Dan McCarney didn’t pause at all Monday when a reporter asked him how the Cyclones would use an open week.

“We do have an open week to address problems [and] weaknesses,” McCarney said in his weekly teleconference with Big 12 coaches and media. “There were plenty of those on Saturday.”

The ISU head football coach recited a list of ways his football team could improve in two weeks after being thumped by intrastate rival Iowa Saturday, 40-21.

“Our running game was nonexistent,” he said.

ISU tailbacks Michael Wagner and Hiawatha Rutland ran for just 18 yards in the game.

Special teams disasters, including two blocked punts by Iowa and a couple near-misses, also played a large role in the Cyclone loss.

“We didn’t have [a Most Valuable Player] on offense or special teams,” McCarney said. “There wasn’t anybody who played that caliber of football.”

Junior cornerback Ellis Hobbs was the defensive MVP.

Hobbs finished with five solo tackles, including one for loss. He made a big play in the fourth quarter to keep Iowa out of the end zone when, in a single dive, he escaped a block attempt by first-team all-Big Ten tackle Robert Gallery and slung down the Hawkeye ball carrier.

McCarney credited Hobbs and the Cyclone defense for holding Iowa to just 243 net yards, 159 yards below its season average, and just 10 first downs.

But most of Iowa’s 40 points came on short drives. The Hawkeyes’ average start was midfield, while Iowa State began its drives, on average, on its own 25-yard line.

The field position struggles were at least partially due to the absence of junior Tony Yelk, who kicks off for the Cyclones, punts,and kicks longer field goals.

“Obviously, we missed him dearly in the game Saturday,” McCarney said.

Reserve punter Troy Blankenship averaged 23 yards on six punts. Even without the two blocks, Blankenship’s 34-yard average was nine yards below the career average of Yelk, who injured his leg against Ohio Sept. 6.

McCarney said he wasn’t sure if Yelk or senior offensive guard Bob Montgomery would be able return for Iowa State’s next game, Sept. 27 at Northern Illinois.

Montgomery will have X-rays Tuesday to check his progress of his injured foot.

“The best thing to help our offensive line would be as soon as Bob Montgomery gets back,” McCarney said.

Cornerback Johnny Smith III, offensive lineman Matt Bockes and linebacker Matt Robertson should all return for the game against the Huskies, McCarney said.

Smith and Robertson are both reserves. Bockes had been on the bench before Montgomery’s injury, after which he became the Cyclones’ center.

“With or without all our players, I think Iowa was clearly the better team Saturday,” McCarney said.

Although senior third-string quarterback Cris Love relieved Austin Flynn late Saturday and threw a 69-yard touchdown pass to Jack Whitver, McCarney said Love and junior Waye Terry are still battling for the backup quarterback spot, while Flynn, a redshirt freshman, remains in place as the starter.

Besides healing injuries and correcting errors in execution, Iowa State will spend part of this week preparing for Northern Illinois’ Heisman Trophy candidate, running back Michael “The Burner” Turner.

Turner ran for 1,915 yards last season and has collected 238 yards in the 2-0 Huskies’ victories over No. 15 Maryland and Tennessee Tech.

“He’s off to a great start again this year,” McCarney said.

“Just everything you’re looking for at that running back position.”

Northern Illinois travels this weekend to play No. 21 Alabama.

“I wouldn’t be surprised at all if we’re an underdog at Northern Illinois,” McCarney said. “We’ll get a lot done [this week].”