One thing is sure through Iowa State’s first seven games: The offense is struggling and hasn’t gotten on track yet.

Through its first seven games, the Cyclone offense has only scored more than 28 points in a game once.

That was in a three-overtime thriller in its season-opening win over Toledo.

In its three Big 12 games, the offense has managed to put just 35 points on the board. Not the performance a unit returning 10 starters from last season was expecting.

“We’re not where we thought we’d be and not where we’re capable of being,” said ISU quarterback Bret Meyer .

With the Cyclone defense replacing eight departed players, it was supposed to be the offense’s turn to step into the spotlight and carry the team until the defense came around.

Instead, it’s been the opposite.

“We were the group that was supposed to carry the team, whether it’s right or wrong, you want to be that group and the defense has been that group so far,” Meyer said. “We’re not doing our part.”

One of the most noticeable weak points of the offense has been the offensive line. A line with four seniors, all of whom started last season, has been unable to jump-start the Cyclone rush offense and has been sketchy in pass protection as well.

“We have some of the nicest guys in the world off the field, but we don’t need to take that to the field,” said ISU coach Dan McCarney.

“I think we’ve had a little too much of that lately.”

Iowa State is only averaging 101 yards a game on the ground this season and just 54 yards in Big 12 play.

“Our line is all big, all strong and all good athletes,” Meyer said.

“I think they know what they have to do.”

Now the task for Iowa State is to turn its season around.

It is 0-3 in the Big 12 for the fourth consecutive season. In the past two years the Cyclones have rebounded to finish 4-4 in the conference and make a bowl game. In 2003, after a 0-3 start, the Cyclones dropped their remaining five games to go 0-8 in Big 12 play and post a 2-10 record overall.

It’s up to this year’s team to decide which way it wants to go.

“We’ll find out starting this Saturday,” McCarney said. “We’ve found a way to scratch and dig and claw back out of it and still have opportunities at the end of the season.”