Stop the questions. Don’t even bring it up.

Todd Blythe’s knee is fine.

Now if he can just get on the field to prove it.

“I’m real anxious,” Blythe said. “I’m ready for that first game. Not just because it’s the first game, but to get rid of these questions. After that first game I don’t want to have to answer these questions anymore. I’m ready for that first game to get out there and show everyone I’m back.”

Blythe will get his chance to show how healthy he is Sept. 3 when the Cyclones open the season by hosting Illinois State.

The sophomore wide receiver is joined by seven other returning starters on offense, bringing back the core of last season’s unit.

“We shouldn’t be searching for what our identity is, which we were doing through about five or six games last year,” said offensive coordinator Barney Cotton. “We know who we are and we should know what we can do and hopefully we can come out of the blocks fast.”

It took awhile for the ISU offense to click last season, but with a full campaign under Cotton and the wealth of experience, the Cyclones said they are ready to pick up where they left off.

“Starting with our first offensive meeting, I wasn’t talking Greek to them,” Cotton said. “They knew what we were supposed to be about and they have really prepared themselves, knowing what to expect out of coaches and out of themselves as players.”

Iowa State should have a balanced attack, mixing an explosive passing game with the solid, durable rushing of junior Stevie Hicks.

A hallmark of Dan McCarney offenses has always been the rushing game, something that was less then average during Iowa State’s 2-10 2003 season.

Injuries in 2003 kept the Cyclones from establishing the running game, but they were given a boost last year by Hicks.

The junior running back ran for 1,062 yards and five scores, providing tough yards when the Cyclones needed them.

Workouts this summer have added seven or eight pounds to his frame, but he is still just as fast.

“You always want a home run guy back there at running back and you want a guy who can get tough yards,” Hicks said.

“I just have to get that home run status.”

The main components of last year’s passing game are also back, with sophomore quarterback Bret Meyer holding solidly to the starting quarterback job. Last season he battled early with Austin Flynn for time behind center, but now has the spot all to himself.

Flynn has since moved to receiver in order to see playing time, where he adds a third option for Meyer with Blythe and junior Jon Davis.

“I think we should be a lot more dangerous,” Blythe said. “We have a lot of weapons on this team. We’re a real deep team as far as playmakers goes.”

Meyer threw for 1,926 yards as a freshman, tossing 10 touchdowns and six interceptions. The sophomore was named as one of the team’s offensive captains along with senior offensive lineman Kory Pence.

Blythe set the single-season Cyclone record with nine touchdown receptions last season, and is just six shy of the all-time mark. He also led the team with 833 receiving yards.

Davis caught 48 passes to lead the team and was also on the receiving end of two scores.

“The base of our offense — our quarterback, receivers and running backs — are back from last year, and the good thing is they are back for a couple years,” quarterbacks coach Todd Fitch said.

“We should be coaching the finer points of the offense now instead of how to get to point A.”

One question mark still remaining involves the offensive line. Three starters return, including junior tackle Aaron Brant, junior center Seth Zehr and senior tackle Kory Pence, but the other two holes have yet to be filled.

Cotton said Zehr has been moving around to several different positions on the line, while junior transfer Scott Stephenson has been working at center. Zehr is listed at center on the depth chart, though.

Junior college transfers Paul and Scott Fisher will both be looking to contribute right away, stepping in at both tackle spots.