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Arnaud, receivers looking to rebound
By Bobby La Gesse
Date Posted: 2009-09-15
There is more to the Iowa State passing struggles than just the play of quarterback Austen Arnaud.
While coach Paul Rhoads called it imperative that Arnaud rebound from his four interceptions against Iowa, he also mentioned that the receiving corp hasn’t lived up to expectations.
The entire passing game, not just Arnaud, will have to improve this week if the Cyclones (1-1) are to snap its 17-game road losing streak at Kent State (1-1) on Saturday (6 p.m., ESPN 360).
“We need to get more in sync,” wide receiver Darius Darks said. “This is still our first year running this offense, and we have come a long way, but not to take any excuses, we will get better as the year goes on.”
If there’s a bright spot from last week, it’s that Arnaud has learned why he played what he called the worst game of his career.
He said he was pressing too much and not making smart plays. He also found a few mechanical issues that he has to work out so he can avoid repeating his 10-of-22 for 79 yard stat line in the future.
“I was trying to make big plays for this team,” Arnaud said. “But you’ve got to make good plays, not stupid plays and throwing the ball away is better sometimes.”
Rhoads is confident Arnaud will play against the Golden Flashes like the dual-threat option Cyclone fans have grown accustomed to seeing. He liked how Arnaud acknowledged he’s trying to do too much on offense and how he has put the Iowa loss behind him.
“He will bounce back and learn from those mistakes,” Rhoads said. “He was upbeat and bounced around the practice field (Sunday) and that’s where it starts. You come out and mope and loath in self pity, you are not going to move forward.”
Arnaud isn’t the only Cyclone needing to move forward.
Sophomore receivers Darks and Sedrick Johnson, who were integral parts of the offense last season, have yet to catch a pass.
And if the passing game is going to pick up, Rhoads said both receivers have to start making plays.
“Darks and Sedrick Johnson have been all but non-existent in the first two games,” Rhoads said. “They have to start showing up on the field for us to score more points.”
Both players have been slowed by injuries. Darks missed part of fall camp with a hamstring injury and fell off the two-deep depth chart. Rhoads said Darks, who set a school freshman record with 47 catches in 2008, is completely healthy now and will be a bigger part of the game plan this week.
Johnson, a deep threat who had 18 catches last season, sprained an ankle early in the season opener and was not 100 percent last week.
But there is more to the receiving issues than Darks and Johnson.
Even though Darius Reynolds leads the Cyclones with 13 receptions, Rhoads said he’s not playing up to his ability. After the Iowa game, Reynolds said he tried to turn every catch into a big gain and didn’t get up the field quick enough.
The Cyclone receivers also have dropped several passes through two games.
“We talk about making big plays and that’s something that obviously has to be done,” wide receiver Jake Williams said. “If there is a ball anywhere in our vicinity, we have to make sure we make the play on it.”
And if Arnaud has his way, there will be plenty of chances for his receivers to haul in passes on Saturday.
“We will fix it,” Arnaud said. “I’ll play better and the rest of the offense will too.”
Bobby La Gesse can be reached at (515) 663-6929 or rlagesse@amestrib.com.
By Bobby La Gesse
Date Posted: 2009-09-15
Iowa State quarterback Austen Arnaud had four interceptions against Iowa last week. He will look to rebound at Kent State on Saturday.
Tribune file photo
Tribune file photo
There is more to the Iowa State passing struggles than just the play of quarterback Austen Arnaud.
While coach Paul Rhoads called it imperative that Arnaud rebound from his four interceptions against Iowa, he also mentioned that the receiving corp hasn’t lived up to expectations.
The entire passing game, not just Arnaud, will have to improve this week if the Cyclones (1-1) are to snap its 17-game road losing streak at Kent State (1-1) on Saturday (6 p.m., ESPN 360).
“We need to get more in sync,” wide receiver Darius Darks said. “This is still our first year running this offense, and we have come a long way, but not to take any excuses, we will get better as the year goes on.”
If there’s a bright spot from last week, it’s that Arnaud has learned why he played what he called the worst game of his career.
He said he was pressing too much and not making smart plays. He also found a few mechanical issues that he has to work out so he can avoid repeating his 10-of-22 for 79 yard stat line in the future.
“I was trying to make big plays for this team,” Arnaud said. “But you’ve got to make good plays, not stupid plays and throwing the ball away is better sometimes.”
Rhoads is confident Arnaud will play against the Golden Flashes like the dual-threat option Cyclone fans have grown accustomed to seeing. He liked how Arnaud acknowledged he’s trying to do too much on offense and how he has put the Iowa loss behind him.
“He will bounce back and learn from those mistakes,” Rhoads said. “He was upbeat and bounced around the practice field (Sunday) and that’s where it starts. You come out and mope and loath in self pity, you are not going to move forward.”
Arnaud isn’t the only Cyclone needing to move forward.
Sophomore receivers Darks and Sedrick Johnson, who were integral parts of the offense last season, have yet to catch a pass.
And if the passing game is going to pick up, Rhoads said both receivers have to start making plays.
“Darks and Sedrick Johnson have been all but non-existent in the first two games,” Rhoads said. “They have to start showing up on the field for us to score more points.”
Both players have been slowed by injuries. Darks missed part of fall camp with a hamstring injury and fell off the two-deep depth chart. Rhoads said Darks, who set a school freshman record with 47 catches in 2008, is completely healthy now and will be a bigger part of the game plan this week.
Johnson, a deep threat who had 18 catches last season, sprained an ankle early in the season opener and was not 100 percent last week.
But there is more to the receiving issues than Darks and Johnson.
Even though Darius Reynolds leads the Cyclones with 13 receptions, Rhoads said he’s not playing up to his ability. After the Iowa game, Reynolds said he tried to turn every catch into a big gain and didn’t get up the field quick enough.
The Cyclone receivers also have dropped several passes through two games.
“We talk about making big plays and that’s something that obviously has to be done,” wide receiver Jake Williams said. “If there is a ball anywhere in our vicinity, we have to make sure we make the play on it.”
And if Arnaud has his way, there will be plenty of chances for his receivers to haul in passes on Saturday.
“We will fix it,” Arnaud said. “I’ll play better and the rest of the offense will too.”
Bobby La Gesse can be reached at (515) 663-6929 or rlagesse@amestrib.com.
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