Here is the Cliff’s Notes version of Kansas football coach Turner Gill’s comments at his weekly press conference today.
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Full press conference audio has been posted.
• **Gill says his guys were upbeat Sunday.** The coach believes his team is making good progress, despite not getting wins lately. He listed a few areas of improvement:
1. In the first three games, KU had three three-and-outs. KU’s defense forced three three-and-outs against Texas Tech.
2. KU has twice the pass breakups that it had a year ago at this time.
3. KU is averaging 9.9 yards per pass attempt. The goal is six or seven yards per attempt, so that is exceptional.
• **KU has no significant injuries from the last game.** The coaches anticipate running back Darrian Miller will be ready to go.
• **Oklahoma State’s 13 turnovers forced was one of the statistics that jumped out to Gill when he was looking at their totals.** KU will have to have good ball security.
• **KU has talked about halftime adjustments as a staff.** The coaches have made a few changes and will try to be a little more specific with what they want from the players. The coaches also are going to try a few different things in practice to attempt to improve the team’s play in the third quarter.
• **Gill would like to see improvement in both kickoff returns and punt returns.** Gill said punt returns have been disappointing this year. Some of that has to do with blocking at the line of scrimmage.
• **Gill said when the other team is in the hurry-up, it’s important to simplify the defensive calls.** It needs to be one word or one symbol. Substitutions also can be challenging against fast-paced offenses. One key is to stop the offense before it gets a first down, as usually a first down triggers the faster pace.
• **It’s tough for a defensive coordinator when you don’t have a spring practice to work with your guys.** The players probably aren’t adjusting to Vic Shealy’s system as fast as the coaches hoped they would. Gill said when that happens, you have to take a step back as a staff and try to simplify things a bit.
• **Keeston Terry switched from strong safety to free safety last week against Texas Tech.** With the switch, he does not have to make as many defensive calls. Gill believes that helped him think less and play better. That also gives the responsibility of making calls to the more experienced (and older) Bradley McDougald.
• **Gill hasn’t been surprised by his running backs’ production, but he has been happy with their ball security this year.**
• **Gill isn’t using the fact that KU is a huge underdog to Oklahoma State as motivation for his team.** That doesn’t do any good. That’s emotions. It comes down to execution.