K-State Coordinators Preview Home Opener
Aug 28, 2025 | Football
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State offensive coordinator Matt Wells and defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman met with members of the media on Thursday at the Vanier Family Football Complex to discuss the 2025 home opener against North Dakota on Saturday inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium. Links to video and audio of both press conferences are above, and a transcript of select quotes are below.
MATT WELLS, OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR
On what he learned about his offense in the season opener…
"I think we're explosive. We showed some capabilities of being explosive, especially in the passing game. I think we can be in the running game. We had some shorter runs where I think we have to do a better job of blocking on the perimeter, and that'll help us become more explosive. I think that's probably the biggest thing that I'd hoped for, that we had seen during training camp, and some of that came to fruition. So, there are always things we wish we had back. As Avery (Johnson) and I talked Sunday and Monday, there's always a couple throws he wishes he had back. There's a couple calls I wish I had back. As long as he and I can keep both of those to just a few each game, then we're going to play all right on offense. If it gets to be more than a few throws he wants back and more than a few calls I want back, then we're in trouble. That's us looking at it with a critical eye and a critical lens. It'll always be that way.
"We have good players. There are times we didn't play real well, and a couple drives cost us. In a one-score game against a really good team, you never know when that one drive is going to manifest. There are three drives that I look at it and I'd say they cost us the game. The first one being when we got the turnover on the 16-yard line and we can't make a first down on third and one or fourth and one. That's frustrating. That's on me. I'll always take that. Then, we fumble going right into the red zone, that would have been the second one. Then the other one was right before halftime when we were driving it. We got to the plus-31, and I don't like the call. That's one of the ones I wish I had back. I don't think I put Avery in a good spot at that point on first and 10. We tried to throw a screen to get some yards back and had it blocked really well. But, we don't get a field goal attempt, and that's where you at least want to attempt one and put the kid in a position to kick one. When you lose in a one-score game, those three drives in the first half are magnified postgame. So, those are the three drives that we wish any of those three outcomes would have been different, it had been a different game."
On the unsuccessful fourth-down attempts…
"One was an assignment, one was probably a technique. Any time you don't convert, you look at the scheme, you look at who's doing it and how they're doing it. You look at a call and making sure that you're putting your guys in the right spot. So, we evaluated all of that. The fourth and one you did make, we did a really good job, and there were some elements to that that was a similar play call to the one that didn't work. So, you're still learning about yourself. They were in something that was different than they'd shown over the last three years of scouting them. So, you learn a lot of stuff."
On what he'd like to see the offense improve on this week…
"This is a direct answer, but maybe not exactly what you thought you were going to get – I want to see maturity. I want to see some guys that I think have started this week off pretty good finish the week off well. We've all heard about the lags, win or lose, coming off the Ireland trip. So, I want to see maturity and how we handle these last 48 hours, and I think around here 72 hours. We try to pride ourselves on that. The way Coach (Klieman) has done a good job during this week of trying to take care of them physically, but still getting our work in. I want to see maturity and in terms of how we're preparing for this game. Then going out, when the lights turn on, and there's 22 guys on the field, that we operate at a high level."
On what it was like for him to be calling plays again…
"It was awesome. I've always said growing up in the profession and trying to become a quarterback coach at some point and getting to be a receivers coach and a tight ends coach on the way to being a quarterback coach, all I ever wanted to do was call plays. I didn't grow up in the profession wanting to be a head coach, it just so happened. To be back in that role again is awesome. It's fun. I'm supported by a tremendous head coach who absolutely knows what's going on on both sides of the ball and in the kicking game. He's way knowledgeable. That gives me confidence because he knows the why behind some of the play calls, and he's part of the game-planning process, especially in critical downs and in critical situations. So, it's fun. I thought our guys handled the sidelines really well – our subs, all of the stuff that we as coaches stress out about in the opener, because we're not like basketball. Basketball gets to go close the gym and lock the doors up and go scrimmage somebody. I wish we got to do that, and you don't get to do that. So, you're just in a practice mode and a mock game, and that's nothing like a real game. You're always worried about and wondering how we're going to handle all the situations and the subs. Our guys did a really good job with all that. So, that was actually good to see."
JOE KLANDERMAN, DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR
On what he learned about his defense in the season opener…
"I think we have some competitive guys. I don't want to start off with an excuse, but we had a couple of late-week injuries that probably would have helped us on the defensive line. I thought we got a little worn down at the end of that game, and those bodies definitely would have helped us. Not only that, but they're very good players. I think we've got a competitive group of guys. I think we're going to get a lot better. There were a lot of young guys that got some really good experience in a competitive game. We just have to make plays when we get in the big moments. I know that we're capable. I know that we have an understanding of what we need to do. When the moment gets on us, that's when we got to be our best, and we just couldn't get a stop there at the end of the game."
On the fourth-down plays…
"Some of those fourth downs are going be really tricky. You're fourth and inches, and they run quarterback run, and some of those were difficult. But the one at the end of the game certainly stings. I think we had the right thing going, and we just didn't execute it. It's moments like that that are going to make or break championship season. I'm just hoping that we get an opportunity to square off against those guys again somewhere down the road."
On players returning for the North Dakota game…
"They'll be back. Unclear whether or not they'll be back this week as of yet. I can say that Malcolm (Alcorn-Crowder) has been practicing, so I think he's good. Ryan (Davis) has been close. So, we'll see what their status is Saturday. They'll be back, and they're going to be major impact guys – both of them – for us."
On how the first-time starters handled the pressure…
"I think they handled it fine. You look a guy like Wesley Fair – he's just a competitive guy. If you're going to take a guy that's going to be good at everything – he's going to be good at tennis, he's going to be good at darts – he's just that good at being a competitor. So, I thought he would rise to the occasion, and he did. I was really happy with Zashon (Rich). I thought Zashon Rich played phenomenally well. I thought Donovan McIntosh played well. I know there's couple things he wished he had back, but I thought he played well, by and large. Logan Bartley, as true freshman, played about 15 snaps. He didn't do anything, really, to impact the game in a big way, but I think that's probably pretty good when you're blending in back there in a game like that. I think some of the experience, some of the older guys, really helps that. I think having VJ (Payne) back there, I think having Austin Romaine in there, you look down and you see those guys, it gives you a lot of confidence to be able to play. I think those guys are going to take off from here. I really do."
On when he thinks Iowa State made the adjustment to K-State's four-down defense…
"I'm sure they had some kind of an idea. That's how it works – there are a lot of eyes out there. So, I know that they were working on that, probably, a little bit. I don't know that anything really changed from what they did. I think we gave them some pictures, certainly, that they hadn't seen. Even late in the game we were doing that. I don't know how it affected them or didn't affect them. But, at the end of the day, they did a nice job of adjusting. We put it in the players' hands, that's where it's going to be. That's where I hope it is as a coach."
On why the four-man front is better for K-State this season…
"I think we're really talented up front. There's no secret that we've said that that's probably one of our deepest spots. There are a number of reasons – personnel is a big one. There were times last year where I'm looking to the left and right, and I'm seeing these guys that are as good as there are in the league. They're standing on the sideline next to me when we could be out there disrupting things. One of the other core tenants that I really believe in – and it just is what it is – but I think protection beats coverage. What I mean by that is there's times in the three-down stuff where we're rushing three, and we can have some of the greatest coverage in the world. A lot of times you can invent things. There are so many things you can do that way. But, if a quarterback isn't feeling any pressure on him, then eventually your coverage is going to break down, and you're going to end up in a scramble drill. That's been happening to us for a couple of years now. Our answer to that always was, 'Alright, we're going to blitz, we're going to blitz, we're going to blitz,' which is fine when you have man people. I don't know that we don't have man people, but I hate to put that much pressure on our DBs all the time. So, how could we find more zone answers while we're rushing four with good people that can win in those situations? Anyway, all that stuff was going through my head as early as last season when I'm thinking, 'Man, it'd be nice to rush four and play some kind of zone here.' I think it's going to give us flexibility to do more things coverage wise"
MATT WELLS, OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR
On what he learned about his offense in the season opener…
"I think we're explosive. We showed some capabilities of being explosive, especially in the passing game. I think we can be in the running game. We had some shorter runs where I think we have to do a better job of blocking on the perimeter, and that'll help us become more explosive. I think that's probably the biggest thing that I'd hoped for, that we had seen during training camp, and some of that came to fruition. So, there are always things we wish we had back. As Avery (Johnson) and I talked Sunday and Monday, there's always a couple throws he wishes he had back. There's a couple calls I wish I had back. As long as he and I can keep both of those to just a few each game, then we're going to play all right on offense. If it gets to be more than a few throws he wants back and more than a few calls I want back, then we're in trouble. That's us looking at it with a critical eye and a critical lens. It'll always be that way.
"We have good players. There are times we didn't play real well, and a couple drives cost us. In a one-score game against a really good team, you never know when that one drive is going to manifest. There are three drives that I look at it and I'd say they cost us the game. The first one being when we got the turnover on the 16-yard line and we can't make a first down on third and one or fourth and one. That's frustrating. That's on me. I'll always take that. Then, we fumble going right into the red zone, that would have been the second one. Then the other one was right before halftime when we were driving it. We got to the plus-31, and I don't like the call. That's one of the ones I wish I had back. I don't think I put Avery in a good spot at that point on first and 10. We tried to throw a screen to get some yards back and had it blocked really well. But, we don't get a field goal attempt, and that's where you at least want to attempt one and put the kid in a position to kick one. When you lose in a one-score game, those three drives in the first half are magnified postgame. So, those are the three drives that we wish any of those three outcomes would have been different, it had been a different game."
On the unsuccessful fourth-down attempts…
"One was an assignment, one was probably a technique. Any time you don't convert, you look at the scheme, you look at who's doing it and how they're doing it. You look at a call and making sure that you're putting your guys in the right spot. So, we evaluated all of that. The fourth and one you did make, we did a really good job, and there were some elements to that that was a similar play call to the one that didn't work. So, you're still learning about yourself. They were in something that was different than they'd shown over the last three years of scouting them. So, you learn a lot of stuff."
On what he'd like to see the offense improve on this week…
"This is a direct answer, but maybe not exactly what you thought you were going to get – I want to see maturity. I want to see some guys that I think have started this week off pretty good finish the week off well. We've all heard about the lags, win or lose, coming off the Ireland trip. So, I want to see maturity and how we handle these last 48 hours, and I think around here 72 hours. We try to pride ourselves on that. The way Coach (Klieman) has done a good job during this week of trying to take care of them physically, but still getting our work in. I want to see maturity and in terms of how we're preparing for this game. Then going out, when the lights turn on, and there's 22 guys on the field, that we operate at a high level."
On what it was like for him to be calling plays again…
"It was awesome. I've always said growing up in the profession and trying to become a quarterback coach at some point and getting to be a receivers coach and a tight ends coach on the way to being a quarterback coach, all I ever wanted to do was call plays. I didn't grow up in the profession wanting to be a head coach, it just so happened. To be back in that role again is awesome. It's fun. I'm supported by a tremendous head coach who absolutely knows what's going on on both sides of the ball and in the kicking game. He's way knowledgeable. That gives me confidence because he knows the why behind some of the play calls, and he's part of the game-planning process, especially in critical downs and in critical situations. So, it's fun. I thought our guys handled the sidelines really well – our subs, all of the stuff that we as coaches stress out about in the opener, because we're not like basketball. Basketball gets to go close the gym and lock the doors up and go scrimmage somebody. I wish we got to do that, and you don't get to do that. So, you're just in a practice mode and a mock game, and that's nothing like a real game. You're always worried about and wondering how we're going to handle all the situations and the subs. Our guys did a really good job with all that. So, that was actually good to see."
JOE KLANDERMAN, DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR
On what he learned about his defense in the season opener…
"I think we have some competitive guys. I don't want to start off with an excuse, but we had a couple of late-week injuries that probably would have helped us on the defensive line. I thought we got a little worn down at the end of that game, and those bodies definitely would have helped us. Not only that, but they're very good players. I think we've got a competitive group of guys. I think we're going to get a lot better. There were a lot of young guys that got some really good experience in a competitive game. We just have to make plays when we get in the big moments. I know that we're capable. I know that we have an understanding of what we need to do. When the moment gets on us, that's when we got to be our best, and we just couldn't get a stop there at the end of the game."
On the fourth-down plays…
"Some of those fourth downs are going be really tricky. You're fourth and inches, and they run quarterback run, and some of those were difficult. But the one at the end of the game certainly stings. I think we had the right thing going, and we just didn't execute it. It's moments like that that are going to make or break championship season. I'm just hoping that we get an opportunity to square off against those guys again somewhere down the road."
On players returning for the North Dakota game…
"They'll be back. Unclear whether or not they'll be back this week as of yet. I can say that Malcolm (Alcorn-Crowder) has been practicing, so I think he's good. Ryan (Davis) has been close. So, we'll see what their status is Saturday. They'll be back, and they're going to be major impact guys – both of them – for us."
On how the first-time starters handled the pressure…
"I think they handled it fine. You look a guy like Wesley Fair – he's just a competitive guy. If you're going to take a guy that's going to be good at everything – he's going to be good at tennis, he's going to be good at darts – he's just that good at being a competitor. So, I thought he would rise to the occasion, and he did. I was really happy with Zashon (Rich). I thought Zashon Rich played phenomenally well. I thought Donovan McIntosh played well. I know there's couple things he wished he had back, but I thought he played well, by and large. Logan Bartley, as true freshman, played about 15 snaps. He didn't do anything, really, to impact the game in a big way, but I think that's probably pretty good when you're blending in back there in a game like that. I think some of the experience, some of the older guys, really helps that. I think having VJ (Payne) back there, I think having Austin Romaine in there, you look down and you see those guys, it gives you a lot of confidence to be able to play. I think those guys are going to take off from here. I really do."
On when he thinks Iowa State made the adjustment to K-State's four-down defense…
"I'm sure they had some kind of an idea. That's how it works – there are a lot of eyes out there. So, I know that they were working on that, probably, a little bit. I don't know that anything really changed from what they did. I think we gave them some pictures, certainly, that they hadn't seen. Even late in the game we were doing that. I don't know how it affected them or didn't affect them. But, at the end of the day, they did a nice job of adjusting. We put it in the players' hands, that's where it's going to be. That's where I hope it is as a coach."
On why the four-man front is better for K-State this season…
"I think we're really talented up front. There's no secret that we've said that that's probably one of our deepest spots. There are a number of reasons – personnel is a big one. There were times last year where I'm looking to the left and right, and I'm seeing these guys that are as good as there are in the league. They're standing on the sideline next to me when we could be out there disrupting things. One of the other core tenants that I really believe in – and it just is what it is – but I think protection beats coverage. What I mean by that is there's times in the three-down stuff where we're rushing three, and we can have some of the greatest coverage in the world. A lot of times you can invent things. There are so many things you can do that way. But, if a quarterback isn't feeling any pressure on him, then eventually your coverage is going to break down, and you're going to end up in a scramble drill. That's been happening to us for a couple of years now. Our answer to that always was, 'Alright, we're going to blitz, we're going to blitz, we're going to blitz,' which is fine when you have man people. I don't know that we don't have man people, but I hate to put that much pressure on our DBs all the time. So, how could we find more zone answers while we're rushing four with good people that can win in those situations? Anyway, all that stuff was going through my head as early as last season when I'm thinking, 'Man, it'd be nice to rush four and play some kind of zone here.' I think it's going to give us flexibility to do more things coverage wise"
– k-statesports.com –
How to follow the Cats: For complete information on K-State Football, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.
How to follow the Cats: For complete information on K-State Football, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
S
/ Football
S
/ Football
CB
/ Football
CB
/ Football
LB
/ FootballK-State FB | Welcome back Collin Klein
Monday, December 08
K-State FB | Head Coach Collin Klein Radio Interview
Friday, December 05
K-State FB | Head Coach Collin Klein Official Introductory Event
Friday, December 05
K-State FB | Thank You Coach Klieman
Wednesday, December 03
