Kansas Football Meets With Media Monday
April 12, 2010
Kansas football fans can follow the Jayhawks on the internet through KU’s official website, as well as get behind the scenes looks through the official Kansas football blog.
Head Coach Turner Gill
On the second week of practice:
“I thought this was a week where we definitely improved offensively, defensively and even special teams. On the defensive side of the ball our secondary made some plays. They picked some balls off and obviously we had some pressure on the quarterback. I thought our defensive tackles showed up over there this past week. We had more consistency with those guys. Offensively, I thought the quarterbacks did some good things. All of them. I don’t know if anyone really stood out. They all improved this past week. I also thought our tight ends did a great job blocking and did some good things in the pass receiving. If I had to say certain groups, those are the groups that stood out. Everybody improved in every aspect in our game. Special teams – I thought Alonso (Rojas) did a great job punting the ball. He did some good things there, kicking the ball inside the 20-yard line. We worked on some of those phases… There were some good things that happened this past week. We have a long way to go, but I did see some things that improved. That is what you want to see in the second week because now they are starting to react and not think so much.”
Senior Wide Receiver Johnathan Wilson
On last season:
“Last year was a disappointment for me. I had a lot of expectations and I felt like I didn’t live up to it. I feel like I have a lot to prove this year, not just with my teammates, but with myself in general. That seven-game losing streak really stuck in my mind. It’s still in my mind, so I’m not going to forget that.”
On what summarized last season:
“That last game against Missouri. We were basically winning the whole game and then the last drive we just couldn’t convert. It was just disappointing.”
On working on eliminating drops:
“I had some drops that were crucial that could have helped our team last year and I let passes slip through my fingers so this year I really want to focus on bouncing back and making those plays.”
Redshirt Freshman Quarterback Jordan Webb
On the starting job:
“You can’t really talk about the depth chart because we don’t really have one. We’ve had about eight or nine practices with this new staff and they aren’t going to make a decision that fast. You can’t expect it to be done in the spring, the competition is going to last for a long time I think and they have to make sure they have the right guy for what they want to do.”
On what he is doing to try and improve:
“Obviously with time all the quarterbacks are going to get more comfortable, but there’s nothing out of the ordinary. On the field, I’m trying to be more of a leader because being a young guy it’s hard to establish yourself as a leader, but it’s something you have to do at this position.”
On the scrimmages:
“They’re extremely helpful, learning a new offense, it’s easier to go 7-on-7. When you’ve got a pass rush, you’ve really got to be on your toes and be alert about everything. You have to see blitzes coming and us quarterbacks, we don’t have a lot of experience, so that’s something that’s going to really help in the future.”
Junior Offensive Lineman Jeff Spikes
On what it was like facing Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh last November:
“All I remember is that I had inside help, from my roommate Jeremiah Hatch. It was us working together – it was not me, and it wasn’t him; it was both of us that made it work. Coach (John) Reagan, our offensive line coach last year, just helped us with the structure and everything we went through last year and practicing up to that game. When you’re going up against a potential number-one draft pick, you have to do what you have to do, or you give up. We had confidence in each other, as well as confidence in ourselves.”
On Coach Gill’s new mentality or sayings he has:
“Well there are a few sayings, I don’t know how many of them I can say, there’s so many that I can’t really say. Every day there is a new one and it brings so much joy to our faces. It means a lot that he is willing to identify with us; he wants us to have a good time. The number one thing in college sports, and in sports in general, you have to have fun, you have to do something you love.”
On if there is a different workload with this coaching staff:
“Well, the work gets done, it’s mental things. Football is 90% mental, if you’re having fun and doing what you need to do, you don’t feel as mentally exhausted – you feel physically exhausted. But you’re still getting the work in that needs to be done.”
Sophomore Quarterback Kale Pick
On how practice goes for the quarterbacks:
“It depends on the drill and what we’re doing. On Saturday we had an 11-on-11 situation, it was pretty much a game-like experience; except for the red jerseys. It’s starting to sink in, and all of our guys are feeling comfortable.”
On if he likes when Coach Turner Gill says that there is no front-runner for the position:
“It doesn’t matter to me, we compete every day. That’s a big part of coming out and competing every day, we have to come out and get things done.”
On junior quarterback Quinn Mecham:
“He’s getting more and more confident in the huddle. He is starting to get more comfortable around the guys. I’m sure Conner (Teahan) is getting more comfortable around the guys, too. They both are new guys who didn’t know many people, they’re starting to build relationships, they have friendships and relationships and they are more comfortable.”
On how much leadership comes naturally to him:
“I always try to push my teammates, junior high football to high school I always like pushing my teammates – it makes our team better, it makes me better when I’m being pushed. I think it’s really important to have a leader, you have to push them; keep them on the ball, keep them on their toes.”
On if he has noticed any front runners for the quarterback position over spring:
“I don’t think it matters whose name (Coach Gill) says first on the list, I don’t think it’s a big deal. I’m going to come out and prove myself, whatever the situation is. If anybody gets a lead, or if I get a lead, I’m not going to stay comfortable with it.”
