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The 12th starter
McDowell and Benton growing into role as nickel backs
By Bobby La Gesse
Date Posted: 2009-08-11
Even though Iowa State cornerback Devin McDowell is spending practice time with the linebackers, he wants to make one thing clear.
“I’m still a DB,” McDowell said.
As the Cyclones’ nickel backs, McDowell and fellow cornerback Ter’ran Benton inherit the strong-side linebacker’s role when they enter games. To ensure the duo can execute and understand their responsibilities, they are getting a crash course in how to play linebacker.
“With so many teams being three and four wideouts, the game has really evolved where defenses have two types of depth charts,” ISU coach Paul Rhoads said. “They need (one) with three linebackers and (one) with nickel stuff that replaces it because as the season goes along, you could see equal snaps of nickel compared to three linebacker packages.”
So McDowell and Benton serve as the 12th starter, seeing the field in passing situations and against spread offenses. Secondary coach Chris Ash said he wants his best athletes on the field to counteract all the playmakers a spread offense can have.
He believes McDowell, a junior with two career interceptions, and Benton, a sophomore who started five games last season, give ISU the best chance to slow down the high-scoring spread offenses in the Big 12.
“They are doing a great job,” Ash said. “The most challenging thing there is getting into run gaps and getting off blocks. In terms of playing out in space, coverages and making tackles, they are doing a great job.”
Despite his 5-foot-9, 189-pound frame, McDowell thinks it’s fun to be in the trenches, where a pulling 300-pound guard could be lurking. He also likes the physical nature that comes with playing on the line of scrimmage.
For McDowell, the hardest part is learning to read his offensive keys. In the secondary, he focuses on the receivers and the backfield. Linebackers look at the line and running backs.
“It’s a little bit different,” McDowell said. “But it all ties together.”
Defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Wally Burnham said McDowell and Benton will spend most of their time lined up against wide receivers, but he wants them to be prepared for anything that could come at them.
“There will be times they will have to line up on a tight end when we get caught in certain situations,” Burnham said. “… They are getting some work in corner, too, and so they really have to put a lot of mental preparation into it.”
McDowell and Benton spend most of their classroom time with the secondary, but will sit in on a linebackers meeting if the material will help them out.
And while McDowell still clings to his cornerback roots, he’s embraced his hybrid role because it gives him what he really wants, playing time.
“It’s just a spot for me on the field,” McDowell said. “Me and TB will do great at that position.”
Bobby La Gesse can be reached at (515) 663-6929, or rlagesse@amestrib.com.
McDowell and Benton growing into role as nickel backs
By Bobby La Gesse
Date Posted: 2009-08-11
Ter'ran Benton, shown last season against South Dakota State, is training at the nickel back position alongside teammate Devin McDowell.
Tribune file photo
Tribune file photo
Even though Iowa State cornerback Devin McDowell is spending practice time with the linebackers, he wants to make one thing clear.
“I’m still a DB,” McDowell said.
As the Cyclones’ nickel backs, McDowell and fellow cornerback Ter’ran Benton inherit the strong-side linebacker’s role when they enter games. To ensure the duo can execute and understand their responsibilities, they are getting a crash course in how to play linebacker.
“With so many teams being three and four wideouts, the game has really evolved where defenses have two types of depth charts,” ISU coach Paul Rhoads said. “They need (one) with three linebackers and (one) with nickel stuff that replaces it because as the season goes along, you could see equal snaps of nickel compared to three linebacker packages.”
So McDowell and Benton serve as the 12th starter, seeing the field in passing situations and against spread offenses. Secondary coach Chris Ash said he wants his best athletes on the field to counteract all the playmakers a spread offense can have.
He believes McDowell, a junior with two career interceptions, and Benton, a sophomore who started five games last season, give ISU the best chance to slow down the high-scoring spread offenses in the Big 12.
“They are doing a great job,” Ash said. “The most challenging thing there is getting into run gaps and getting off blocks. In terms of playing out in space, coverages and making tackles, they are doing a great job.”
Despite his 5-foot-9, 189-pound frame, McDowell thinks it’s fun to be in the trenches, where a pulling 300-pound guard could be lurking. He also likes the physical nature that comes with playing on the line of scrimmage.
For McDowell, the hardest part is learning to read his offensive keys. In the secondary, he focuses on the receivers and the backfield. Linebackers look at the line and running backs.
“It’s a little bit different,” McDowell said. “But it all ties together.”
Defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Wally Burnham said McDowell and Benton will spend most of their time lined up against wide receivers, but he wants them to be prepared for anything that could come at them.
“There will be times they will have to line up on a tight end when we get caught in certain situations,” Burnham said. “… They are getting some work in corner, too, and so they really have to put a lot of mental preparation into it.”
McDowell and Benton spend most of their classroom time with the secondary, but will sit in on a linebackers meeting if the material will help them out.
And while McDowell still clings to his cornerback roots, he’s embraced his hybrid role because it gives him what he really wants, playing time.
“It’s just a spot for me on the field,” McDowell said. “Me and TB will do great at that position.”
Bobby La Gesse can be reached at (515) 663-6929, or rlagesse@amestrib.com.
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