Fall Camp Press Conference: Collin Klein

Opening Statement uh hi coach obviously y'all had a lot of success running the football at Kansas State so it's kind of a two-part thing first of all U I was wondering if if you felt like uh how similar maybe Running Game the Personnel was that you have here uh for what you want to do and is there certain requirements or certain first steps you got to take in your system to ensure having a strong running game yeah no uh um for sure I I think each each team takes on its own identity a little bit is is as far as what you use schematically year to year team to team um you know I I think and and have believed for a long time that running the ball is a is a team effort you know I mean it's everyone looks at the offensive line but it's tight ends it's receivers it's uh how we package things to get everybody involved in in that part of the game um you know I think some of the things that and with the pieces we have here being able to stretch the field uh you know horizontally and vertically to to be a have that attack mindset in the Run game we will be able to do and uh guys have responded to that you know we're going to be a diverse outfit and and want guys and and need guys that love to study the game love to work at it love to work hard to to be able to put the pressure on people that we're able to do uh with the variety of schemes that that we use so I've been proud of the group so far I think uh coach kush's done uh you know he's done a really good job getting those guys ready and and preparing those guys on a daily basis they've bought into us and and what we're selling and uh so far we've had some good steps you know uh first couple days we'll go front row on the left side to Mark and then Receivers Travis uh kind of playing off what Olen said Colin um the other thing that you like to do at K State was kind of take your deep shots you know with this kind receiver core do you feel confident that you can continue to do that sort of thing and what have you seen from your receivers Beyond especially beyond the guys that are established like Noah in in today yeah absolutely I mean I I I think we got some really really good weapons I think we're going to be able to to have that aggressive mentality um you know I think even in a couple days we've shown and proven that we have the the potential to be really an explosive outfit um you know I think got some young guys and and some new guys to the program with Cyrus Allen had a really really good camp so far and and really flashed uh uh creating some big plays in the passing game uh you know a couple young guys you know Ashton bethl Roman has done a really really nice job um you know Xavier Williams has has flashed here and there so again it's uh just got to keep building that group collectively and it doesn't matter if it's play action Pass Run game whatever it's uh continuing to work on the mentality of how we play and and understanding that that mentality of how we do what we do is more important than whatever that what is at that moment and and Coach Elco does as good a job of of truly teaching and setting the stage and implementing teaching situational football and and getting our guys on the same page to truly understand that Embrace that um and and apply that correctly play after play after play uh that's the mentality that I think is going to make whatever aspect of of the offense take it over the top we'll go Helmet communicator front row on the right side to Travis and then BR yeah what are some of the pros and cons of the helmet communicator uh and how much would you like to have that or not like to have that when you were playing get out of my head right no um no I I I think it's a great thing I think it's it's good for the game I think it's um you know a good teaching tool I I think like I said I think it's um you know depending on how you use it in depending on what type of tempo you're in and and and how you apply it I think there's going to be some advantages and things that give us an edge um know I I truly think it's a great thing and you were one of the last generation to be in a a college footb video game what is it like to what was that like for you in that time and and what is it like to see these guys get to kind of get that experience again you know by the time that that my name was right and I was in the game correctly I didn't have any time to play the game unfortunately I played it when I was younger but you know by the time I was actually playing I was spending all my time watching you know the the the tape and and working and obviously now uh you know my my kids are pretty young so I don't have time to to play that with them yet but um again it's it's I I love it I think it's great for the game I think it's great for the players and and a really neat deal we'll stay on the Running backs front row to Brandon then Alex would you mind to evaluating your running backs room and it does seem like you inherited some Talent there the strengths and maybe things that need working on as well yeah no I I think it's a very uh complete group you know I think um I think we're going to be able to use all of them um very um cohesively it's not like one guy can only do this one guy can only do that I mean I think uh all of them have good ball skills I think all of them uh are physical and and and and run hard at the point of attack um you know I think there's some there's some times and and with what we've been able to do with the tailback over the years and in in my history be able to put them in a lot of positions in uh diverse ways to get them the football and get them some touches um and I love how hard they're competing and how cohesive they are right because it's gonna coach Trooper you know he he gets those guys rolling he calls it the stable for a reason because they're they're all helping each other they're all competing together um and and truly worried about the team and providing the the type of play at that position that we need so uh really excited about that group for sure we'll go second row on Quarterbacks the left side to Alex with Connor be and the guy at quarterback what are you seeing from kind of the rest of the group The backups and the way they're competing and and kind of the diverse skill set they also bring to the table yeah no I I think we're we're we're striving for consistency collectively you know I think there's again times we we've shown the capacity to really be able to push the ball down the field and be accurate uh get the ball out of our hands and and understanding of protections and and all the things that go into that position I think consistency is the key you know it's never the peak or the valley it's what can we be day in and day out play in and play out and I think um that's been inconsistent in the group collectively you know what I mean and and who's having a good day who's Who's down a little bit but I love the group every single one of them is you know is really working hard and and has made progress even in five days from Camp uh from their work they put in in the summer and and uh I mean there's there's definitely a competition there and and really excited to see you know through this midsection of Camp you know we kind of the majority of the offense is in those first four days of install are massive and so being able to kind of start to begin uh to slow things down for them a little bit too of just how much we're putting on their plate to uh to get more repetitions at things and and hopefully get that consistency uh level up uh collectively we'll go back Tempo behind the lights to TV road to Tyler yeah Colin uh Mark nebu said that you know he noticed you guys are getting to the ball faster getting to the line in the tempo just how much in practice is uh the pace of play and your Tempo just kind of emphasized and part of your system well I think it's huge and I think it's it's a mentality thing and and that really comes right from you know from coach Elco too is you know it's it's not necessarily if what you're going to do from a huddle standpoint from a speed standpoint slow fast whatever it happens to be but uh just practicing with that edge like every snap is is the biggest snap and the biggest game that we're going to play all year and and having that mentality when they go to the line of scrimmage and and truly being able to then dictate the tempo regardless of of how you're operating in that moment and and the guys have embraced that you know and and and we're we've made great great strides uh even through you know from Spring to now in in in those ways and got to keep it up we'll go second row on the Noah Thomas right side to Carter and then cease uh Colin yeah in the spring game we saw you guys use Noah Thomas a little bit in the slot um curious if that's something that I guess without Barber y'all y'all been experimenting or if that's something y'all see long term and what benefits you see from him being at that position yeah no I think it's first of all Noah has done an absolutely tremendous job I mean he's a he's a fierce competitor um you know he studies the game and and it's going to allow us a lot of flexibility to do a lot of different things for us you know his his detail and how he expresses his routes how he creates separation how fast he gets out of in and out of breaks for his size um we're going to be able to move him all all over the field at at at multiple spots and and and I think that's part of the U the benefit of of a multiple system like this is being able to uh get guys where they need to be in diverse spots to to utilize their skill set and get them the football cuz he's uh he will be a big time player for us for sure we'll go front row on the left side Wesley Watson to Seas uh Wesley Watson's a guy you had last year where's his game at you know I I think he's he's definitely competing in the room right now um had a little bit of a familiarity you know with uh being in the system before and uh uh you know definitely getting healthier for sure coming off something in this spring but um you know again proud of how how he works every day and and his mentality in the room for sure uh I'm not I'm not going to disclose it there but appreciate it Travis Etienne anything else we'll close things up with Travis on the front row on the right side okay yeah how aware were you of the kind of 12th man tradition and and all that goes into that and what can you say about the guy who who got the ball I know he's on the other side but I'll tell you what such a cool deal and and knowing it from afar and and obviously uh seeing from a distance and and understanding that tradition but actually getting to see it and feel it yourself uh in in the gravity of that moment for uh you know for the team yesterday was was truly off off the chart and and uh couldn't be more proud of him and and uh just so cool and and honored to to be a part of it and and see it firsthand for sure