KU football coach Mark Mangino chatted with KUsports.com readers for 15 minutes Thursday afternoon. He answered questions about Colorado, Travis Watkins and a new local delicacy.

Glenn Porzelt: It appears that KU’s defense is making great strides in both reducing total yardage and, more importantly, reducing scoring. What do you attribute this improvement to?

Coach Mangino: We’ve just progressively gotten better through repetitions in practice and game experience. Our kids who are contributing feel more comfortable with the system and we’re developing that confidence you need to play good defense. Our thing is that we need to keep it going.

Washington DC: How is Travis Watkins doing? I noticed he was on crutches last week. Any chance he’ll be back for the Colorado game?

Coach Mangino: Travis is progressing very well. He will not be ready for Colorado, and we’re going to continue to monitor his progress and see if he is available for Baylor. Our medical staff has not informed me yet if he will be available for Baylor.

Jason Perez: What do you see as a bigger challenge as your prepare to play Colorado — KU’s offense’s ability to move the ball down the field against them, or the defense’s ability to stop Colorado’s normally run-oriented offense (which has struggled recently)?

Coach Mangino: We can’t depend on just one side of the ball playing well against Colorado. We have to play assignment-sound, fundamental football and continue to improve in that area. But we must also be able to move the ball and put points on the board. I think we have to be successful on both sides of the ball to be successful in Boulder.

dean: How will the team respond to the national attention that it has received this week?

Coach Mangino: Our players know that they must keep everything in prospective. We became 4-1 this season because we have focused on the task at hand each and every week and have prepared well for each and every opponent. We have to be careful about praise. Sometimes, it can be as harmful as criticism.

Dave: What do you think about Quinton’s naming a sandwich after you, and have you had one?

Coach Mangino: I think it’s funny, but you know you’ve arrived if they name a street after you. I haven’t had one.

David: Coach, does an off week like this one help you and your assistants with recruiting?

Coach Mangino: Sure it helps. We have developed a good portion of this week to recruiting. This week our focus is improving fundamentals, recruiting and some preparation for Colorado.

Kenny Short: Will the absence of Bobby Purify from Colorado’s lineup change the focus of the defense any or will they still key on the run?

Coach Mangino: We won’t change our game plan if Bobby Purify doesn’t play because they have other quality backs in their program, and we have to be a good run-stopping team no matter who plays. We have to be prepared no matter who’s in their backfield.

Kent Myers: Austine Nwabuisi made some incredible blocks leading the way for some big yards. Do you see his role as a ball carrier and receiver expanding down the road?

Coach Mangino: We plan to use our fullback position as much as we can within the system that we have. Our system only calls for a fullback a low percentage of times. But when the fullback is in the game, we expect that to be a very productive position for us, both in the pass and run game.

Colorado Jay: How impressed are you with the fan support? It has got to feel great to look up and see a sea of blue bleeding for the Hawks. The Colorado Jayhawks will be there in two weeks full throat hungry for another win. Rock Chalk and keep up the great work.

Coach Mangino: I’m very pleased with our fans. They’ve been great. The atmosphere Saturday was exciting. Our players enjoyed it, and our players are working hard because they want to keep our fans happy and don’t want to disappoint them. But we truly appreciate all of our fan support.

Moderator: We’d like to thank Coach Mangino for his time and our readers for their questions. Make sure to log on to KUsports.com at 1:30 p.m. Friday for our chat with linebacker Gabe Toomey.