Kansas Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels talks to the media after leading his tea to a 34-23 win over the Illinois Fighting Illini.
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00:00 And literally the same thing happened, I had to throw it to LJ.
00:03 So I mean, maybe we'll get to the second part of that play sooner or later.
00:05 >> [LAUGH] >> I mean, you know Coach K by now,
00:09 obviously, real well, and he's not afraid to do anything right there.
00:12 >> Yeah. >> How much fun is it to have that,
00:14 especially first play of the game?
00:15 >> Yeah, absolutely.
00:16 I mean, if you guys looked later into that game, we also had a play where the old
00:20 line was set up as wide receivers and ended up shifting always to the left side
00:23 of the field.
00:24 And Devin Neal made a great play on a 25 yard run on that play as well.
00:27 So I mean, to be able to know that Coach K has all the amount of faith in the world
00:31 and us as the offense to be able to go out there and
00:33 execute everything we're doing throughout the week.
00:35 I feel like that just gives us the confidence to be able to go out there and
00:38 do that.
00:38 >> One more on that, we're not out there, so we're eye angles off.
00:41 Are you directly behind center or is Dirk splitting between you two?
00:47 >> Which one?
00:48 >> You and Bean, when you're both taking that first snap.
00:50 >> I'm right behind center.
00:52 Well, depending on the play, on that play, yes, I am behind center.
00:56 >> Okay, yes, so Jim, the coaches talked a lot about physicality and
00:59 you guys did too as well, wanting to improve that.
01:02 How do you feel you guys did in that regard today?
01:04 >> Absolutely, I mean, I feel like we went out there as a whole entire team and
01:07 played our game of football.
01:08 For everything that we game planned this week,
01:11 I feel like we went out there and executed it to a T.
01:13 >> Yeah, one of the escape play, the one in the end zone,
01:16 you came out and you took us through what you saw there.
01:20 And just how you found that you're running left on that play.
01:24 >> Yeah, honestly, I had to look back at the film and see what coverage they were in.
01:27 I don't remember off the top of my head, but I knew-
01:29 >> One defender was right under his-
01:31 >> Yes, so I'm looking to the left side of
01:32 the field and I just felt somebody running up to me on the right side of me.
01:36 So I ended up just making a step back and he ended up missing.
01:40 I was able to move his arm away with my left hand and
01:42 I just seen a hole right in between him and my blocker.
01:45 So I decided to go through that hole and
01:47 I seen LJ waving his hand down the field and he made the play.
01:50 >> Can you feel what it does for the team when you make a play,
01:53 extend a play like that and make a better backfield finish to it?
01:57 Can you feel the- >> Yeah, I mean,
01:59 that's a third down play.
02:00 So if we don't convert that play right there, the defense is back in the field.
02:04 So I feel like when it comes to being able to make those plays,
02:07 I feel like we have to be able to make sure that our defense is getting rest, but
02:10 also so we go down the field and score.
02:12 >> You guys had a lot of success on third down.
02:14 Was there anything in particular that was working, do you think?
02:17 >> I mean, if you look in the past years of our offense becomes chaos,
02:19 it's been a huge stress.
02:20 I mean, I feel like when we have multiple days where we have a red zone day,
02:25 we have a third down play, we have shots down the distance.
02:28 So we worked hard on our third down plays this week, let's say that.
02:34 >> You guys were able to grind the clock pretty effectively and
02:36 part of that was the defense getting off the field with those sacks and turnovers.
02:39 Just how much does that support mean to you guys?
02:41 >> I mean, those guys, I've seen them work the whole entire offseason.
02:45 I mean, they were working their butts off and
02:47 to be able to see them go out there and make those plays that they've been
02:51 practicing, it's exciting because you don't really know what the future holds for
02:55 KU football.
02:56 >> Does it feel to be 2-0 this year after you were 2-0 last year?
03:00 I mean, do you now feel a certain sense of you're established and
03:04 the foundation's here for more?
03:06 I mean, it's not like it's getting old, right?
03:09 But I mean, last year was a novel time.
03:11 >> I mean, honestly, last year they said that we played nobody in those first
03:14 games that we didn't win.
03:15 Illinois is a great opponent, they're a big team and
03:19 last year they were top ten as a scoring weakness.
03:21 So I feel like as long as we go out there and play our game,
03:25 then I feel like we're gonna be able to beat anybody.
03:27 >> Gio, if you guys as a team,
03:29 how does this collective performance help your confidence as you go through the season?
03:33 >> Yeah, I mean, you can't drink the Kool-Aid.
03:35 Honestly, you can't drink the Kool-Aid.
03:38 We're 2-0, but at the end of the day, our mind is 0-0.
03:41 We're going into Nevada week with a chip on our shoulder and
03:44 we know that we have to go out there and execute our game plan in order to come out
03:47 with a win.
03:47 >> Lance said you talked about the significance of all the eyes on you
03:51 tonight, ESPN, not everybody's playing.
03:54 What did that mean to this team?
03:56 >> Honestly, it means a lot for us.
03:58 I mean, if you would have looked back at us a few years ago,
04:02 we wanted that type of attention and notoriety.
04:04 And the fact that we got that notoriety now and went out there and
04:08 executed and did the win, it means a lot for us and for the future of our program.
04:13 >> Coming into the year, Jalen, Illinois defensive line had a lot of talent.
04:17 A lot of people were expecting a lot of things from them.
04:20 Performance from your guys' offensive line tonight,
04:21 how big was that for them to have the kind of night that they did?
04:24 >> I have so much faith in that front five.
04:27 Even if I mess up a call, I know Dirk is gonna be able to make the right call for
04:31 me and make sure that we're in the right position at the right time.
04:34 Those five guys up there are tight together.
04:36 And it doesn't really matter what we do as long as we're all on the same page.
04:40 And I feel like when we abide by that, our offensive line is tremendous.
04:44 >> Jalen, can you walk me through what you feel coming into a game like this?
04:48 You know, you're not a two person at home.
04:51 >> Yeah, I mean, like I said earlier, it's the game of football.
04:54 I went out there and played my game and really just left everything in God's hands.
04:58 And all the preparation that we put into this game this week,
05:02 we were able to execute it.
05:03 >> Jalen, can you talk a little bit about your defense today, their performance?
05:08 I think your wife will at least hear it out there.
05:09 >> Man, our defense play lights out today.
05:11 I don't even remember, did they even score in the first half?
05:15 I don't remember, honestly.
05:16 Our defense was all over the field today.
05:18 I mean, from the box, those seven in the box, to those DBs out there flying around.
05:24 I feel like we were able to fly around and
05:26 made a lot of plays on the defensive side of the ball.
05:28 And absolutely, to answer your question, it does make our job as an offense quite easy.
05:32 >> Jalen, do you still feel a certain sense of excitement?
05:34 Obviously, you feel great about what the program is.
05:36 But to be part of this change in the program, does that still drive you to feel-
05:41 >> I mean, honestly, this game too.
05:44 You're guaranteed 12 games.
05:45 And that 13th game is that bowl game, and
05:48 that's something that we're working towards as well.
05:49 So there's always gonna be excitement because at the end of the day,
05:53 we're 2-0 right now, but we were 2-0 last year.
05:55 We made it 5-0 last year.
05:57 But we wanna be able to surpass what we did last year, so
05:58 we can't have the same mentality that we did last year.
06:01 >> And you're already obviously pretty proud of the arc you've been on.
06:04 But are you conscious that sometimes from where this came to where you guys are today,
06:08 even though you're looking to the future?
06:10 >> Yeah, absolutely, but at the end of the day,
06:12 we have to keep on elevating the standard.
06:13 If we wanna be able to do what we did last year,
06:15 we would go in with the same standard we had last year.
06:18 So I feel like this year, we've been able to elevate that, and
06:21 I feel like it's showing on the field.
06:23 >> Jalen, going into halftime, how'd you feel?
06:26 You had 189 yards and two touchdowns.
06:28 Just walk me through how you were feeling, just played your first half of the season.
06:31 >> Yeah, it's 0-0 all over again when the second half is.
06:34 No matter what the scoreboard is, we could be down 50 or up 50.
06:36 I feel like I'm gonna go out there with the same mentality,
06:38 be able to move the ball, and be able to put points on the board.
06:40 >> Awesome.
06:41 >> What was that thought process, 41 seconds left, two timeouts?
06:44 Was it always, we're gonna go for the score here?
06:46 >> Honestly, no.
06:49 I feel like the first play that we ran was a play to be able to get out of bounds.
06:55 It didn't happen that way.
06:57 So when I did scramble and
06:59 ended up seeing Luke down the field, it kinda was, all right, let's go score.
07:04 It happened, so let's go do it.
07:06 >> You brought back the Apple Watch chain,
07:08 just explain the message on that tonight.
07:10 >> Yeah, it says on my Apple Watch, it says play for your brothers.
07:13 And I feel like that just is self-explanatory.
07:16 We have to play for one another, cuz at the end of the day,
07:19 we're the players out there on the field playing the game.
07:22 We have to be able to be a player-led program.
07:24 We can't rely on the coaches, cuz at the end of the day, they're calling the plays,
07:27 but we're on the field making the plays.
07:29 So we have to be able to communicate with each other.
07:31 And no matter what's going on, as long as we're on the same page,
07:34 I feel like we're gonna be a nice team.
07:35 >> Jalen, one other thing on that pass to Luke, sorry I'm kinda fixated on it.
07:38 But you got a guy in your grill pretty good as you let go of the ball.
07:42 When that happens, I mean, how much do you even feel this guy coming, or
07:46 you're just- >> I felt him.
07:48 I felt him.
07:49 I mean, there was a few times where we don't really know what's gonna happen.
07:53 So I threw the ball and I just braced for the hit.
07:55 And great defender, I feel like when you talk good to defenders,
07:58 like make a good play and all of that, I feel like they won't try to hurt you.
08:02 So- >> Take it out of Patrick Mahomes' playbook.
08:05 >> Literally, literally, I mean- >> You see him say that in quarterback?
08:07 >> Yeah, I see him say that in quarterback, and he's right.
08:10 I feel like you give those guys compliments and
08:12 tell them that they're making great plays, and they won't try to hurt you.
08:15 And that play, he let up, he didn't, cuz he could have killed me.
08:19 He could have.
08:20 And he just shut up and let it happen.
08:22 >> So earlier you had told him good play a couple times, and
08:24 when he played that play he let up?
08:25 >> That whole D line, I mean, they were all over the field.
08:29 I had to make those guys miss.
08:30 And that's something that their job is to be able to put pressure on
08:33 the quarterback.
08:34 So you have to give those guys compliments, too.
08:37 >> With tonight being your first action, how big is it to have a guy like Jason Bean,
08:41 who's able to perform so well in that first game, but then be able to come and
08:45 let you jump in and kinda take over the reins and beat you?
08:48 >> He's a tremendous athlete.
08:49 He's able to make plays all over the field, no matter where you put him.
08:51 He's a team player.
08:52 At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what Bean is going through internally.
08:56 I feel like he's the guy who's able to go into the program and
08:58 be able to uplift everybody.
09:00 No matter what's going on in his head, he knows how to be able to be himself.
09:06 And when it comes to him playing the game, we've seen what he did last week.
09:12 So it's not like he's somebody who can't make plays.
09:14 He's able to make plays with the ball in his hands.
09:17 >> Thanks, Joe.