NOTEBOOK: Scrimmaging opposing teams, motivation & Domonique Orange

Dec 28, 2024; Orlando, FL, USA; Iowa State Cyclones running back Carson Hansen (26) stiff arms Miami Hurricanes defensive back Zaquan Patterson (20) during the first half at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images

AMES – Iowa State Football hosted its first spring practice press conference Wednesday at the Stark Performance Center. Here’s everything that was discussed.

Spring scrimmages

A pair of Big 12 coaches put out interesting ideas on how teams’ 15 spring practices can be better utilized in recent weeks.

Both Deion Sanders at Colorado and Mike Gundy at Oklahoma State floated the idea of hosting scrimmages during the spring, rather than sticking to the 15 practice dates where players are going up solely against their teammates.

Iowa State offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser is all for it.

“Yeah, I love it,” Mouser said. “I’m a competitor and I like to play. As much as I like to go against (defensive coordinator Jon Heacock) for 15 days in a row, it’s actually not super fun, at all.”

Mouser threw out the name of Cincinnati defensive coordinator Tyson Veidt, who had spent the years leading up in Ames before taking the job prior to the start of the 2024 season.

“It’s fun to go out there – it doesn’t matter if it’s coach Veidt at Cincinnati, who’s a good friend – it’s fun to compete with people,” Mouser said. “I think it would be awesome to go play someone else in the spring. (You could) be able to keep it really basic with your base stuff and not feel like you’d have to scheme so much, but it’s a great time to get your young guys reps.

“And, you might not even have to play some of those older guys,” Mouser said. “To be able to go scrimmages and have your young guys go and get their face pounded a little bit would be good for everybody. Losing, and stepping out of your comfort zone, I think is one of the best ways to grow.”

The running backs room

Iowa State returns its top two running backs from a season ago and feels strongly about its young talents – and the group as a whole – going into the 2025 season.

Mouser suggested that the room compromised of Abu Sama and Carson Hansen – who combined to rush for 1,339 yards a season ago – is one of the program’s best.

“The running back room has kind of spoken for itself,” Mouser said. “Those guys, you know, it doesn’t necessarily feel like they’re juniors because they’ve played a lot of football here, but that might be the best position group on our football team.”

He also brought up the possibility of utlizing the both of them on the field in certain situations, as well as redshirt freshman Dylan Lee and true freshman Ryver Peppers.

“How can we challenge those guys to help us be dynamic on offense,” Mouser said. “(Can we) get Abu (Sama) and Carson Hansen on the field at the same time? Dylan Lee is another guy that looks incredible out there that’s going to push the running back room. Ryver Peppers is another guy that’s done a really good job that jumped off the tape yesterday.”

Success on defense will rely on Domonique Orange

Iowa State defensive coordinator Jon Heacock is challenging senior defensive lineman Domonique Orange this season.

Heacock said that for the unit to be successful, it would require Orange to play in around seven snaps during a given drive, rather than being substituted after three or four.

“I think the big thing with (Orange) is that he’s got to become a 70 percent-of-the-time player. You’ve got to play seven out of 10 plays. Last year, I think he played around four out of 10. He’s got to play seven out of 10 for us to be as good as we can be. It’s got to be his challenge. And I think at the next level, what he wants to become, it’s a 50-man roster, basically, and they’re not coming off the field. If you’re an interior player, you have to be ready to play.”

Heacock went on to say that Orange was one of the most talented lineman in the program.

“He understands it, and everyone in this building knows. He’s one of our best defensive linemen, if not our best defensive lineman… I think it’s conditioning and consistency – both… he’s going to have to do that for us to be good on defense.”

Mouser’s desk

The Iowa State offensive coordinator also revealed that he picked up a piece of confetti from the Big 12 championship game – where Iowa State lost to Arizona State – as a reminder.

“As late as the season went for us, I think we were all still upset about how the Big 12 championship game went,” Mouser said. “I picked up confetti off of the field and I keep it in my office and I look at it every day. As cool as the Pop Tarts Bowl was, it was great to end with a win and I’m happy for our seniors to send them off with a win, I think there’s a bad taste in everyone’s mouth from just how we showed up and played in the Big 12 championship game. We can’t get to that level and get on that stage and do that again.”

It’s clear the motivation for Iowa State – coming off its first and only 11-win football season – is still present.

“Like I’ve told you guys before, we won 11 games last year and I don’t think any of us saw that as a fluke,” Mouser said. “The expectation here is that we’re going to find a way to elevate the standard – to win 11 games, win 12 or 13 games, whatever it takes. But, the habits have to reflect the mission and you can’t win championships without championship habits.”

The entire media availability session can be seen on the CycloneFanatic YouTube channel.