Takeaways: Kingsbury addresses media after Monday practice

Head coach Kliff Kingsbury spoke with the media after practice today. Here are some quotes and takeaways from the media availability…

…After having a chance to digest and re-watch some film from the game on Saturday what were some of the biggest takeaways from Kingsbury?

“Just the let down at the end of the first half and at the end of the game. I think if you take away a few of those drives in the fourth quarter where we just blew coverage and then don’t let that one in at the end of the first half, I think everyone would feel better about it defensively, and offensively we should have scored there to end the first half.”

…Towards the end of the first half, Tech had first and goal from the 2-yard line, Kingsbury said he would have called a run play to end the half if he had a chance to do it over. He said he got a little antsy to get a call in and he should have called a run play and would have scored, too.

…Kingsbury was asked about the play of the true freshmen cornerbacks –Desmon Smith and Douglas Coleman. Smith and Coleman have gotten reps since Week 1, but have really seen their reps increase over the past few games. Coleman finished the game with 5 tackles and one sack while Smith finished with a tackle. Kingsbury has been really impressed with the progress they have made over the weeks.

“They have gotten better, a little shaky early. You can see they are playing more aggressive, playing with their instincts more, understanding our scheme, and what we are trying to accomplish and hopefully that continues into conference.”

…Kingsbury offered up some injury updates on Keenon Ward, Terence Steele, and DJ Polite-Bray. Ward is out a minimum of two weeks with a forearm injury (will have surgery soon), Steele is “day-to-day” according to Kingsbury, and Polite-Bray should be good to go versus Kansas.

…Texas Tech has a BYE week this Saturday and will face off in their conference home opener next Thursday. With a few extra days of preparation, how does Kingsbury want to utilize these next few days?

“Offensively, (we need to work on) penalties. We did a good job of overcoming a bunch of those second and 20s and first and 15s, but we can’t do that against better teams. Defensively, we need to work on getting more turnovers and finishing halves. If we finish that first half, again, it goes differently for us.”

…David Gibbs’ defenses are very focused on forcing turnovers. Texas Tech’s turnovers have been non-existent these past two games and Kingsbury gives Louisiana Tech and Arizona State a lot of credit for running a bunch of plays and not making any mistakes. Kingsbury said that turnovers usually come in bunches and hopes to get a streak going in these next few games.

…One of the more scarier sights on Saturday was the injury to starting left tackle Terence Steele. Kingsbury was pleased with how the three experienced offensive linemen stepped up and made plays in Steele’s absence.

“I thought Baylen (Brown) was steady. Being able to move Justin (Murphy) out to tackle, which he hasn’t repped much, was good. I thought he did solid there. And then Tony (Morales), I thought he made all the points and played fast. Those three veteran guys were solid.”

…After calling them out Week 1, Kingsbury has been very pleased with the way his receivers have been blocking up until this point.

“(They’ve been blocking) much better. Week one wasn’t very good, and then these past two weeks has been much better. We put an emphasis on it, and they are taking pride in playing for each other and that’s when you get really good.”

…One of the bigger story lines against Louisiana Tech last week was the emergence of running back Demarcus Felton who finished the game with 123 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 16 carries. Kingsbury said he was pleased with the trio of RBs he has and wouldn’t really say if Felton was the starter going forward.

“We will see. We are going to give him as many carries as it takes to win the game. If there are a bunch of runs that week, then he will get the carries, but if we have to throw it a bunch, he probably won’t (get the carries). I think between him, Justin (Stockton), and Q (White), that is a good trio of guys who bring a bunch of different things to our offense.”

…After running behind Devin Lauderdale at X-receiver these past two weeks, Derrick Willies busted into the starting lineup this week and caught three passes for 38 yards on five targets. Willies has been doing great in practice recently, but many assumed the start at X may have had something to do with Lauderdale being in the doghouse. Kingsbury said that was not the case.

“I wouldn’t say the doghouse. We just got to get him playing more consistently. He is going to have a major role on this team, it just wasn’t the other night.”

…Kingsbury has been pleased with the growth of Tony Morales recently. Said he played a good game on Saturday and is excited to get more good games stacked on top of each other for him.

…With the injury to Keenon Ward, some questions remain at the safety position. Sophomore Payton Hendrix is Ward’s immediate backup and should move into the starting role. However, Kingsbury has a multiple guys that he hopes to play while Ward is absent.

“Kevin (Moore) is going to play some, Kisean Allen will play some, and Christian Taylor will play some. We will try and put guys in position to be successful and all of those guys will see the field.”

In regards to Taylor, who made the move to linebacker in the fall, Kingsbury said he is kind of a “hybrid” right now according to Kingsbury. The redshirt freshman will have a lot on his plate as they are expecting him to know the gameplan and take snaps at safety while also being ready to go at linebacker if needed.