Kansas Head Coach Turner Gill Meets with Media Wednesday

Oct. 12, 2011

  • V. Simmons
  • J. Shepherd

Postpractice Interviews: J. Shepherd | V. Simmons

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas head coach Turner Gill met with members of the media following practice on Wednesday. Below is a transcript of his interview:

Kansas head coach Turner Gill

On his team’s preparation for Oklahoma:
“I think we are practicing better and there is a better focus and energy out there. I don’t know if that is a combination of Oklahoma coming in here, being on TV or not playing very well. I think it is all of the above. There seems to be an urgency with our guys during the last two practices that we have had because we are playing a good football team, which means we have to be on all cylinders come Saturday.”

On freshman wide receiver JaCorey Sheppard’s playmaking ability:
“I think he has some talent and has some very good hands. He is also very determined and wants to be the best. He has that drive you look for in a player and that is why we are playing him as a freshman. Unfortunately early on he got a little bit banged up but I think he is 100 percent right now and we anticipate him making more plays.”

On which freshmen may see some more playing time on defense:
“Victor Simmons will probably get a little more playing time. How much, I don’t know, but he will be one player that gets a few more reps this week. He is one of our faster guys, there is no doubt about that, and he has the skills. (He) is a good size and is not afraid of contact, meaning he will hit people. He has all of those qualities. Now, he has to get it all fine-tuned and be able to make plays.”

On freshman safety Keeston Terry’s status for the OU game:
“It probably won’t make a difference until the end of the week, because we need just one more day to see what happens tomorrow as far as how he does in practice. Right now, he is definitely still questionable.”

On the missed tackles by his defense:
“If you watch every game (around the country), I guarantee you will see some missed tackles, so I don’t think Kansas is the only one that is not tackling as well as they could be. The offenses are very, very good across this country, no matter which one is being run, so you are going to miss some tackles. We just have to do a little bit better, but the biggest thing is creating turnovers. Teams that are doing well are creating turnovers which lead to more opportunities on offense.”

On Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones:
“He understands their offense and if you see all the very good quarterbacks, whether college or pro, they understand their offense. They are just like a coach in that they anticipate what is going to happen in the coverages and they understand where the vacancy or window is on a defense. He does a very good job in getting the ball there.”