Kansas State University Athletics
K-State Coordinators Speak to Media Prior to TCU Game
Oct 08, 2020 | Football
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State offensive coordinator Courtney Messingham and defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman met with members of the media via Zoom on Thursday as the Wildcats prepare for a trip to TCU on Saturday. The game against the Horned Frogs slated for a 3 p.m. kick inside Amon G. Carter Stadium and will be televised by FOX.
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COURTNEY MESSINGHAM, OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR
On Will Howard solidifying his spot as the No. 2 quarterback...
"I really feel like from day one he jumped out at you pretty good, but he's continued to grow, continued to understand the system, has done a nice job of taking care of the football, if it's in practice, or obviously, a game. Right now, I feel comfortable with him. I also feel comfortable if Nick (Ast) is put in a position to play. I think he'll do a good job as well, but Will has kind of grasped it a little bit and done a nice job with it."
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On increasing the role of running back Jacardia Wright...
"It's a little bit of a work in progress. I told some other media folks a little bit of it depends on the package that he's in. Early last week, he played maybe two or three plays in the first, maybe, eight or nine, 10 plays. And it just depends on how the game is flowing and the package that we have him in. Shoot, he could go out there and play 15, 20 snaps, or he could end up with two or three. Just depends how the game flows."
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On K-State's quarterback situation against TCU...
"Well, it's a little bit more of a kind of a work in progress of how things flow and how Skylar (Thompson) continues to come along. The biggest thing is for us, we all have to stay mentally in what they do, because TCU, obviously, everybody knows over the last 20 years, has had great defenses. We have to really understand what they're trying to do and take care of the football and just do a good job executing, whichever guy is in there."
Â
On running back Deuce Vaughn lining up in the slot...
"Well, I think the biggest thing is he's very, very comfortable catching the football. Then, any time you can get him in space, one of the biggest things he brings to the table is quickness and quick twitch. If he can get out in space, he's probably going to get open. He does a great job of catching the football without fighting it."
Â
On shrinking the playbook if Will Howard were to start...
"A little bit, but not a bunch. He's very, very cerebral. He's a guy that spent a lot of time in the COVID time, in the spring, going through cut ups and trying to continue to learn. Skylar (Thompson) did a good job helping him learn. Obviously, he missed the physical reps of no spring ball and not having those, 'captains' type practices in the summer. But as far as mentally learning who we are and what we do, I don't believe I'd have to shrink the playbook very much."
Â
On what Will Howard did best in the Texas Tech game...
"Well, the best thing is taking care of the football and operating in and out of the huddle. Those are two huge deals in our style of football."
Â
On not turning the ball over...
"For us, the turnover is huge, and knock on wood. We just need every week go out and every play go out and take care of the football. That, and scoring when we get the opportunity in the red zone. We have to keep doing a nice job of that. It's not just Will (Howard), it's not just any individual, it's the entire 11 that are out there. Understanding that if you're a tight end and you miss a block and somebody hits the back when he doesn't expect it, a turnover could happen. All of us have to understand that they're a big part of taking care of the football."
Â
On where Will Howard is in his development...
"I'm very happy with where he is at. I don't know if I had any great expectation that he should be here or he should be there. The thing that I do know is that once he got on campus, his desire to learn was off the charts, and that's a huge deal. But just learning the playbook doesn't get you to produce out there on the game field. You have to be able to take the playbook to the field, and he's done a nice job of that."
Â
On how Will Howard can improve...
"I think that with every guy that's their first, second, third-type games in there, it's how quickly can I process and get it out of my hand. Just using TCU as an example, their back end is extremely quick, they are fast, they can run so those windows are going to shrink. You have to process and pull the trigger and get it out of your hand. I'm not saying that it's exactly this way because I've never coached in the NFL, but they talk all the time that college quarterbacks now it's have to be that much quicker, that much faster decision, because the windows close faster. That's what it's going to be when you play TCU, their DBs can really, really run."
Â
On Skylar Thompson's role in helping the other quarterbacks...
"Well Skylar's just done a phenomenal job of staying focused and making sure he understands the game plan. And all those guys get with Coach (Collin) Klein and really go through, 'Hey, this is what we're thinking, this is what we believe we're going to see, this is how we're going to attack it.' All the quarterbacks have done a great job of just being on the same page. Now we have to go execute on Saturday."
Â
On the status of Josh Youngblood...
"I anticipate Josh playing, yes, and he's definitely in the game plan."
Â
On who will step up to replace Wykeen Gill at wide receiver...
"Well, I think the guy – and he's already been getting some reps, not a million, but some reps – is Landry Weber. He's a huge special teams guy for us, but Landry and Seth Porter could see the field easily in a receiver role. And then Chabastin (Taylor) and Malik (Malik) and (Phillip) Brooks have to keep stepping up with Josh (Youngblood). We have enough guys, we just got to get them all to be in there, all to be playing together in their roles. Obviously, we don't have room for six of them out on the field at one time, but they all have their roles and they have to stay healthy and keep learning and keep growing both physically and mentally."
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JOE KLANDERMAN, DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR
On what he's learned about the depth in the secondary...
"I've learned what I would've liked to have learned in spring practice. I think we're finally starting to get the pieces in the right places, something we would've liked to have done in spring practice, but that's the hand we were dealt. I think we have a lot of guys who can play and contribute. In fact, there's going to be more guys who can contribute than there are opportunities. There are a lot of good players and a lot of good depth. We feel good about the situation."
Â
On AJ Parker staying at nickelback...
"I think so. You said it, it's a fluid situation, but he's so comfortable there. There are better matchups for him in there. He does such a good job in zone. He really understands the game. He has a great feel for things and great vision. He's just really natural in there. I think that's where he belongs."
Â
On the production of defensive end Wyatt Hubert…
"That, in particular, isn't easy to do against Texas Tech with the speed they go with, and the fact that we were subbing guys in and out like a hockey team. We got him into some competitive situations. He thrived like we thought he would."
Â
On how Texas Tech was able to find success running up the middle…
"It was just some missed fits. Just some easy missed fits. It wasn't all back-end guys. Sometimes things happen in the front end where a defensive tackle that's in a gap, fighting a double team, separates and gets out of his gap. Maybe a linebacker doesn't get a great alignment and falls back a gap too far. Just some easily correctable things where I don't know if it was the tempo or why it happened, but we'll get them corrected."
Â
On the safety position with Jahron McPherson and Ross Elder…
"It's still very fluid. Another guy I would add is TJ Smith, who played about 30 snaps as a true freshman. He was phenomenal. He played a really good ballgame. He'd be a guy who would be in that discussion, as well."
Â
On his message to the players after multiple targeting reviews…
"I'm glad you brought that up. We don't want to slow our guys down at all. We do appreciate them running through contact. The two things we're emphasizing on a daily basis are you have lower your target zone. We're not trying to get anywhere near the head. Nipples and below is what we're always telling the secondary. If you say neck or below, you can be at the neck and could easily get one. The other thing we're emphasizing is our guys' heads up in contact. If we do those two things, we'll be fine if we play at the speed we're playing at."
Â
On how the defense has created turnovers…
"I think we're doing a lot of things out of zone coverage, which keeps eyes on the ball. It probably suits who we are personnel wise. It also provides those opportunities so that if a ball gets tipped – using the Oklahoma example – a ball gets tipped and you're playing man, it probably hits the grass and everybody is happy. A ball gets tipped and you have seven sets of eyes on it, hopefully someone can get under it and cash in on it."
Â
On the impact of the veteran linebackers…
"Phenomenal. Justin Hughes as a communicator, Eli Sullivan as a guy who can just run things down with speed. Not to mention Cody Fletcher as a guy that's played a lot of ball and Deuce (Daniel) Green, who's played a lot of ball. Those guys have been rock solid, and we look forward to that continuing."
Â
On the game slowing down for him as a defensive coordinator…
"That's a great question. I think I've learned some things. I don't know that I ever feel rushed. I felt like I was in control, even against the speed of Texas Tech, just how I wanted the flow to go. There were some opportunities I wish we would've cashed in on. For example, that opening drive of the second half, there were multiple third down opportunities, and we didn't convert on any of them defensively and allowed that drive to continue and play out. I don't think as a play caller like I was ever behind the eight ball. I do feel like there are some situational things that I can certainly learn from."
Â
On if he will be more aggressive…
"I understand the question, I will say that you have to do what suits your personnel. I'm going to do what our guys can execute and do. If that's bringing a bunch of pressure, then I'm all for it. If it's sitting back and playing some softer zones, then that's what we're going to do. You can only play the cards you're dealt, and that's a fluid thing. So, you have to have a lot of things on the table each week."
Â
On the missed tackles during TCU quarterback Max Duggan's touchdown run last season…
"It's very scary. We had some troubles last week with some rush lanes and things, and that happens sometimes when you have good pass rushers. The coverage can be great, it can be set, and he cannot see anything there and he can just find a little crease in between two guys and goes. That's what happened last year a number of times, and I think that, unfortunately, we were the ones that let the cat out of the bag because I don't think he was much of a runner before our game and now that's his M.O. That's going to be certainly a key to the game that we're going to have to keep him contained. If we can bottle up his rushing yards, both as a scrambler and a designed runner, we're going to be in pretty good shape."
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COURTNEY MESSINGHAM, OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR
On Will Howard solidifying his spot as the No. 2 quarterback...
"I really feel like from day one he jumped out at you pretty good, but he's continued to grow, continued to understand the system, has done a nice job of taking care of the football, if it's in practice, or obviously, a game. Right now, I feel comfortable with him. I also feel comfortable if Nick (Ast) is put in a position to play. I think he'll do a good job as well, but Will has kind of grasped it a little bit and done a nice job with it."
Â
On increasing the role of running back Jacardia Wright...
"It's a little bit of a work in progress. I told some other media folks a little bit of it depends on the package that he's in. Early last week, he played maybe two or three plays in the first, maybe, eight or nine, 10 plays. And it just depends on how the game is flowing and the package that we have him in. Shoot, he could go out there and play 15, 20 snaps, or he could end up with two or three. Just depends how the game flows."
Â
On K-State's quarterback situation against TCU...
"Well, it's a little bit more of a kind of a work in progress of how things flow and how Skylar (Thompson) continues to come along. The biggest thing is for us, we all have to stay mentally in what they do, because TCU, obviously, everybody knows over the last 20 years, has had great defenses. We have to really understand what they're trying to do and take care of the football and just do a good job executing, whichever guy is in there."
Â
On running back Deuce Vaughn lining up in the slot...
"Well, I think the biggest thing is he's very, very comfortable catching the football. Then, any time you can get him in space, one of the biggest things he brings to the table is quickness and quick twitch. If he can get out in space, he's probably going to get open. He does a great job of catching the football without fighting it."
Â
On shrinking the playbook if Will Howard were to start...
"A little bit, but not a bunch. He's very, very cerebral. He's a guy that spent a lot of time in the COVID time, in the spring, going through cut ups and trying to continue to learn. Skylar (Thompson) did a good job helping him learn. Obviously, he missed the physical reps of no spring ball and not having those, 'captains' type practices in the summer. But as far as mentally learning who we are and what we do, I don't believe I'd have to shrink the playbook very much."
Â
On what Will Howard did best in the Texas Tech game...
"Well, the best thing is taking care of the football and operating in and out of the huddle. Those are two huge deals in our style of football."
Â
On not turning the ball over...
"For us, the turnover is huge, and knock on wood. We just need every week go out and every play go out and take care of the football. That, and scoring when we get the opportunity in the red zone. We have to keep doing a nice job of that. It's not just Will (Howard), it's not just any individual, it's the entire 11 that are out there. Understanding that if you're a tight end and you miss a block and somebody hits the back when he doesn't expect it, a turnover could happen. All of us have to understand that they're a big part of taking care of the football."
Â
On where Will Howard is in his development...
"I'm very happy with where he is at. I don't know if I had any great expectation that he should be here or he should be there. The thing that I do know is that once he got on campus, his desire to learn was off the charts, and that's a huge deal. But just learning the playbook doesn't get you to produce out there on the game field. You have to be able to take the playbook to the field, and he's done a nice job of that."
Â
On how Will Howard can improve...
"I think that with every guy that's their first, second, third-type games in there, it's how quickly can I process and get it out of my hand. Just using TCU as an example, their back end is extremely quick, they are fast, they can run so those windows are going to shrink. You have to process and pull the trigger and get it out of your hand. I'm not saying that it's exactly this way because I've never coached in the NFL, but they talk all the time that college quarterbacks now it's have to be that much quicker, that much faster decision, because the windows close faster. That's what it's going to be when you play TCU, their DBs can really, really run."
Â
On Skylar Thompson's role in helping the other quarterbacks...
"Well Skylar's just done a phenomenal job of staying focused and making sure he understands the game plan. And all those guys get with Coach (Collin) Klein and really go through, 'Hey, this is what we're thinking, this is what we believe we're going to see, this is how we're going to attack it.' All the quarterbacks have done a great job of just being on the same page. Now we have to go execute on Saturday."
Â
On the status of Josh Youngblood...
"I anticipate Josh playing, yes, and he's definitely in the game plan."
Â
On who will step up to replace Wykeen Gill at wide receiver...
"Well, I think the guy – and he's already been getting some reps, not a million, but some reps – is Landry Weber. He's a huge special teams guy for us, but Landry and Seth Porter could see the field easily in a receiver role. And then Chabastin (Taylor) and Malik (Malik) and (Phillip) Brooks have to keep stepping up with Josh (Youngblood). We have enough guys, we just got to get them all to be in there, all to be playing together in their roles. Obviously, we don't have room for six of them out on the field at one time, but they all have their roles and they have to stay healthy and keep learning and keep growing both physically and mentally."
Â
JOE KLANDERMAN, DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR
On what he's learned about the depth in the secondary...
"I've learned what I would've liked to have learned in spring practice. I think we're finally starting to get the pieces in the right places, something we would've liked to have done in spring practice, but that's the hand we were dealt. I think we have a lot of guys who can play and contribute. In fact, there's going to be more guys who can contribute than there are opportunities. There are a lot of good players and a lot of good depth. We feel good about the situation."
Â
On AJ Parker staying at nickelback...
"I think so. You said it, it's a fluid situation, but he's so comfortable there. There are better matchups for him in there. He does such a good job in zone. He really understands the game. He has a great feel for things and great vision. He's just really natural in there. I think that's where he belongs."
Â
On the production of defensive end Wyatt Hubert…
"That, in particular, isn't easy to do against Texas Tech with the speed they go with, and the fact that we were subbing guys in and out like a hockey team. We got him into some competitive situations. He thrived like we thought he would."
Â
On how Texas Tech was able to find success running up the middle…
"It was just some missed fits. Just some easy missed fits. It wasn't all back-end guys. Sometimes things happen in the front end where a defensive tackle that's in a gap, fighting a double team, separates and gets out of his gap. Maybe a linebacker doesn't get a great alignment and falls back a gap too far. Just some easily correctable things where I don't know if it was the tempo or why it happened, but we'll get them corrected."
Â
On the safety position with Jahron McPherson and Ross Elder…
"It's still very fluid. Another guy I would add is TJ Smith, who played about 30 snaps as a true freshman. He was phenomenal. He played a really good ballgame. He'd be a guy who would be in that discussion, as well."
Â
On his message to the players after multiple targeting reviews…
"I'm glad you brought that up. We don't want to slow our guys down at all. We do appreciate them running through contact. The two things we're emphasizing on a daily basis are you have lower your target zone. We're not trying to get anywhere near the head. Nipples and below is what we're always telling the secondary. If you say neck or below, you can be at the neck and could easily get one. The other thing we're emphasizing is our guys' heads up in contact. If we do those two things, we'll be fine if we play at the speed we're playing at."
Â
On how the defense has created turnovers…
"I think we're doing a lot of things out of zone coverage, which keeps eyes on the ball. It probably suits who we are personnel wise. It also provides those opportunities so that if a ball gets tipped – using the Oklahoma example – a ball gets tipped and you're playing man, it probably hits the grass and everybody is happy. A ball gets tipped and you have seven sets of eyes on it, hopefully someone can get under it and cash in on it."
Â
On the impact of the veteran linebackers…
"Phenomenal. Justin Hughes as a communicator, Eli Sullivan as a guy who can just run things down with speed. Not to mention Cody Fletcher as a guy that's played a lot of ball and Deuce (Daniel) Green, who's played a lot of ball. Those guys have been rock solid, and we look forward to that continuing."
Â
On the game slowing down for him as a defensive coordinator…
"That's a great question. I think I've learned some things. I don't know that I ever feel rushed. I felt like I was in control, even against the speed of Texas Tech, just how I wanted the flow to go. There were some opportunities I wish we would've cashed in on. For example, that opening drive of the second half, there were multiple third down opportunities, and we didn't convert on any of them defensively and allowed that drive to continue and play out. I don't think as a play caller like I was ever behind the eight ball. I do feel like there are some situational things that I can certainly learn from."
Â
On if he will be more aggressive…
"I understand the question, I will say that you have to do what suits your personnel. I'm going to do what our guys can execute and do. If that's bringing a bunch of pressure, then I'm all for it. If it's sitting back and playing some softer zones, then that's what we're going to do. You can only play the cards you're dealt, and that's a fluid thing. So, you have to have a lot of things on the table each week."
Â
On the missed tackles during TCU quarterback Max Duggan's touchdown run last season…
"It's very scary. We had some troubles last week with some rush lanes and things, and that happens sometimes when you have good pass rushers. The coverage can be great, it can be set, and he cannot see anything there and he can just find a little crease in between two guys and goes. That's what happened last year a number of times, and I think that, unfortunately, we were the ones that let the cat out of the bag because I don't think he was much of a runner before our game and now that's his M.O. That's going to be certainly a key to the game that we're going to have to keep him contained. If we can bottle up his rushing yards, both as a scrambler and a designed runner, we're going to be in pretty good shape."
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Players Mentioned
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LB
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WR
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DE
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DB
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QB
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RB
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RB
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