Top Three Takes: Coach Klein’s Bye Week Presser

• The group is averaging 5.2 yards per carry. 

• The Wildcats are the only team in the nation that has not allowed a sack. 

• They are ninth in the country in runs over 10 yards per game. 

What was interesting about this portion of the press conference was the conviction that Klein showed when defending his front line. He said that while there is room to improve, he believes he has a good group and takes pride in the guys he has.  

Bye Week Schedule 

Klein believes that it is extremely important to keep the “motors” running over the course of this week. The schedule will not change much. The pads will come on, and continuity and chemistry will keep building. But one change for the Wildcats will be managing the workload of players who have already banked a lot of reps so far this season. 

Klein stated that he wants to “take advantage of the time.” Meaning, he does not want to waste a day and wants every rep to count heading into the meat and potatoes of the Big 12 schedule. 

The Focus on “Fixable” Mistakes 

Throughout the presser, Klein repeatedly said mistakes are fixable. These mistakes and problems include: 

• The defense stopping explosive run plays 

• Defensive eye discipline 

• Run-gap integrity 

• The offense finishing in the red zone 

• Pass-game timing and chemistry 

• Pass protection 

• Overall consistency 

Now, that list is long, but you have to admire a coach propping his guys up after a tough road loss. 

Final Thoughts

When I watched this press conference, I liked Klein’s mindset in pushing back against player criticism. Klein routinely had his players’ backs, and his focus on “fixable mistakes” sends a message that the metaphorical sky is not falling. If I were a K-State fan watching this presser, I would have a lot of confidence in the Wildcats getting back to work and bouncing back in their matchup against Houston on October 10 in Bill Snyder Family Stadium.