I was able to speak with Kliff Kingsbury, Branden Jackson and Tevin Madison today after practice. Here are a few notes......
This week, Texas Tech will head up to Lawrence, Kansas to take on the Jayhawks. Most of the college football world believes that Kansas is the laughing stock of the BIG 12. The Vegas sports book has Tech as an overwhelming favorite. Many analyst also believe that this one won't be close. Kingsbury spoke about the opportunity to play Davis Webb, and keeping his team focused despite their struggles.
"The old coaching adage, if you don't think it's a big game, lose it and see how it goes. That’s how we’re approaching it. We know every game from here on out on our schedule is huge and we’re going to take advantage of it” said Kingsbury. “If the game were to go that way, we played all four last week and we’d love to do that again, but we’re going to play to win the game and do what we have to do to win the game.”
Kingsbury also gave us the unfortunate news that Justin Murphy will be out for the remainder of the season. He’s currently rehabbing and will have surgery in the near future.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Senior defensive end Branden Jackson had a great game against Iowa State last weekend. In fact, for much of the game, the offensive tackle struggled to contain him in one on one situations. This week, he said he’s seen some great things for on film from the quarterbacks at Kansas. In the past he’s underestimated opposing quarterback’s strengths, so he’s geared up to play against the Jayhawks’ two quarterback system.
“He (Montell Cozart) definitely slows you down, you know? He’s a running back who can throw the ball, kind of. He’s a great talent and we have to be aware when he’s in the game, and coming off the field. Knowing who’s at quarterback and the possibilities are different depending on who’s behind there. I feel like they run the same offense with every quarterback, it’s just a little faster when they’ve got the other guy back there” said Jackson.
Jackson reminisced on his past trips to Kansas, and his battles with different BIG 12 quarterbacks.
“I remember overtime, I think it was a pick by Cqulin Hubert on year, and I remember getting ran over another year. I can’t remember who the quarterback was, but he kind of got me on the zone read (and) ran through me” said Jackson. “Absolutely, I'm ready. I’ll never sleep on a quarterback again after him and (Blake) Bell from Oklahoma a few years ago. I learned my lesson with thinking a quarterback isn’t going to hit you in the mouth.”
------------------------------------------------------------
Although the secondary bent a few times against Iowa State, they we’re able to stay together with a few crucial stops on third down situations. Sophomore cornerback Tevin Madison had the first of three interceptions in the game. He spoke about how locked in he was, and how excited the defensive backs were to close the show in that way.
“Really, I was going through my progressions as a defensive player. Coach Gibbs did a great job preparing me for that game. I could just hear him as i was playing. Sprint out, go look up one, I'd do that. Really just taking that and applying it to the film room, practice field and game field” said Madison. “I actually think we just wanted to keep putting it on them. We didn't want to stop. Everybody was out there, and we all wanted to get picks. Once we saw one guy get a pick, two guys get pick, we were like we call have to get a pick.”
This week, Texas Tech will head up to Lawrence, Kansas to take on the Jayhawks. Most of the college football world believes that Kansas is the laughing stock of the BIG 12. The Vegas sports book has Tech as an overwhelming favorite. Many analyst also believe that this one won't be close. Kingsbury spoke about the opportunity to play Davis Webb, and keeping his team focused despite their struggles.
"The old coaching adage, if you don't think it's a big game, lose it and see how it goes. That’s how we’re approaching it. We know every game from here on out on our schedule is huge and we’re going to take advantage of it” said Kingsbury. “If the game were to go that way, we played all four last week and we’d love to do that again, but we’re going to play to win the game and do what we have to do to win the game.”
Kingsbury also gave us the unfortunate news that Justin Murphy will be out for the remainder of the season. He’s currently rehabbing and will have surgery in the near future.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Senior defensive end Branden Jackson had a great game against Iowa State last weekend. In fact, for much of the game, the offensive tackle struggled to contain him in one on one situations. This week, he said he’s seen some great things for on film from the quarterbacks at Kansas. In the past he’s underestimated opposing quarterback’s strengths, so he’s geared up to play against the Jayhawks’ two quarterback system.
“He (Montell Cozart) definitely slows you down, you know? He’s a running back who can throw the ball, kind of. He’s a great talent and we have to be aware when he’s in the game, and coming off the field. Knowing who’s at quarterback and the possibilities are different depending on who’s behind there. I feel like they run the same offense with every quarterback, it’s just a little faster when they’ve got the other guy back there” said Jackson.
Jackson reminisced on his past trips to Kansas, and his battles with different BIG 12 quarterbacks.
“I remember overtime, I think it was a pick by Cqulin Hubert on year, and I remember getting ran over another year. I can’t remember who the quarterback was, but he kind of got me on the zone read (and) ran through me” said Jackson. “Absolutely, I'm ready. I’ll never sleep on a quarterback again after him and (Blake) Bell from Oklahoma a few years ago. I learned my lesson with thinking a quarterback isn’t going to hit you in the mouth.”
------------------------------------------------------------
Although the secondary bent a few times against Iowa State, they we’re able to stay together with a few crucial stops on third down situations. Sophomore cornerback Tevin Madison had the first of three interceptions in the game. He spoke about how locked in he was, and how excited the defensive backs were to close the show in that way.
“Really, I was going through my progressions as a defensive player. Coach Gibbs did a great job preparing me for that game. I could just hear him as i was playing. Sprint out, go look up one, I'd do that. Really just taking that and applying it to the film room, practice field and game field” said Madison. “I actually think we just wanted to keep putting it on them. We didn't want to stop. Everybody was out there, and we all wanted to get picks. Once we saw one guy get a pick, two guys get pick, we were like we call have to get a pick.”
