RYAN LACKEY
Associate Athletics Director for Communications
Watch Matt Wells’ Press Conference | Watch Joe Klanderman’s Press Conference | Listen on Wildcats Uncut | Media Download
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State offensive coordinator Matt Wells and defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman met with members of the media on Tuesday at the Vanier Family Football Complex to discuss the team’s progress during preseason camp and preview the season opener next Saturday against Iowa State. Links to video and audio of both press conferences are above, and a transcript of select quotes are below.
MATT WELLS, OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR
On the biggest challenge getting players ready for Ireland…
“I don't know about that. We’re just trying to get them ready for the season. It's more than just one game. It's trying to prepare these guys for the long haul. You're installing schemes. You're getting in shape. You're learning how to work through tough times. Lots of install, and then a game plan certainly is that. But, we'll get over there and we'll get acclimated and play the game. It won't matter where this game is going to be played – our guys will be ready to play.”
On how he feels about the offense after 16 practices…
“I think we all probably look at it with a real critical eye at times. But, when you look back, I see some areas I think we’re probably better than last year. Then, I think there's some areas that we all need game day to tell us some answers. These guys are really, really working hard. They're grinding. They're staying together. I hope it is a tough-minded group. We will go through some adversity. We know that. Whether it's an injury or it's something that didn't go right, or somebody comes out in a front that we didn't prepare for. How do you handle that? We've tried to put them through some of those situations. We do have some guys that have played ball. I rest easier in knowing that you've got a quarterback that's played, whatever, 14 games and started. There's some starts on that o-line. There's a few of them that have played in other places that are here. The tight end room is really experienced. Jayce (Brown) has played in a lot of games. (Jaron Tibbs) and JB (Jerand Bradley) have played in a lot of games – not in a Wildcat uniform, but in a lot of games. Dylan (Edwards) has played in games, and Joe (Jackson). So, I think I take that as a positive because I know how I think they're going to be. But also, we've got some of those guys I just mentioned that's a little bit new and improved. It’s a newer version of them, and I'm excited to go out and watch them all together.”
On how Avery Johnson is different from last season…
“I think he's probably more comfortable in his own skin, in his own ability. ‘I don't have to be this certain type of player. I don't need to listen to the media or somebody ask me about being a certain prototypical ‘blank’ kind of quarterback. I'm good when I run. I'm good when I throw it.’ I think he is further along in coverage recognition. I think he is further along in his ability to dissect what a defense is doing to him a little quicker. That takes time. It takes live reps, and that takes a lot of looks. Certainly with all the safeties that Joe (Klanderman) plays in the back end, that can be a challenge for us and in training camp. But, it's a good look knowing who our first opponent is.”
On the depth behind Avery Johnson at quarterback…
“You’ve got a battle for whoever that second quarterback is. That's something I see as ongoing. I’m not close to naming a guy. I don't know if Coach (Klieman) will. I don't know where that is. That’s not an alarm, that's guys at different stages of their careers in that room right now. They're all working hard. There are abilities there. I'm straining them as best I can in a practice setting. It's not easy, but being a backup quarterback is not easy. We may not play a backup quarterback here for two years, and it may be, I tell them, it may be two days. Who knows? Avery may get a hangnail. I don't know. So, there's uncertainty, and I try to create some of those situations in practice to make them react to that uncertainty because that's what it will be like if and when a guy has to go in there and do that. So, you want me to say something about who the guy is, but we don't know yet. They don't know, and that may be something that's ongoing for quite a while. In fact, last year, it was through the season. But, those guys are battling.”
On the growth of Dylan Edwards from last season…
“He's – like all our young men – going into his third year in college, a little bit more mature, a little bit more seasoned, a little bit more aware of the grind of practice schedule in training camp with the season coming up. I see a guy that's really dynamic, runs the ball better than you think in between the tackles. He has proven to be durable so far, and I hope that continues, but he's dynamic with the ball in his hands.”
JOE KLANDERMAN, DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR
On how he feels at this point in preseason camp…
“I feel like time is flying by. You look at this Ireland trip, and you knew the schedule was going to be a little bit different. Spring went by in a blur. Summer went by in a blur. As a football coach, June doesn’t even exist to you anymore. I think I was on vacation for about four days and was in the office the rest of the time. Now the game is afoot. So, it's flown by really quick, but I feel good about where our guys are at.”
On if there is a defensive position group that has taken a step forward during camp…
“Great question. I'll just say it to you this way – I feel pretty good about our starters. The thing was who are those next guys that are going to play significant snaps? We did a little situational walk throughout there today. Coach (Klieman) called out the second defense, and they got together in a little group. I looked at that group of guys and I'm like, ‘There's some pretty dang good football players here.’ They're good looking kids. They're kids that know what they're doing. They're kids that I would trust to be out there. So, I don't know. I think a lot of groups have made a great leap. Probably the group that has impressed me the most with the progress they've made since the spring is the corners. Just watching Zashon Rich and Donovan McIntosh, Justice Clemens, Jayden Rowe, playing with confidence, it's fun to watch those guys right now. That was probably the biggest question mark (after) losing the two seniors from a year ago. Obviously, both of them were very good players, and I don't think we're going to drop off there at all.”
On playing a big, physical cornerback in Jayden Rowe…
“Jayden’s a different animal now. He's about 227 pounds. He ran a 10.3 in high school. He's physical, and he uses it. You’d think change of direction or something like that would be an issue for him, but it’s not. So, he's a different animal. He came from a system at Oklahoma where they did so much. I don't know if he did any technique really well. We do less with our guys, but we try to do it with great technique. So, we're trying to get him dialed in on just that. I don't think it's a stress for him mentally, but just, ‘Hey, I'm a divider, I'm a man player. This is how we do it.’ That's what we're trying to work on with him.”
On this defense compared to last in terms of running to the football…
“These guys care. They're about it, and they hold each other accountable to that, which is the coolest thing. It's not me pushing the buttons. There are some guys that we have that are going to be big parts of this that are transfers. Qua Moss is going to be a big part of this. Gunner Maldonado is going to be a big part of this. Gabe Powers is going to be a big part of this – guys that were in different programs a year ago. They're taking pride in it. I hear them using our language. There's football terminology, sure, but there's also the language of how we run to the football, how we play, how we execute, how we do those things. To see it permeating through those guys is fun.”
On the depth at safety…
“We're still working on the middle safety right now. I think there's some good competition there. The reason we're working on it is there are still some guys that are coming back from injury. Gunner Maldonado had an ACL last year. He's working back. Colby McCallister, an ACL last year. He's working back. Those guys are going to be big parts of it, probably bigger parts at the end of the year than they will be in the beginning of the year. VJ Payne has been nails. He's been fantastic, vocal, as we would expect. Wesley Fair has been tremendous. A quick blurb on Wesley – anything we've ever asked that kid to do, he's done. He played a smaller level – good football – but he played a smaller level of football (in high school). So, he didn't get exposed to a bunch of different things even though he was in a great program. He came here just learning stuff, learning the complexity of it, and he nailed it. Then it’s, ‘Wesley, man, I don't know if you're fast enough to do this stuff. Work on your speed.’ And he nailed it. He's a 22 mile per hour guy. ‘Wesley, can you be physical? Are you going to turn your head?’ Now he’s nailing that. Anything we've asked that kid to do through his career, he's done and he's been fantastic. I'll tell you – Logan Bartley, as a true freshman, will play this year. He is different. He's a unique talent. His maturity level and how he's picking things up right now is absolutely incredible. I don't know if I've ever seen it that good from a guy that young. Granted, he was here in the spring, but he'll play. So, there's a number of guys right now in that mix – Daniel Cobbs has been so much better, Qua Moss has been fantastic – that we think can play. We still got to sort that out.”