K-State Coordinators Discuss Oklahoma Contest
Sep 22, 2022 | Football
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State offensive coordinator Collin Klein and defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman met with members of the media on Thursday at the Vanier Family Football Complex prior to the Wildcats' Big 12 opener on Saturday at sixth-ranked Oklahoma. Links to video and audio of both press conferences are above, and a transcript of select quotes are below.
COLLIN KLEIN, OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR
On his assessment of Adrian Martinez's play….
"I think he's been cautious. I think he's been trying to take things as they come. He and I both had been kind of getting a feel for each other and some of the things we're trying to do. I know he would probably agree he hasn't played his best game yet – by any stretch – but I think we're just continuing to push through and keep working together."
On if Adrian Martinez is playing too cautious…
"I think it's those 50-50 plays are hard. Even as a coach, and I remember as a player, it's how do you walk that line of pulling the trigger when you need, being cautious when you need to. That's probably even as much my fault as much as anything of trying to just make sure that he doesn't feel any pressure that way. That's probably as much on me as anything of him trying to be organic and totally on him. But again, we're working through it. I got 100% faith in him ,and obviously we've got to get better."
On other issues with the offense…
"When it happened like it did, it's never just one thing, it's never just one person, it's never just one position group. Unfortunately, we all took turns on some level and some facet of the ball game. We got in some loss yardage plays for a plethora of reasons, and again we were third-and-11 four plus times. When we were able to sequence a third-and-long to a fourth-and-short, we're not able to stay on the field there. Then when we go 0-for-4 on third-and-two or three. So, we just have to find ways to stay on the field. Whether it's a call, a block, a read, a throw, a catch, whatever it is, we've just got to find a way to do it because we have to keep those drives going. We have to finish and score touchdowns in the red zone and obviously be a lot better."
On what he learned from all the third and fourth down conversion failures…
"Shoot, it was a hard day on all of us. I think just staying the course and being patient, because I think when things aren't going right, it's easy to get frustrated and get out of rhythm, and that can make things worse. I think just making sure that all of us, myself included, stay patient and stay focused on those little things that good teams do and you've got to do in those critical situations to be successful."
On the game prep from a coach's perspective…
"Oh, absolutely. It's a lot of fun. It can be stressful at times for sure, but that's why you love trying to put that puzzle together and try to figure out how to maximize and stay efficient in your time so you're not spending time where you shouldn't or vice versa. We've just got to keep fine tuning and making sure that we're sound for our guys."
JOE KLANDERMAN, DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR
On the Oklahoma offense...
"Incredible tempo. That's going to be the key is us getting our cleats in the ground and being ready to play. Then the second part of that is obviously really good across the board talent wise at the skill positions and up front. Big athletic kids up front that can move people and guys that can do things after the catch. So, it's a scary group."
On the pressure added on the defense when the offense is struggling…
"Yeah, I don't know. We don't talk about it. We just do our performance and we don't worry about what's going on on the other side. We don't want those guys looking at the video boards. I don't want those guys thinking about it. I just want those guys thinking about their execution. So, we're just hanging onto that."
On continuing to force turnovers…
"I think you've got to play fast, and I think that one of the things these types of offenses do is they get you on your heels and you don't play fast. They get you out of position. I can't tell you how many snaps watching these guys, how all 11 guys on defense weren't aligned properly. I mean, you're going to have a hard time creating turnovers, making big hits, breaking on balls if you can't even get yourself where you need to be pre snap. So, I think just get getting aligned, getting your eyes where they belong, and then letting it go from there playing as fast as we can."
On the different personnel at the Sam linebacker position…
"We've done that a little bit the more that VJ Payne gets comfortable. Week one we were a little hamstrung without Josh (Hayes), and then we did a good amount of it against Missouri. We did a little bit of it to last week too, and I think that package will continue to develop for sure. It's not anything, no knock against Khalid (Duke). I mean, he's got a certain set of skills and playing man coverage is not one of those skills, at least not against wideouts. That's something that we're pushing for each week more and more and getting better, but it really relies not on Josh, because I think he will handle that stuff and relies on the other guys that we will have to put in there. VJ being one of those guys as a young guy that's just, he's a work in progress."
On the high level of play from the cornerback position…
"Yeah, I think just the experience that Julius (Brents) has and the experience that Ekow Boye-Doe have. It brings a level of comfort to me because there's very few pictures that those guys haven't seen. There's very little that those guys can't do in one-on-one settings. I'll say this that Omar Daniels and Jacob Parrish have really come along too. I mean, those guys are playing and you're not seeing those guys as much on the stat sheet because it's just not showing up, but those guys are getting significant snaps. They're doing a great job, and Jacob as a true freshman, that's impressive."
COLLIN KLEIN, OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR
On his assessment of Adrian Martinez's play….
"I think he's been cautious. I think he's been trying to take things as they come. He and I both had been kind of getting a feel for each other and some of the things we're trying to do. I know he would probably agree he hasn't played his best game yet – by any stretch – but I think we're just continuing to push through and keep working together."
On if Adrian Martinez is playing too cautious…
"I think it's those 50-50 plays are hard. Even as a coach, and I remember as a player, it's how do you walk that line of pulling the trigger when you need, being cautious when you need to. That's probably even as much my fault as much as anything of trying to just make sure that he doesn't feel any pressure that way. That's probably as much on me as anything of him trying to be organic and totally on him. But again, we're working through it. I got 100% faith in him ,and obviously we've got to get better."
On other issues with the offense…
"When it happened like it did, it's never just one thing, it's never just one person, it's never just one position group. Unfortunately, we all took turns on some level and some facet of the ball game. We got in some loss yardage plays for a plethora of reasons, and again we were third-and-11 four plus times. When we were able to sequence a third-and-long to a fourth-and-short, we're not able to stay on the field there. Then when we go 0-for-4 on third-and-two or three. So, we just have to find ways to stay on the field. Whether it's a call, a block, a read, a throw, a catch, whatever it is, we've just got to find a way to do it because we have to keep those drives going. We have to finish and score touchdowns in the red zone and obviously be a lot better."
On what he learned from all the third and fourth down conversion failures…
"Shoot, it was a hard day on all of us. I think just staying the course and being patient, because I think when things aren't going right, it's easy to get frustrated and get out of rhythm, and that can make things worse. I think just making sure that all of us, myself included, stay patient and stay focused on those little things that good teams do and you've got to do in those critical situations to be successful."
On the game prep from a coach's perspective…
"Oh, absolutely. It's a lot of fun. It can be stressful at times for sure, but that's why you love trying to put that puzzle together and try to figure out how to maximize and stay efficient in your time so you're not spending time where you shouldn't or vice versa. We've just got to keep fine tuning and making sure that we're sound for our guys."
JOE KLANDERMAN, DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR
On the Oklahoma offense...
"Incredible tempo. That's going to be the key is us getting our cleats in the ground and being ready to play. Then the second part of that is obviously really good across the board talent wise at the skill positions and up front. Big athletic kids up front that can move people and guys that can do things after the catch. So, it's a scary group."
On the pressure added on the defense when the offense is struggling…
"Yeah, I don't know. We don't talk about it. We just do our performance and we don't worry about what's going on on the other side. We don't want those guys looking at the video boards. I don't want those guys thinking about it. I just want those guys thinking about their execution. So, we're just hanging onto that."
On continuing to force turnovers…
"I think you've got to play fast, and I think that one of the things these types of offenses do is they get you on your heels and you don't play fast. They get you out of position. I can't tell you how many snaps watching these guys, how all 11 guys on defense weren't aligned properly. I mean, you're going to have a hard time creating turnovers, making big hits, breaking on balls if you can't even get yourself where you need to be pre snap. So, I think just get getting aligned, getting your eyes where they belong, and then letting it go from there playing as fast as we can."
On the different personnel at the Sam linebacker position…
"We've done that a little bit the more that VJ Payne gets comfortable. Week one we were a little hamstrung without Josh (Hayes), and then we did a good amount of it against Missouri. We did a little bit of it to last week too, and I think that package will continue to develop for sure. It's not anything, no knock against Khalid (Duke). I mean, he's got a certain set of skills and playing man coverage is not one of those skills, at least not against wideouts. That's something that we're pushing for each week more and more and getting better, but it really relies not on Josh, because I think he will handle that stuff and relies on the other guys that we will have to put in there. VJ being one of those guys as a young guy that's just, he's a work in progress."
On the high level of play from the cornerback position…
"Yeah, I think just the experience that Julius (Brents) has and the experience that Ekow Boye-Doe have. It brings a level of comfort to me because there's very few pictures that those guys haven't seen. There's very little that those guys can't do in one-on-one settings. I'll say this that Omar Daniels and Jacob Parrish have really come along too. I mean, those guys are playing and you're not seeing those guys as much on the stat sheet because it's just not showing up, but those guys are getting significant snaps. They're doing a great job, and Jacob as a true freshman, that's impressive."
Players Mentioned
DB
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DB
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QB
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CB
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