We've reached the bye week and the end of non-conference play, so the Red Raiders will take some time to get back to the basics before getting ready to take on Kansas at home a week from Thursday. Head coach Kliff Kingsbury spoke with the media on Tuesday night to discuss how things are going so far this week...

-Kingsbury on how his team has handled the bye week so far: "Good, but we know we have a long way to go. So, we've decided to work as a staff, as a team, to get better. I think the bye fell at a great time I think, right before conference. Last year it was right at the end of the season. So, we can get healthy, can work on the little things and fundamentals to be the best team we can when we open up conference play."

-Without a doubt, Kliff said the thing you worry about the most as a coach is that your players will make bad decisions with so much more free time during the bye week. However, they've set up a schedule to try and limit that: "Idle time is kind of the thing that worries coaches the most, so we'll give them tomorrow off, let them focus on school and taking care of their bodies, come back Thursday and have a good practice, have Friday off, and we'll go recruit on Friday. It's a good schedule for them to get refreshed but still keep us in line."

-With the Kansas game a week from Thursday, the team will roll back their regular game week schedule to begin this Saturday instead of next Monday: "We'll probably practice in the morning so we can get out and go see some high school games that afternoon and evening, and that'll be like a Monday, Sunday will be like a Tuesday, and then we'll just roll like that through the week."

-As Kingsbury noted, this is also the most time during the season when the coaching staff will get to go out recruiting. The coaches will head out to see prospects this week, and they'll go watch games on Friday night and Saturday. Kliff on recruiting this week: "It's huge. Anytime you get a time like this to go out and see your players, see high schools, talk to coaches, you have to take advantage of it."

-I asked Kliff if he thought having a bye this early would give both the freshmen and some of the less experienced players time to really take a leap forward if they handle it well. His thoughts: "I think the pressure's not on, and we can slow things down a little bit and get back to some things as far as fundamentals, techniques. They can get up here with their coaches and have more one-on-one time, so that's what we've been using this week as, and hopefully those guys will feel more comfortable going into the Kansas game."

-Kliff's thoughts on if the offensive line handled the sudden shuffle in the La Tech game when Terence Steele went out with injury: "I think so. There was no worry, and nobody blinked. We kept moving the ball no matter who was in there, and that was encouraging. We'll have to get better as the competition gets a little bit stiffer in conference, but I thought all those guys slid right in there and attacked the opportunity."

-Kingsbury on Paul Stawarz's play at right guard in the contest after coming in due to the Steele injury: "I liked his energy, liked the look in his eye. He was having fun, talkative, into it with communicating, so that was positive. I didn't know how he would react getting thrust in there. I thought mentally he handled it well. Physically there were some things we've got to clean up."

-Kliff noted that left tackle Terence Steele is currently still day-to-day, is doing some running in the pool and things, but no timeline yet.

-No change with cornerback Paul Banks and his status as of yet. Kingsbury hopes it will be in the next couple of games they hope to have him back.

-Kliff was asked about his defense and what he wants to see them really focus on and work on with the bye week: "I think we've just got to be consistent throughout the game. There are times that I thought they played really well and dominated. We got out to a 35-10 lead, and you can't let that touchdown late in the half, and you can't let them open up with one, with two touchdown drives that took, I don't know, maybe a combined 30 seconds. So, consistency is the thing. You can't have high highs and low lows."

-Kingsbury went in to further detail on what he wants from his defensive players: "I'd like to see them just have that mindset from snap one to snap 30 or however many reps they get. Consistent play. Don't let anything easy out. Don't give up anything easy."

-The head coach on the heart of this team and how they feel right now heading into conference play: "Really good. Really good. I think they feel like we haven't played our best game. We went out to Arizona State on the road, didn't play very well, came home, played great for almost a half, and then just kind of messed around in the second half. But, we haven't put a complete game together, so that's encouraging."

-Kliff shared his thoughts on how linebacker D'Vonta Hinton played against La Tech, noting that they want him to take on a the role of leader more in the position group: "He's just got to keep coming. He's got to be a solid player for us. He's an experienced linebacker, and as those young freshmen grow up, he has to be the guy, and hopefully he can embrace that."

-Many have wondered if true freshman receiver T.J. Vasher will earn a bigger role in the near future on offense. According to his head coach, he's got to grow up: "We'll see. He's got to grow up off the field. His approach isn't where it needs to be or anywhere close. Physically, he's very gifted, but he's got to grow up," he said. "He's just got to mature."

-Kliff said he believes that the true freshmen that haven't played yet will all likely redshirt at this point. They're trying to redshirt some of the players on the D-line and O-line especially.

-Kingsbury was also asked about burning true freshman running back Da'Leon Ward's redshirt, which has happened since he's been playing on special teams. The head coach feels the RB is very valuable on special teams, and they're hoping to add some carries in with that as the season moves along.

-On if running back Corey Dauphine has been taking steps forward to earn more playing time: "We'll see. Those other three are playing at a high level. We'd like to use him at times because he is so dynamic with the football in his hands, but he's still got to be able to protect when number five (Mahomes) is back there."