Paul Rhoads
Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads says he may wait until game day to decide who will start at quarterback on Saturday against Baylor.
Sophomore Jared Barnett started the past three games, including last weekend’s 31-10 loss at Oklahoma State. Senior Steele Jantz started the first four games of the season.
“It’s up in the air, gonna evaluate the practice performance and take into mind at the same time how they’ve performed game day, and put the game plan together and see who gives us the best opportunity to win,” Rhoads says.
Rhoads says Iowa State’s problems on offense go beyond quarterback as he says both quarterbacks have started and won games, and while they have not helped the team at the level they thought they would, there are 10 players on offense and everyone has to play better.
Rhoads says no matter which quarterback starts on Saturday the offense needs to be more productive. “I really don’t think we have an identity right now as an offense and we aren’t playing well enough right now in this league to win games,” according to Rhoads. “You aren’t going to win games by putting 10 points on the scoreboard.”
This may be the right week to make progress. The Baylor defense is one of the most porous in the country. The Bears are giving up 58 points and 613 yards per game in Big-12 play.
Baylor coach Art Briles says they are depleted depth-wise, but feels the defense will get better. He says they feel like better days are ahead and that is why you coach and work. After starting the season with three non conference wins Baylor has dropped three straight to start the league.
Kickoff Saturday is at 6 p.m.