AMES - Austen Arnaud's "state of the Cyclones" address was succinct.

"We need to go back to the drawing board," said Iowa State's quarterback after enduring Saturday's 35-7 drubbing at the hands of Nebraska.

Even James Carville himself would have a hard time forming a strategy to boost these Cyclones' approval ratings.

Iowa State (2-5, 0-3) has lost five in a row, including consecutive 28-point blowouts. And the people have spoken - whether on talk-radio calls or by leaving Jack Trice Stadium early.

"We just need to stay the course," said Iowa State defensive end Kurtis Taylor.

"We've just got to continue to work hard, and not point fingers," explained Cyclone defensive back Kennard Banks. "Keep your head up, and don't go into the tank."

Of course, in football on-field actions speak far louder than words.

And the Cyclones have barely made a whisper in weeks.

Against Nebraska, Iowa State watched its opponent register 29 first downs to its 11. Nebraska had 548 total yards while Iowa State managed all of 218. And, the Huskers possessed the ball for 37 minutes, 11 seconds; the Cyclones had it for less than 23 minutes.

"We've got a long way to go defensively," said second-year head coach Gene Chizik. "They're trying to fly to the football. But our tackling in the first half wasn't good at all."

Nebraska arrived in Ames ranked 99th nationally in pass defense, allowing an average of 254.2 yards per game. Regardless, Iowa State threw for a season-low 113 yards Saturday.

On a handful of occasions, Cylones signal-caller Austen Arnaud threw the ball well short of the first-down marker on third and long.

"We have to be aware of where the sticks are at," Arnaud acknowledged. "That hurts your offense, when you go three-and-out multiple times.

"We have had a couple issues with protection, (and) me not throwing the ball in the right place."

The Cyclones' running game, which has averaged just 3.8 yards per carry the last three games, has suffered due to shaky play from an unsettled offensive line. Iowa State rushed for just eight first-quarter yards Saturday.

"It's one guy here or there," explained Iowa State senior offensive tackle Doug Dedrick recently. "We've got 10 guys on one page and then one guy not.

"We've just gotta get 11 guys on the same page."

Iowa State tries to get back on track Saturday, when it hosts Texas A&M (2-5, 0-3) at 6 p.m.

Contact Kelly Beaton at (319) 291-1456 or kelly.beaton@wcfcourier.com