Gene Chizik said he wished his debut would have gone better, and he surely hoped that the Cyclones’ defense would have performed up to his expectations.

“It was a typical first game where it’s a new offense and a new defense,” Chizik said. “I just know we’re going to work very hard the next few weeks to get this thing running the right way.

“This isn’t the way I’d have liked things to work out, but I’ll wake up tomorrow morning, God willing, and I’ll go back to work and start again.”

The part of the game that many fans expected would be the hallmark of the former defensive coordinator’s team came up well short of expectations, allowing 202 yards rushing to Kent State and 363 yards of total offense.

One of the biggest questions surrounding the defense was how to patch holes on the defensive line. While the line had bright spots at times, it still struggled to contain mobile Kent State quarterback Julian Edelman.

But Chizik pointed out that 202 yards can’t be blamed all on one spot.

“200 yards rushing is obviously way more yards than we need to give up,” he said. “Obviously we’ve been trying to develop a defensive line, but to say that 200 yards rushing is because of the D-line is incorrect. It’s the whole defense. The ball bounced outside a couple times, but until I look at film I won’t know exactly what the problem is.”

First-year starter at defensive end Kurtis Taylor was unapologetic when describing their play on the night and said immediate improvement is necessary.

“We didn’t get the job tonight,” Taylor said. “We’re certainly not going to take it. We’re going to keep working, we’re going to come back in the morning and work hard.

“We have to keep working, keep taking the coaching. We weren’t perfect, but that’s what we’re going to strive to be every game.”

Taylor said the defense wasn’t doing enough against the pass either and is just looking for improvement across the board.

“Whether it was run or pass or whatever it was, we have to correct it,” Taylor said. “We have to get it right and we’ll be here tomorrow to get it squared away.”

The damage through the air wasn’t nearly as bad. Edelman completed 17 of 26 passes for 161 yards and a touchdown, but he also threw two picks.

The defense also recovered a fumble on the 6-yard line as Kent State was closing in on a score for a third takeaway.

While the ability to force turnovers was a glimpse at what could be for the ISU defense, Chizik said the Cyclones won’t go anywhere until the rushing defense is organized.

“That’s where we have to start,” Chizik said. “We have to start tomorrow figuring out what we need to do to stop the run.”

Chizik also cited the Cyclones’ lack of physical play as a factor in allowing such a large number of yards to the Golden Flashes, before pointing out that everything starts with the coaching.

“I just think we didn’t play very physical,” Chizik said. “We have to work on that. I didn’t think we were very physical tonight.

“It all comes back to coaching. They played hard and didn’t quit, there’s just some things we have to get corrected.”