By Kevin Lonnquist
Publisher
Each week, the Big 12 coaches meet with the media on Monday of game week via the Big 12 coaches call or Monday press conference to discuss the week that was and the upcoming week. Baylor Head Coach Matt Rhule's comments were posted earlier. Rankings are from the AP and Coaches polls.
David Beaty, Kansas - The Jayhawks (1-3, 0-1) play host to Texas Tech on Saturday: There's no question the KU offense is far better than where it started under Beaty in 2015. To this point, the offense has the big-play ability in it. KU has already scored four touchdowns on plays that covered at least 33 yards. In 2016, Kansas needed all 12 games just to do that.
Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma - The No. 3/3 Sooners (4-0, 1-0) play host to Iowa State on Saturday: OU's already think linebacker corps took a hit when Riley announced Curtis Bolton will require season-ending ankle surgery. Bolton was used in many blitz packages and could supply help to the gaps. Defensive tackle Amani Bledsoe, who missed all of 2016 because he failed a PED test, will return to the lineup this week, Riley announced.
Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State - The No. 14/15 Cowboys (4-1, 1-1) have a bye Saturday: Sophomore PK Matt Ammendola, who missed easy 22- and 18-yard field goal attempts in Saturday's 41-34 win at Texas Tech will remain as the No. 1 kicker, Gundy said. “We’re not going to change anything,” Gundy said. “Matt’s the best guy. We’re going to put him out there and hopefully he’ll make them.” Ammendola was the Big 12 special team's player of the week after the win at South Alabama.
Bill Snyder, Kansas State - The Wildcats (3-1, 1-0) play at Texas Saturday: Following their hard fought win over Baylor, KSU travels to Austin to play Texas. Snyder noted on Texas' defense: "They have made a dramatic amount of improvement. Very physical. And they've got great range to them, up front and in the secondary. Those linebackers are world-class sprinters. The talent is there. It's just (them) getting acclimated to the system.
Dana Holgorsen, West Virginia - The No. 23 Mountaineers (3-1, 1-0) play at TCU Saturday: Holgorsen is seeing on film what TCU's four previous opponents have seen live: Horned Frogs quarterback Kenny Hill is a different player. "He’s been taking care of the ball better,” Holgorsen said of Hill. “They’re running the ball a good bit. They’re not asking him to sit back there and throw the ball 90 percent of the time. He’s got a lot of good people around him, but he is managing it extremely well.”
Kliff Kingsbury, Texas Tech - The Red Raiders (3-1, 0-1) play at Kansas Saturday: Wide receiver Keke Coutee left the 41-34 loss to Oklahoma State with left leg injury. His status for the game in Lawrence, KS is unknown. He was already having a tough game as he was held to just three receptions for 56 yards.
Matt Campbell, Iowa State - The Cyclones (2-2, 0-1) play at Oklahoma Saturday: While it will get a test in Norman, the defensive line has been a pleasant surprise to this point of the season. ISU ranks third in the Big 12 in rushing defense at 115.5 yards per game and is tied for the conference lead with 11 sacks. The push is coming from redshirt freshman nose guard Ray Lima, defensive tackle Vernell Trent, sophomore defensive linemen JaQuan Bailey and redshirt freshman defensive end Enyi Uwazurike.
Gary Patterson, TCU - The No. 8/10 Horned Frogs (4-0, 1-0) play host to West Virginia Saturday: Winning third down may be the key moment to Saturday's game at Amon Carter Stadium. TCU leads the Big 12 in third-down conversion efficiency at 63 percent. Conversely, the Mountaineers are allowing opponents to convert third down at a rate of 31.7 percent....ESPN's College GameDay is coming to Fort Worth Saturday.
Tom Herman, Texas - The Longhorns (2-2, 1-0) play host to Kansas State Saturday: Texas' offensive struggles point to its inability to run the football. In the last two games against Iowa State and USC, the Longhorns have averaged 2.7 and 1.9 yards per carry respectively. Texas is in the middle of the pack of the conference at 178.3 yards per game.“Human nature is to say we’ve got really good receivers and really good quarterbacks, maybe we should throw it 70 percent of the time. There is a bit of merit to that,” Herman said. “But if we want to win and win championships, we’ve got to find a way to run the football.”
Publisher
Each week, the Big 12 coaches meet with the media on Monday of game week via the Big 12 coaches call or Monday press conference to discuss the week that was and the upcoming week. Baylor Head Coach Matt Rhule's comments were posted earlier. Rankings are from the AP and Coaches polls.
David Beaty, Kansas - The Jayhawks (1-3, 0-1) play host to Texas Tech on Saturday: There's no question the KU offense is far better than where it started under Beaty in 2015. To this point, the offense has the big-play ability in it. KU has already scored four touchdowns on plays that covered at least 33 yards. In 2016, Kansas needed all 12 games just to do that.
Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma - The No. 3/3 Sooners (4-0, 1-0) play host to Iowa State on Saturday: OU's already think linebacker corps took a hit when Riley announced Curtis Bolton will require season-ending ankle surgery. Bolton was used in many blitz packages and could supply help to the gaps. Defensive tackle Amani Bledsoe, who missed all of 2016 because he failed a PED test, will return to the lineup this week, Riley announced.
Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State - The No. 14/15 Cowboys (4-1, 1-1) have a bye Saturday: Sophomore PK Matt Ammendola, who missed easy 22- and 18-yard field goal attempts in Saturday's 41-34 win at Texas Tech will remain as the No. 1 kicker, Gundy said. “We’re not going to change anything,” Gundy said. “Matt’s the best guy. We’re going to put him out there and hopefully he’ll make them.” Ammendola was the Big 12 special team's player of the week after the win at South Alabama.
Bill Snyder, Kansas State - The Wildcats (3-1, 1-0) play at Texas Saturday: Following their hard fought win over Baylor, KSU travels to Austin to play Texas. Snyder noted on Texas' defense: "They have made a dramatic amount of improvement. Very physical. And they've got great range to them, up front and in the secondary. Those linebackers are world-class sprinters. The talent is there. It's just (them) getting acclimated to the system.
Dana Holgorsen, West Virginia - The No. 23 Mountaineers (3-1, 1-0) play at TCU Saturday: Holgorsen is seeing on film what TCU's four previous opponents have seen live: Horned Frogs quarterback Kenny Hill is a different player. "He’s been taking care of the ball better,” Holgorsen said of Hill. “They’re running the ball a good bit. They’re not asking him to sit back there and throw the ball 90 percent of the time. He’s got a lot of good people around him, but he is managing it extremely well.”
Kliff Kingsbury, Texas Tech - The Red Raiders (3-1, 0-1) play at Kansas Saturday: Wide receiver Keke Coutee left the 41-34 loss to Oklahoma State with left leg injury. His status for the game in Lawrence, KS is unknown. He was already having a tough game as he was held to just three receptions for 56 yards.
Matt Campbell, Iowa State - The Cyclones (2-2, 0-1) play at Oklahoma Saturday: While it will get a test in Norman, the defensive line has been a pleasant surprise to this point of the season. ISU ranks third in the Big 12 in rushing defense at 115.5 yards per game and is tied for the conference lead with 11 sacks. The push is coming from redshirt freshman nose guard Ray Lima, defensive tackle Vernell Trent, sophomore defensive linemen JaQuan Bailey and redshirt freshman defensive end Enyi Uwazurike.
Gary Patterson, TCU - The No. 8/10 Horned Frogs (4-0, 1-0) play host to West Virginia Saturday: Winning third down may be the key moment to Saturday's game at Amon Carter Stadium. TCU leads the Big 12 in third-down conversion efficiency at 63 percent. Conversely, the Mountaineers are allowing opponents to convert third down at a rate of 31.7 percent....ESPN's College GameDay is coming to Fort Worth Saturday.
Tom Herman, Texas - The Longhorns (2-2, 1-0) play host to Kansas State Saturday: Texas' offensive struggles point to its inability to run the football. In the last two games against Iowa State and USC, the Longhorns have averaged 2.7 and 1.9 yards per carry respectively. Texas is in the middle of the pack of the conference at 178.3 yards per game.“Human nature is to say we’ve got really good receivers and really good quarterbacks, maybe we should throw it 70 percent of the time. There is a bit of merit to that,” Herman said. “But if we want to win and win championships, we’ve got to find a way to run the football.”
