Kansas Jayhawks Head Coach Lance Leipold speaks with the media after his team holds on to defeat the Iowa State Cyclones.
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00:00 a couple positions that we hadn't been all year and some guys had to step up and play.
00:06 And there's not that oh no type of thing.
00:08 There's a different look in their eye that, hey, we can keep battling.
00:13 And that's part of the growth and maturity because a lot of these guys are
00:18 the same guys that were here and they've been through it now.
00:21 And the strength and experience and confidence in some ways,
00:25 we're able to do those things.
00:27 >> You mentioned the choice to go for the deep shot right after Iowa State's
00:29 quarterfinals.
00:30 What went into that in the morning?
00:32 >> Well, we figured that deep shot in this area is gonna be play action,
00:37 and we're gonna take one.
00:38 But yeah, cuz we figured that if we're gonna run the ball,
00:43 try to run to the line, do some things and just stay aggressive.
00:47 And our mentality was gonna be important because we're gonna need to know
00:51 whether we tried to rush for a hundred today, did we?
00:54 No, so I mean, it was tough.
00:56 And to think you're gonna run the ball enough to run the clock out wasn't
00:59 gonna happen, so yeah.
01:02 >> I also wanted to ask about the play that sealed the game going to Jared there.
01:06 He's made good chemistry over the years.
01:08 What goes into your choice in this play right now?
01:10 >> Well, it was just put in as a don't play that was gonna happen,
01:14 that we're gonna sell run.
01:16 And there was a couple choices there, but it wasn't like, hey,
01:21 let's get the ball to Jared, let's call it a play.
01:23 It's gonna be a how frustrating for Jason overall.
01:27 >> I haven't even looked at his numbers, but he took a low shot and
01:31 he said, the numbers are gonna jump on at you.
01:34 But again, he's so much different as far as his demeanor on the sideline and
01:40 things were coming, he's anxious to get back out there and
01:44 attack the situation, so.
01:46 >> How worried were you when you went down on the ground?
01:50 >> Pretty worried.
01:53 [LAUGH] I mean, we got a true freshman that's played like,
01:57 I don't know, what, five snaps against Missouri State on the road to
02:03 the Big 12 Coast game, and hadn't played in two months.
02:07 But again, Cole gets in there even for one play, he doesn't play.
02:12 He's got some things and stuff.
02:15 But again, to put him in there, again, just like we always talk about,
02:19 he's just the reps you're gonna have.
02:20 But yeah, he bounced back though, we're able to have him in there and
02:25 obviously, again, rarely win for this program.
02:29 >> So you mentioned it was kind of tough running the ball, but
02:31 what can you say about Daniel's performance?
02:33 I mean, he won over 100 yards in the football, and
02:35 then today he had two rushing touchdowns.
02:37 >> Yeah, I mean, again, his physicality, I thought Daniel Hyshaw ran well.
02:41 He was running, when Daniel's carrying people and making people miss.
02:47 Again, this Iowa State defense has been good ever since Matt got here almost,
02:53 and they're tough, they're one of the top defenses in the league.
02:56 It's a defense that we struggled with in all three years, so credit to them.
03:00 When you're running the ball, we run a lot laterally, and
03:04 things we think are great movement, and they're coming downhill and
03:08 making things happen.
03:09 So, but again, Devon stayed patient and made some key runs when we needed to.
03:15 And the nice thing too also, guys, is to watch this,
03:22 when guys don't have the numbers maybe that they're used to,
03:25 that they're excited for what's happening around them.
03:28 And that's another great sign of a strong football program.
03:32 >> Mello, again, yeah, I mean, yeah, I know you can't expect that every week, but
03:36 let's talk a little, actually, what's going so well with him?
03:40 >> Well, again, I think he saw, I mean, the ball was behind him,
03:43 but again, Mello's, he's got quiet confidence.
03:49 I mean, he and Kobe are,
03:52 both have played tough football, both very confident, both very good players.
03:58 They just have a little different approach in outward energy.
04:05 But Mello has been really ready and confident, unfortunately got hurt, and
04:10 hopefully we'll get him back.
04:12 >> Do you know his status at all?
04:14 >> Not right now.
04:15 >> Okay.
04:15 >> What do you think of the success of the running defense this week after?
04:18 >> Well, again, there's something that, I think there's some confidence there,
04:23 a little more movement, found some things that we were able to do.
04:26 I think our ends continue to play well.
04:29 So until I really look at what was really stepping up, but
04:35 I did think we had some guys that outside, I thought Craig Young showed up tonight.
04:41 Probably the most he has in a while, but I can remember just off the top,
04:45 see him make some plays.
04:47 I thought we had some chances also for some sacks in the first half that we kind
04:51 of, Iraq was some credit cuz he's elusive, but we had some free hits.
04:57 There's things here that we could have maybe have some more effective plays.
05:02 >> We heard you had an update to share on the team in Daniels and
05:05 everything you've talked about.
05:06 >> Same thing, man.
05:07 >> We heard you might have an update to share about the team.
05:09 >> I don't, yeah, you gave it to everybody.
05:12 >> Okay.
05:13 >> He didn't travel today.
05:14 >> Okay, I didn't know if there was more.
05:16 >> No, there's nothing, yeah, it's just we made a decision that he didn't practice
05:21 during the week and it's best that we just give him a chance.
05:24 You see, this is a bus trip for us and all those things and where he's at.
05:29 Through the advice of our medical people, that is in the best interest of him.
05:36 But again, he stays positive and we're awfully optimistic.
05:42 But that, so I can answer the question, he's not red shirted and
05:46 everything else that may be out there, but yeah, that's what we're gonna get for
05:51 you today.
05:52 >> How impressed, just overall, with your defense, especially first half tonight?
05:55 >> Yeah, I thought it certainly, man, first half, I thought we played really well.
05:59 But as we say, we talked about this one's gonna be one of those that's gonna run
06:02 out in the very end.
06:04 >> And yeah, it was, was that, was that, I mean, it seemed like,
06:09 you guys do this, I know you have guys who flies to the ball, but
06:13 it seemed like more than three, four tonight, it was five, six, seven guys.
06:19 >> Honestly, we probably needed to be better at that earlier.
06:23 We've talked a lot, we've talked about certain teams and certain games and
06:29 play on grass, no, this is just facts, okay?
06:34 But you saw guys slip there, guys in the wide open,
06:38 Tanaka Scott slipped at that.
06:40 Well, one of the things we talked about is we couldn't take anything for
06:43 granted about making sure guys gonna make a play or not.
06:46 We better be flying around the ball, making sure we got more people around it.
06:50 I think in the last couple of weeks, we've taken some strides in doing that,
06:53 and hopefully it's something that we make it the norm.
07:01 >> Anything else, coach?
07:02 >> So what does a win like this do for your team, I mean, for a major,
07:05 November, still a lot of football to be played, but-
07:07 >> Well, I don't know all the ins and
07:09 outs, right now our focus is gonna quickly turn to Texas Tech, but
07:13 I don't know where it's at with everybody, but
07:18 I know a lot of other people are in the top part.
07:21 As I said last weekend, that after the big win, and
07:27 I'm at home and they're showing the big 12 standings, and
07:30 here we're thinking that we're doing really well and stuff.
07:32 And they show five teams that are all four and one, and we're not even listed yet.
07:36 So to come into a place where a ranked football team would be an underdog,
07:41 again, shows that we've gotta keep chipping away.
07:43 We've got a lot of work to do yet, and I don't know,
07:47 we've got a chance here to play the last three games.
07:51 We're in the fourth quarter of the season, starting on Monday, so
07:55 we've got a chance to do some good things.
07:58 It's, I don't know, it's one day at a time, one week at a time in our program.
08:04 And I guess I can wrap it up with this,
08:06 is that's the same approach when we were here two years ago.
08:12 And having it handed to us, okay?
08:15 We gotta go back to work one day at a time and keep getting better.
08:18 And if we change the formula based on wins and
08:21 losses, that's a very bad message for a football team and a bunch of players.
08:25 So we're gonna stay the same way, we're gonna walk in,
08:28 we're gonna address what needs to be improved.
08:30 We're gonna find a way to get healthier, and
08:32 we're gonna find a way to get better before we play Texas Tech.
08:35 All right, thanks everyone.