to get every player on the same page to help erase an anemic defense that gave up 36 points per game last year.

Coach Paul Rhoads has seen a few bright spots already to believe this team will be up to the challenge.

“We haven’t [given up that many points] in the scrimmages,” Rhoads said. “The number of big plays that [the defense] has given up has been limited.”

The defensive backfield features several players who bring back significant playing time, as well as the intensity needed to be a smart and tenacious defender against the speedy receivers in the Big 12.

Sophomore cornerback Leonard Johnson became somewhat of a fan favorite last season with his big-time plays and ferocious hits. The returning letterwinner played in all 12 games and recorded two interceptions, while forcing a pair of fumbles.

“I think his potential to be as good as everybody says and talks about is there,” Rhoads said. “Leonard has all the gifts to be an All-Big 12 level type of corner, and he needs to go out there and exercise those gifts daily.”

Joining Johnson at corner on the right side will be sophomore Ter’ran Benton. Benton started five games last season, accounting for 24 tackles and forcing a fumble.

Coverage over the top at free safety will be anchored with a lot of experience in senior James Smith. Smith was the leading tackler on the team last season with 85, including 60 solo stops. He has a natural knack for finding the ball, making 10 or more tackles in four games last season.

Smith is now on his third head coach and staff since becoming a part of the Iowa State football program, but being at this level for five years makes him confident learning a new defensive system again.

“Obviously for the older guys [it’s easier], but for some of the younger guys, they had a new defense last year and now they’re going to have to learn another one again,” Smith said. “It’s the same concept, just a different name.”

With the Cyclone offense adopting a new spread attack, the practice each player gets on the defensive side of the ball will pay dividends when conference play comes around next season.

Opposite Smith at the strong safety position could be junior Zac Sandvig, who played in all 12 games last season.

Besides the defensive backfield, the linebackers will have to make strides if there is to be tight coverage on the sometimes five-wide set run by other Big 12 teams, as well as apply blitzing schemes to disrupt the quarterback.

The Cyclones lost the services of Michael Bibbs and Kurtis Taylor to graduation, but the unit brings back ample firepower to go along with the rest of the experienced defense.

Seniors Jesse Smith, Fred Garrin, and Josh Raven all saw starting time, with Smith starting 24 consecutive games to lead the corps.

Smith knows the defense will need to be at its best each and everyday to combat and compete with the spread attack run by most of their opponents.

“It’s very helpful [to play against our spread] because that’s what the Big 12 is now. You know, they spread you out and throw quick passes. I see it every day, and it definitely helps me with the speed of the game,” Smith said.

“Last year I we didn’t have this offense, so I didn’t’ see it until Saturday at game speed. Here, I get to see game speed everyday with our spread offense.”

To go along with those three, senior Derec Schmidgall, junior Justin Rumple and sophomore Patrick Neal logged many valuable playing minutes last season.

Defensively, speed is the crucial component to shutting down or hanging with the shotgun spread formation. Rhoads and company realize the tough uphill battle ahead will take time and patience.

“We’ll continue to be a mix of what I refer to as zone pressure and man pressure,” Rhoads said.

“How much pressure we can bring depends on the developed skill of our coverage people. Right now there’s not a lot of linebackers that I’d put out there in man, one-on-one situations.

“The DB’s are no different … there’s not a lot of secondary guys I’d say match up against a wide receiver and live with the consequences.”

Over the last few days of spring workouts and into the summer training periods, the defensive secondary and linebackers will look to improve tackling, speed and the overall fundamentals to be in the right state come next season.