First, here's the audio from head coach Kliff Kingsbury:
Here are some notes based off what he had to say...
*On the scrimmage in Midland on Saturday, what to expect:
"It'll be controlled. We'll script it to have different redzone area, open field area, some third down stuff, some coming out stuff, so we'll put the ball where we want it and then kind of have drives. We'll have a special teams period. We'll try to kick as the game goes and get as much live action as we can get out of it."
*Kliff also said that everybody should be good to go in the scrimmage on Saturday other than Nic Shimonek, just don't want him to get hit in this first one. Derrick Willies and everyone should be good to go, however.
*On Willies' box jump that made some national news, on him as a player:
"I still haven't seen it, just had somebody text me that he did it. He's very, very explosive, very talented athletically, and I think we just have to get him more into our system, and he's got to get it to a certain comfort level, but the athleticism is definitely there."
*Kliff was asked if there was an expectation for Willies to be a 60 plus catch receiver. Here's how he answered:
"He expects to be a 100 catch receiver, so I hope that we can do that. He's worked very hard since he came here, very determined. Everything he's done has been about getting better. I'm excited to see how good he is. We have some good options at wideout, but from what I've seen so far, he's got a bright future."
*On Dylan Cantrell this spring:
"He's been better than ever. He's great when the ball is in the air, great ball skills, very physical, strong kid. Pat and him have that kind of connection having played together for so many years, so he's been doing some really good things."
*Kliff noted that Cantrell and Reg Davis are both still battling it out for that Z outside position, may be a thing where both guys play 50/50 if things keep going the way they are.
*On how the defensive line is progressing:
"It's been good. You can see Ondre Pipens, Kolin Hill getting more comfortable with the system, knocking some of the rust off. Broderick (Washington) has done a good job inside there with Breiden being consistent. Gary Moore, Zach Barnes at the rush, so it's been good. It's a group that, like I said, hasn't played a ton, but has a bunch of ability, and we've just got to get them more reps. I'm excited to see what they can do."
*On how crucial the DL will be to their defensive success:
"As that goes, the defense goes. I think it's a more explosive group this year. It's just younger now."
*On if this team is a more feisty, rowdy, energetic group than last year's team:
"I'd say definitely more so. It's a younger group, so there's more competition. Really, outside of quarterback, there's not another position where you're just saying, 'Alright, he's the starter.' Which, that's fun for us, because everybody is having to battle for every position. We've got our quarterback figured out. Now, we're trying to figure out the rest of them."
*Turnovers are something that the offensive staff is hoping to trim down once again this year, and Kliff believes Mahomes is doing a good job of trying to get his interceptions numbers way down.
"It's been good. With Pat, I think he'll cut his number (of turnovers) in half. He threw 16 or 15 last year I think, so if he's in that seven, eight range - you know, OU won the Big 12 last year, and I think they threw 12 in the regular season, so if we get our number 12 with our explosive plays, we'll be right there."
*Malik Jenkins is a linebacker that Kliff keeps mentioning as a guy that's really making progress and stepping up, and here's why:
"I think learning all three positions. We've been asking him to play sam, will, and mike, and he's picked it up in transition easily from practice to practice. That was something he wouldn't have been able to do last year, so understanding Coach Gibbs' system from all three of those positions has really helped us."
*Kliff noted that the linebackers will have a chance to be the best group on the defense, but he's keeping his eye on the defensive line. I think he's got some expectations for that young group.
Here are some notes based off what he had to say...
*On the scrimmage in Midland on Saturday, what to expect:
"It'll be controlled. We'll script it to have different redzone area, open field area, some third down stuff, some coming out stuff, so we'll put the ball where we want it and then kind of have drives. We'll have a special teams period. We'll try to kick as the game goes and get as much live action as we can get out of it."
*Kliff also said that everybody should be good to go in the scrimmage on Saturday other than Nic Shimonek, just don't want him to get hit in this first one. Derrick Willies and everyone should be good to go, however.
*On Willies' box jump that made some national news, on him as a player:
"I still haven't seen it, just had somebody text me that he did it. He's very, very explosive, very talented athletically, and I think we just have to get him more into our system, and he's got to get it to a certain comfort level, but the athleticism is definitely there."
*Kliff was asked if there was an expectation for Willies to be a 60 plus catch receiver. Here's how he answered:
"He expects to be a 100 catch receiver, so I hope that we can do that. He's worked very hard since he came here, very determined. Everything he's done has been about getting better. I'm excited to see how good he is. We have some good options at wideout, but from what I've seen so far, he's got a bright future."
*On Dylan Cantrell this spring:
"He's been better than ever. He's great when the ball is in the air, great ball skills, very physical, strong kid. Pat and him have that kind of connection having played together for so many years, so he's been doing some really good things."
*Kliff noted that Cantrell and Reg Davis are both still battling it out for that Z outside position, may be a thing where both guys play 50/50 if things keep going the way they are.
*On how the defensive line is progressing:
"It's been good. You can see Ondre Pipens, Kolin Hill getting more comfortable with the system, knocking some of the rust off. Broderick (Washington) has done a good job inside there with Breiden being consistent. Gary Moore, Zach Barnes at the rush, so it's been good. It's a group that, like I said, hasn't played a ton, but has a bunch of ability, and we've just got to get them more reps. I'm excited to see what they can do."
*On how crucial the DL will be to their defensive success:
"As that goes, the defense goes. I think it's a more explosive group this year. It's just younger now."
*On if this team is a more feisty, rowdy, energetic group than last year's team:
"I'd say definitely more so. It's a younger group, so there's more competition. Really, outside of quarterback, there's not another position where you're just saying, 'Alright, he's the starter.' Which, that's fun for us, because everybody is having to battle for every position. We've got our quarterback figured out. Now, we're trying to figure out the rest of them."
*Turnovers are something that the offensive staff is hoping to trim down once again this year, and Kliff believes Mahomes is doing a good job of trying to get his interceptions numbers way down.
"It's been good. With Pat, I think he'll cut his number (of turnovers) in half. He threw 16 or 15 last year I think, so if he's in that seven, eight range - you know, OU won the Big 12 last year, and I think they threw 12 in the regular season, so if we get our number 12 with our explosive plays, we'll be right there."
*Malik Jenkins is a linebacker that Kliff keeps mentioning as a guy that's really making progress and stepping up, and here's why:
"I think learning all three positions. We've been asking him to play sam, will, and mike, and he's picked it up in transition easily from practice to practice. That was something he wouldn't have been able to do last year, so understanding Coach Gibbs' system from all three of those positions has really helped us."
*Kliff noted that the linebackers will have a chance to be the best group on the defense, but he's keeping his eye on the defensive line. I think he's got some expectations for that young group.
