Not much went right on special teams last year for Iowa State.

Ranking at or near the bottom of the conference in almost every statistical category, coach Gene Chizik knew the special teams units would need significant work heading into this season.

And the work has paid off.

The Cyclones have improved in every statistical category in the first two games this year.

While they’re not good enough yet, the change has been noticeable, said punter Mike Brandtner.

“We work special teams so hard every day in practice and work every phase of it,” Brandtner said. “I think they’re doing a great job. I would say that we’re trying to build special teams back up here.”

A large part of that was the kicking game. Bret Culbertson was only 10-of-18 on field goals, with five of those coming against Iowa. His longest field goal was 42 yards. Entering Saturday’s game, freshman Grant Mahoney is 5-of-6 on field goals with a long of 48 yards.

“Grant has been really good,” said Chizik. “I mean, if we were ever to sit there and say ‘I want a freshman kicker to come in and this is what I would like him to do the first two games’ — I couldn’t draw it up any better.”

Mahoney will have a lot to live up to in Iowa vs. Iowa State lore after Culbertson’s career performance in last year’s upset. While Chizik says it’s impossible to prepare a kicker for this type of game, it’s not just kicking field goals that has impressed him.

“His kickoffs, his hang time, where he’s kicking — he’s giving our special teams chances to go down and cover,” said Chizik.

Iowa State finished last in yards per kickoff return, last in punt return average, last in kickoff coverage and eighth in net punting average in the conference in 2007. The Cyclones have been significantly better in the first two games of 2008, ranking in the top half of the conference in all four of those categories.

Chizik said in the off-season he told special teams coach Jay Boulware, “Let’s not lip service how many hours we spend on it with our kids.” Instead, they spent “countless hours” looking at what they needed to do better.

It paid off against Kent State, leading to two punt blocks and helping Iowa State win the field position battle. The Cyclones started five drives inside Kent State territory.

“We played on the short end of the field and that’s a great feeling,” said offensive coordinator Robert McFarland. “I’ll take this every ball game if we can keep getting the situations on the field we were getting.”

So will Chizik.

“[Special teams are] worth a lot of points, they’re worth a lot of hidden yards, and we’ve really tried to make an emphasis on it,” said Chizik. “We have not arrived. That’s not what I’m saying. I’m saying we’re better.”