Peterson: Iowa State's offensive line mantra is less overthinking, more keeping it simple
AMES – This quote will stick with me if Iowa State finally comes up with that consistently solid offensive line that’s taken so long to develop.
“Too many adjustments to too many different things can make you hesitant.”
That comment, from new line coach Ryan Clanton after practice Tuesday, told me a lot about some of what’s been going on in practice.
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Overthinking, as some linemen have mentioned in the past?
Not with Clanton. He was all about getting his guys to play with violence when he addressed the media back in April. He was still of that mindset when the Register caught up with him after practice this week.
“Overthinking would be an issue in the offensive line if you really want those guys to be violent and physical,” he told me.
Playing violently comes not only from understanding your role, but also keeping complication out of the playbook.
“Keep it simple. Let them play fast,” Clanton said. “That’s how I was brought up as a player at Oregon. Everywhere I’ve been, it’s always helped to have guys fly off the ball and play fast.”
That’s what he’s expecting from veterans Tyler Miller (11 career starts), Jarrod Hufford (20 starts), Darrell Simmons (35 starts) and Grant Treiber (seven starts). It’s what he expects from whoever plays the center position that Trevor Downing played so well last season. Possibly Brady Petersen? Probably. It's what he expects from 13-game starter Jake Remsburg, who has returned to practice this week after being involved in the sports wagering investigation. His playing status was uncertain Wednesday, but at least he's practicing again. At least he's adding some depth to the position.
“If you make it too complicated,” Clanton said, “then everyone’s going to trip over each other, and it’s going to be a complete failure.”
Playing well instinctively leads to confidence
It also leads to tempo – and anyone who saw last season’s Cy-Hawk game knows what can happen when an offensive line plays with rhythm.
Six rushes up the middle. Three rushes toward the right of center; three to the left. An Iowa State offensive line finally was playing the consistent way Matt Campbell hoped it’d play, albeit in the 78th game of his Cyclones’ coaching career.
The line was dominant during maybe the best long possession in Iowa State football history. At Kinnick Stadium ... against a defense that went on to rank second nationally.
For almost 12 minutes, the Cyclones moved the ball – from their own 1-yard line to Xavier Hutchinson’s catch in the end zone. On the 21st play of the near-flawless drive, in a game Iowa State held on to win.
Was this the kind of breakout performance this oft-criticized position needed? Could this be the turning-point, oh-wow moment for which fans patiently had been waiting – and expecting – we wondered?
At the time, the answer seemed yes. For the first time in a long time, we propped up the six linemen who played during the epic possession. Collectively, the starting five, plus Zach Ross, were in charge.
Unfortunately, it was just a blip. It wasn’t long before reality returned - that Iowa State’s offensive line still needed work.
Sixth-season offensive line coach Jeff Myers was replaced by Clanton, whose resume included coaching two drafted Northern Iowa linemen. Reid Kagy replaced strength and conditioning coach Dave Andrews.
Will new coaches and the fresh approach that came with them be positives for a mostly veteran line?
Too soon to tell. But conversing with Clanton and reading between lines of the two linemen made available to reporters since last season, the new approach has been accepted.
“It’s hard as a fifth-year senior to go in with a new offensive line coach for my last year,” Hufford said. “I fell in love with him. I loved his process. He simplified a lot of things.”
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Translated: That’s a start. Offensive line seems like a position where the object is to knock the player in front of you on his keester. Sure, that’s simplistic, but maybe it’s the fresh start needed to help turn one-score losses into victories.
“We’re doing a great job moving right, left, up, down,” Miller said. “It elevates everything. We’re not learning just one side of the ball, we’re also learning what’s going on with the defense.”
No translation needed here: “Versatility benefits the coaches, because you can play the best five players,” Clanton said. “It benefits the players, if you can play multiple positions or multiple sides. You provide not only versatility to the team, but gain a greater knowledge of football.”
Immediate acceptance. Fresh approach. Simplification. Interchangeable positions.
Are those just words, or will this line finally show consistent improvement, during what will be the final college season of some of the players’ careers?
“I know how to answer that question,” Miller told me. “We’ll be better.”
Iowa State columnist Randy Peterson is in his 51st year writing sports for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at rpeterson@dmreg.com, and on Twitter @RandyPete
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State offensive line: less over-thinking, more keeping it simple
