Spring Preview Press Conference: Collin Klein

all right um been a really exciting spring so far um long way to go I've been really proud of all the guys and and and how they've really uh stepped up and and embraced us as a staff and and uh given us their best effort in the you know in the classroom and and really excited to get out on the field with them uh building relationships has been a big a big point of emphasis from all of us and from coach Elco and and all of us top down uh you know to every player on the roster and really truly getting to know them as as people as individuals and uh really being able to um Step Up in that mentorship role um to make sure that they truly are are pushing themselves each and every day to be uh the best people the best students um and and ultimately the best football players that they can be and uh been a really really fun Journey um like I said installing uh the offense that part of it um you know like I said we got a long way to go we're going to be very multiple we're going to be very diverse uh we're going to be a disciplined outfit you know and and making sure that that everything in our in our control is uh is is airtight and detailed and thorough and uh very fundamental you know I think that's going to be a big point of emphasis for us this spring offensively is uh really breaking the game down uh at at every level every component to make sure that we're playing the game the right way you know from how we carry the football to you know how we sit in our stance how we come off the football I mean every detail on in in that way being dissected and and being extremely thorough and and those things that are in our control making sure that that that we take care of those things and they're exactly how we want them to be that give us a chance to be successful we're going to be explosive you know and and and really excited for some of the talent we have in in in some spots that um you know and being able to move around and and and give them a chance to to do their thing and and use their ability um to create big plays you know you create big plays on offense uh good things happen and so you know being having that focus of building the the foundation to be disciplined and fundamental uh building off of that Foundation to uh be very explosive you know and and then uh lastly just being tough you know and and mentally as much as anything uh physically tough and and being able to win at the point of attack on on all three levels uh you know and and and get after people from the inside out so that's kind of a little bit of our mindset how we're building it it's uh it's going to look a lot of different ways and and it'll change even as we go through the spring and and learn our Personnel better uh their strengths their weaknesses um and how to use them to to their best talents um and and ultimately kind of see uh what we end up looking like as we go through the spring and summer and then then obviously through the fall so but enough for me we can ask what what you guys want to hear about so the left ceas Robert CES the Brian College Station Eagle uh why why come here why take the job you've been in Kansas State so long and has it been all you thought it would be or just you know reactions yeah no absolutely um well it was uh uh it was an unbelievable opportunity and and it was the right people at the right time um you know was very very fortunate to to be at Kansas state for a long time with great people and in in a in a good situation for sure um but as I got to know coach Elco um and his vision and his plan uh for building a program from the ground up his level of detail his level of of passion and and and vision for for how he was going to build um a annual National Championship Contender um um with uh again the resources and culture and Foundation of of a place like Texas A&M that I had been able to see and play against and and kind of be around uh during a playing career and and and a coaching career uh I just felt like it was the right fit at the right time and and uh again have been really uh excited and and have appreciated so many people uh around the program and in every area getting to know them and uh and and have felt the passion and respect that this place carries uh on the inside you know is as well from an outside perception standpoint so uh it's been really good to the left Rob howdy coach how we doing um I'm great thanks um so as you uh um you know when coach Elco was talking about how he chose an offensive coordinator he said that he kind of locked himself in a room and he watched lots of vide and so obviously your video stood out as something that that he felt like he could worker what do you think you put on tape that that that kind of sparked his interest well knowing him probably everything he's very thorough and very detailed and and uh um you know I think that's why we connected really really quickly uh was his his love and passion for football I mean he's a football guy uh I'm a football guy we love um constantly learning and and talking about the game and and the nuances of the game and I think um that Synergy and that relationship of how we saw the game how we were able to communicate about the game how we were I was able to articulate the offense of not just what you're doing but how do you see what you're doing and and how does the V how does the vision of why we're putting it together and how we're putting it together the way we are matter I think those there's a lot of really good connection points that created a lot of synergy quickly um you know again I've been very very fortunate to be around some great uh offensive minds and football Minds even in my young young career and so um you know I think taking a lot of pride of trying to maximize our talent and and use the use whatever players we have in the positions they are and put them in the best positions for us to be successful um I think our offense and and and our system allow us to be able to do that at an extremely high level uh which I think was was very intriguing uh to him in a defensive from a defensive perspective as well coach we'll go back behind the lights to Nicole hey coach Elco said that Connor was going to go in as the number one guy what have you I know it's early but what have you made of him and also the others in the room no absolutely uh it's it's a really good room I think uh I've been very impressed with with their study habits and and again how hard they're working to uh to get up to speed quickly uh you know in our system we we do put a lot on the quarterback um and and that's what makes it great is is there's a lot of things that we can do through that position and and uh with that position that uh um you know I think are unique and special and and those guys have have really attacked it I know it's been uh great getting to no Conor and he's kind of been been working really hard on on two sides of things getting healthy you know know on the one side physically and then and then getting up to speed mentally but have appreciated his grit and how he's he's pushing through and and really striving hard to uh and has uh you know worked really hard to get himself back to this point so um you know it been great getting to know him and then you know with Marcel and jayen uh you know both those guys I think it's it's going to be a really exciting spring it's going to be really competitive um and again it's uh across the board offensively it's it's we're trying to develop everyone on on our side of the ball you know at every position there's going to be a lot of guys rotating through you know every group and an area of the field or the drill or the team period or whatever because it's it's about all of us getting better and laying the foundation for uh for where we're trying to go coach we go third row on the left Luke white from the Battalion coach can you kind of talk about as you get to know the players of their strengths and we weaknesses how big has the winter conditioning and then this spring football coming up how big is that to really getting to NOA players and where they fit in on offense uh it's huge um coach moffett's been outstanding uh done a really really good job of of laying that foundation for our guys uh as a player it was one of my favorite times of year was that winter early spring phase because you kind of got to decompress from the season a little bit you got to again start from scratch so to speak and then this even this a year like this in particular where there is a trans transition it's even more so that way uh you know but as a team you guys get to they get to really decide as a team who they're going to be how hard are we going to work what's what how much are we truly willing to invest to make this thing what we all want it to be um and and it's a lot on them and so as a player I I love this loved this phase and and this time of year um and and they really have embraced that they really have embraced that uh seen a lot a lot of progress in in the last eight weeks in particular and uh excited to be able to use that hard work and and build off that foundation on you know on on the field with football stuff so coach will go back behind the lights on the right side Dalton Hughes from texags new texx coach uh looking at your offense at Kansas State you really utilize tight end HB back to be versatile how important is that in your offense and what kind of skill set does that bring you know creating mismatches for defense no absolutely I think now tight end position is a it it truly is a beautiful position uh when you look at the what they're required to know and do on a daily play byplay series by series basis is uh uh it's it's a lot I mean they truly have to be trained like an old lineman and understand that that level of of mechanic and fundamentals and calls and scheme oh wait now you're a receiver and have to understand route running and and um spatial awareness and timing and and and all the pass game stuff so uh it truly is a lot on them but that also makes it with all the variations that you can do with them and and extra hats extra gaps uh leverage and and all the things that that we can create with those guys it's uh like I said it's it's a beautiful position and and I love being able to move them around and and get them the football and and uh again it's it's a it's it's just a beautiful position we go second row on the left Alex Miller from the Brian colllege station Eagle hey Colin you mentioned you want to have a tough and disciplined offense you know you come from a Place Kansas State where I think those are adjectives people think of when they think of Kansas State yeah you know along the way what what are maybe some things you picked up from guys like Bill Snider coach kimman uh still there uh maybe an example or two of some Kate toughness or or discipline yeah no abely absolutely I think um first of all I think you know it truly is the little things that make the biggest differences and you do those little things consistently over time you're going to make big big progress you're going to win a lot of games and and good things will happen and and I think that that foundation on top of the uh the mindset of of having that competitive drive that Competitive Edge and bringing it to everything that you do every single day uh day in and day out you know over and over again through every phase out of season in season whatever um that part is is instilled in you and and that's what is a big part of of I know why I've been I know I've been called to to this life of football is is that edge of every single day wanting to compete wanting to go out there and and trying to help and and make those around me better make our team better make our offense better make myself better and learn and grow as a coach and and and carrying that edge while making sure every every little thing we're trying to make exactly how we want it second row on the right Carter Carell's 247 hey Colin uh you guys added three uh offensive linemen from the portal who all have significant starting experience and I think by my account you'll have 11 players who've started multiple games on the offensive line just what are you expecting from that group this spring and then just competition of having so many guys who have that experience yeah no doubt it's it's uh like I said and very similar to the quarterback situation we're going to move a lot of guys around and and it'll be I'm really excited to see how each one of those guys grow into what is going to be their best role when we get closer to kickoff uh what POS I me we're going to have a lot of different guys snapping it we're going to have a lot of guys moving inside out outside in and uh working different combinations again trying to get all of us individually uh make some great strides to to be fundamentally better fundamentally sound very mentally disciplined and and uh see how each one of those guys grow in in each that first unit or second unit or wherever you the line ends up getting drawn that way kind of how we put all that and package that together it's going to be it's going to be really fun to watch and Coach Cushing's already done a tremendous job with those guys and and uh it's been fun watching that them already grow and I wanted to ask you about Chase Banis uh last year we saw him at right tackle bll game we saw him at guard is you and Coach Cushing have a idea of which position makes the most sense for him or is this spring going to be an experiment you think for him I I I think we'll have a much much better feel for that uh at the end of the spring you know and after we've had a substantial time to put some pads on and and helmets on and understand just see again the fit you know a lot of times that room that unit in particular is is not just the it's hard to even judge one guy in one spot because it's there's so much continuity involved there's so much communication involved and uh it's about having them in the right place in relation to each other as much as it is individually maybe we're uh you know the one guy is the best hey what makes that unit the best and and we'll we'll definitely find that out and we'll finish it up with CE over here Robert cesna from the Brian College Station Eagle in your memory Brant where does that overtime game against A&M rank it's probably probably number one yeah no it was a heck of a battle is a heck of a battle there's no doubt all right coach Klein thanks for your time today thank you guys so much