Know the Foe: Cyclones plan to air it out

By Randy Peterson - Des Moines Register     Nov 26, 2005

Iowa State's Ben Barkema, left, scores a touchdown in front of Colorado's Gerett Burl on Nov. 12 in Ames, Iowa.

Two words have resonated through the mind of Iowa State quarterback Bret Meyer while throwing 132 straight passes without an interception.

Eat it.

“Every time I threw an interception early in the season, it was because of a broken play,” Meyer said. “I was a little reckless, and that led to some interceptions.

“Now, if things go bad, I just eat it and run it. That’s why I’m taking care of the ball better.”

Meyer will have to be at his best if Iowa State is to win today’s 11:30 a.m. regular-season finale at Kansas University. The Jayhawks allow only an average of 91.3 rushing yards a game, but have given up an average of 216.9 passing yards.

“We’re not going to go down there and hand the ball off 40 times,” Iowa State coach Dan McCarney said. “I’m not giving out any secrets — you just can’t do it and expect to win that game.”

Meyer will attempt to exploit a secondary that has allowed 18 touchdown passes — third-worst in the Big 12 Conference. Kansas has allowed an average of 234.2 passing yards in its five losses and 199.6 passing yards a game in its five wins.

Meyer is coming off a 251-yard effort in a 30-16 victory Nov. 12 against Colorado.

“Kansas is a little bigger in the secondary than Colorado was,” he said. “They’re going to challenge what we try to do. They’re going to be a little more aggressive.”

Meyer’s last interception was a doozy. Safety William Moore provided Missouri a 7-0 lead when he returned Meyer’s sixth pass of the game 62 yards for a touchdown in the Tigers’ 27-24 overtime victory Oct. 15 in Columbia, Mo. Moore stepped in front of R.J. Sumrall, then raced into the end zone untouched.

“Bret’s throwing the same kind of pass that he always threw,” receiver Austin Flynn said. “I just think that he understands coverages better. He’s seeing things a lot better than he did at any time this season and last year.”

Iowa State has won four games in a row. A win today gives the Cyclones their first five-game conference winning streak during a season.

Meyer has averaged 260.8 passing yards a game during the winning streak. He has thrown eight touchdown passes.

Is it the receivers? Meyer?

“It’s the offensive line,” receiver Austin Flynn said. “That’s where it all starts. The offensive line has given Bret time to throw, and getting more time to throw means getting more time to see things.

“The only problem Bret’s ever had was throwing the deep ball. He’s improved that considerably, and the offensive line has something to do with it.

“When you’re running a route and once you get open — when you can look back and actually see the quarterback — that’s when you know he’s got a lot of time. That’s when you know the offensive line is doing a great job.”

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17517Know the Foe: Cyclones plan to air it out