The Achilles heel of last season’s ISU football team seems to have been fixed — at least for now.

With a strong defense and a more than capable offense, it was the kicking game that held the Cyclones back in 2004.

Iowa State shuffled kickers throughout the first five games of the season, unable to find a steady leg to replace senior Tony Yelk, who missed the entire season with an injury.

Freshmen Brian Jansen and Scott Krava went a combined 3-for-11 during those games, and were replaced by another freshman during the Cyclones’ game at Colorado.

Bret Culbertson gave Iowa State consistency, hitting on eight of his 10 field goals and all 16 extra-point attempts.

“Last year, the first part of the season hurt us pretty bad,” Culbertson said. “To have a great team, you need the kicking game to be up to par.”

A year of experience and the return of Yelk gives Iowa State competition at the kicking position.

Yelk was given a medical redshirt in 2004, and a summer of training and recovery has put him back in the mix.

“In a weird way it almost feels like my freshman year all over again,” Yelk said. “I’m just excited to get back. I feel pretty healthy and it will be nice to get back out there and get in a groove and start competing for a job.”

Yelk has connected on 11-of-25 field goals in his Cyclone career and has made 38-of-40 extra points. He also holds a career punting average of 42.3 yards per kick.

Midway through the summer, Yelk was still having trouble with kickoffs, prompting a change in his training.

“I got in touch with someone in Arizona who had rehabbed [NFL punter] Mitch Burger,” Yelk said. “He had the same injury I had while he was with the Vikings and we changed some routines.

“It feels like there isn’t as much pop as there once was, but maybe that’s mental. It felt good. It didn’t get sore, so I’m excited to get out there.”

Even with the improved condition of his leg, Yelk said he is being careful not to push too hard.

“I think the biggest thing for me is to be careful not to out-do yourself,” Yelk said. “Two-a-days is a long, grueling deal, both mentally and physically, so hopefully we can stay fresh and be smart about how we kick.

“I think we’re out of the woods, but maybe not back in the vehicle yet.”

Yelk and Culbertson are facing challenges from sophomore Corey Paetznick, who transferred from Northwest Missouri State.

As a freshman at NMSU, Paetznick hit 12-of-16 field-goal attempts and all 17 extra-point tries.

“We know there is a lot of competition there, but it’s only going to make us better,” Culbertson said.

Yelk is also facing a battle at punter with senior Troy Blankenship.

Blankenship punted 75 times last season, with an average of 38.4 yards per kick. He had 19 kicks downed inside the 20-yard line and had six more touchbacks.

Yelk should have a chance to kick as well, as he owns two of the top-10 punting performances in ISU history.

His average of 43.8 yards per kick in 2001 is second all-time at Iowa State, while his 42.3 average in 2002 is No. 7 on the list.

With experience and talent returning — not just in the kicking game, but teamwide — Yelk said he is ready to see what the Cyclones can accomplish.

“Desire and drive is sometimes more powerful then any talent, and I think last year we proved that — and we could win with that,” Yelk said.