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"Defensively, we feel like we didn't play the part," Parker said. "The offense put up the points. As a defense we have to help the offense out. Forty-nine points, that's too much to give up."
To cut down on the points they give up, ISU (2-6, 0-4) will have to cut into its opponent's third down conversions.
Last week the Aggies converted on 11-of-14 third downs. The 78.6 percent success rate has been a sore point for defensive coordinator Wayne Bolt because he felt the Cyclones did a good job of forcing Texas A&M into predictable third down situations, only to watch the Aggies find a way to move the chains anyway.
"Third down is a big key," Bolt said. "Get off the field and get the ball to the offense."
In order to spend most of Saturday on the sidelines, the defense will have to find a way to contain Oklahoma State running back Kendall Hunter. Hunter leads the Big 12 with 1,116 yards and 10 touchdowns and is the key to the Cowboy rushing attack.
"He is just like any other good Oklahoma running back I've ever seen like Thurman Thomas," Bolt said. "He is fast, strong, quick and can run. He has great vision, and the offensive line is very good, too."
And that's why Oklahoma State (7-1, 3-1) is sixth in the nation in rushing (274.9 yards). Bolt says the Cowboy offense is simple but effective. Oklahoma State doesn't do too much in its spread-based attack, but what the schemes they run they execute so well they rack up 43.6 points a game.
"They are not very complicated," Bolt said. "You have to stop what they do."
And Parker has a plan to do just that so next week will be a little bit more fun than this past week has been.
"Defensively, we got to cut down mistakes, and we got to play," Parker said. "That's how we'll turn things around."
Bobby La Gesse can be reached at (515) 663-6929, or rlagesse@amestrib.com.
