Iowa State football: Midseason grades for players and coaches

Defensive backs

Oct 3, 2013; Ames, IA, USA; Iowa State Cyclones safety Jacques Washington (5) reacts to the Cyclones loss against the Texas Longhorns at Jack Trice Stadium. Texas beat Iowa State 31-30. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

This is a group that’s going to be criticized simply because it’s the Big 12 conference. Every team is going to give up yards, and the Cyclones are going to do that all season long. The biggest problems are mistackles as usual, but also they are getting beat anytime an opposing offense runs any sort of trickery offensively. That was clearly exposed in the 64-point beatdown at Baylor when many receivers were left wide open.

Grade: D+