The Football Brainiacs

Coach Josh Heupel

– “We’ve gotta start converting on third down”

– On whether this team is searching for an identity, “I don’t know if we’re searching for an identity as much as we are searching to be consistent in everything we’re doing”. He re-emphasized the next to execute on 3rd downs.

– Talked about how the previous weeks we didn’t have penalties, turnovers, sacks, etc. but this past week we we’re in too many 3rd and longs

– The passing game problems are a combination of everything “Blakes got some things open that he needs to hit…he’s got to get himself within his progression, with what they’re doing defensively to the right spot too”

– On trying to get the playmakers involved he talked about the need to find schemes within what the defense is doing…and reemphasized the need for Blake to get through his progressions.

– He was asked whether Kendall or Trevor might get snaps and he side stepped the question and just said they’ve both done a good job and if given the opportunity they will be ready.

– On Kansas: “They are much much improved from a year ago.” Said they are better, they are loading the box on first and second and playing some bump and run. Said they’ve got some new JUCO personnel that have come into to help and change their personnel. Overall had a lot of good things to say about Kansas. “We’re gonna need to run the football but we’re gonna need to make some plays outside as well.”

– In talking about adjusting to his personnel, he said you’re always trying to look at what your quarterback is comfortable with. “At the end of the day I’ve gotta do a better job of getting these guys and opportunity to win at times.”

– In how the fans see the offense and how it is inside the program, “We need to play better. We are certainly capable of it. Sometimes people on the outside don’t understand how fine of a line it is between success and failure. Its not just one guy. It’s eleven guys. But eleven different guys can’t take their turn…”

– “Last Saturday we’re capable of playing a lot better.”

– When asked if he considered a quarterback change he said “I didn’t think about that” though I will say he was hesitant saying that. Might have just been Josh trying to find the right way to say it.

– He was asked why he didn’t consider a change. He said “I didn’t feel like we were far off from being able to execute and push the ball down field and make some plays.”

– Asked what sorts of things he’s looked about Blake and Josh said in the first couple games he was calm, poised and decisive with the football but this last week “I didn’t like where he got his body, what type of position he was in in the pocket. That led to him being inaccurate…”

– Asked if Bell was shaken up after the interception and Josh said that he emphasizes to the kids that they need to play “That next play as it’s own identity. And I don’t think we did that as a group”

– Whether the lack of poise is discouraging…Josh said “in this past game where he (Bell) was physically in the pocket with his body didn’t allow him to execute the way he’s capable of…that can be for a lot of different reasons…but at the end of the day we’ve gotta be better.”

– “This offense needs to play the way it’s capable…its not a major overhaul…although I know people will look at it and see that there are major things that need to be corrected but its really just doing the ordinary things and executing at a really high level.”

– My general thoughts here is that Josh is definitely hearing it. He was as forthcoming as he could be and as honest as he could be and really fielded all the questions with a lot of respect and tried to answer everything where it was appropriate. And continued to emphasize the need to be better. It was as if he was saying: we’ve got to be better…no excuses. At least that’s the way it came off to me.

Blake Bell

– Said that the main thing is taking care of the football and being on the same page with the receivers.

– Talked about needing to be in rhythm with the receivers and for everyone to be in sync…himself, the O-line, the receivers, etc. Everything has to work together.

– On being able to get the ball down the field…he said its a work in progress…and its something they are continuing to practice and they are going to get better each and everyday and “we’re going to make plays like that”. Said he feels the offense is closer that it looks.

– Talked about how they’re staying later at practice working with the receivers

– He said on the deep balls he’s been a little off but they’re going to keep working on it

Coach Jay Norvell

– What’s wrong with the passing game? “We didn’t play well Saturday…in all phases…particular in 3rd down we were very poor…” He said there isn’t a magic formula…they’ve just got to get better at what they do.

– He said he didn’t feel like the WRs played good this past Saturday

– Talked about it’s not just about the QB…talked about how the WRs have to get open and finish plays. Talked about technique effort have to be great because opponents in the Big 12 are familiar with what we’re trying to do.

– Talked about how Blake does a good job of throwing the deep ball in practice and we just need to be better in executing in the games

– Was very animated talking about how aggressive Kansas is now and how they’ve improved on defense…they play a lot of bump and run and caused 5 turnovers last week against TCU

Keith Ford

– As a note: This is a very humble young man. Comes of as a very mature respectful young man. He’s very soft spoken in interviews and continues to emphasize the need to work hard.

– Talked about how he felt if he kept working in the preseason then good things would happen. Even when he made mistakes in the preseason he knew he had to shake it off and keep moving. (again, very mature young man)

– Said his coach always taught him “give the first blow because if you don’t they’re going to give it to you and you don’t want that to happen. So just give the first blow…that my motto”

– Said he needs to work on his pass protection and the little things to be a better player

– Advice to himself, “don’t overthink things…be patient”

– Talked about he wasn’t always confident but his parents helped build it in him…talked about how they believed in him so that he could believe in himself.

– He made it a goal to play this year but was uncertain whether that would happen but just always got advice from his father to just continue to work hard.

– He talked about why he goes hard on special teams, “Every time you get on the field you should go your hardest. Regardless if you’re on special teams, offense or defense…there’s no individual out there”