Placing his pride on a shelf, ISU offensive coordinator Barney Cotton stood up Sunday night in front of the entire Cyclone football team.

On a team whose defense held the nation’s leading rusher well below his season average and his team more than 100 yards below its season marks, it was Cotton’s offensive unit that came up short in the Cyclones’ loss to Oklahoma State.

So there was Cotton in front of the entire team — both coaches and players — letting the defense know how much his offensive unit appreciated its work.

“It was a great message,” ISU head coach Dan McCarney said. “Nothing prompted it. It just goes back to the character of Barney, and the professionalism he brings to the job and the passion he has.

“[It shows] how important it is that everybody is proud of him and his offense. He wants it bad. He’ll scratch and dig and fight with the best of them to get it, and I know we’ll improve as an offense.”

The message was well received by a defensive unit that has played well enough to keep Iowa State in ball games this year.

“It means a lot, not being a football player anymore or a competitor, but just from a man standpoint,” senior cornerback Ellis Hobbs said. “Anytime you get up in front of a group of individuals — members of a team — and take responsibility of your actions and the situations that are going on, that says a lot about him and the character of the offense.”

Still, Hobbs knows how hard the offense is working.

“Personally, I felt like he didn’t even have to do that,” Hobbs said. “Even if he hadn’t have said it, I would have been totally fine because I understand what is going on over there. It takes time, it really does.

“I have even more respect for that man and I appreciate what he said. Just so he knows, we totally understand. Even if he hadn’t done that, we understand.”

A key to turning the offense around is a running game that, so far, has been inconsistent.

Iowa State ranks ninth in the Big 12 in rushing offense, averaging 111 yards per game. They have also scored only two touchdowns on the ground, making them tied with Baylor at the bottom of the conference.

Neither touchdown has been scored by one of Iowa State’s top three backs, as quarterback Austin Flynn and fullback Tony Johnson hold the Cyclones’ two scores.

Still, McCarney said he is seeing improvement with his team’s running game.

“Stevie [Hicks] did some good things,” McCarney said. of he game at Oklahoma State. “There were a number of times he made the first guy miss. He hasn’t had any real long runs, with the exception of the Northern Iowa game, but he’s gotten some tough yards.”

On the year, Hicks has 286 yards on 80 attempts — a 3.6-yard per carry average.

McCarney said Hicks has cemented himself as the Cyclone starter, but freshman Jason Scales is moving up the depth chart.

Scales and fellow freshman Tyease Thompson have been fighting for the No. 2 position all season, with Scales jumping onto the two-deep for this weekend’s game against Texas A&M.

Hicks, Scales and Thompson will all see time this weekend.

Thompson is second on the team with 72 yards, while Scales has gained just 13 yards on eight carries.

“Jason has really improved,” McCarney said. “He missed some time with an injury earlier. He had a couple things that weren’t serious but kept him out of some practices.

“He’s back full speed and had a really good week of practice last week. We’re definitely going to play him this week.”

Scales suffered a thigh injury, as well as a hip flexor and a hip pointer, McCarney said.

“I’m really impressed with Jason,” McCarney said. “He just looks like he’s in another gear right now.”