Cliff’s Notes: Turner Gill press conference, 10/11/10

Here is the Cliff’s Notes version of Kansas football coach Turner Gill’s comments at his weekly press conference today.

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The only change in the depth chart is that Duane Zlatnik is listed as the starter at right guard above Trevor Marrongelli, who is out for the season with a knee injury.

Full audio has been posted.
The positive thing about the last week was that the guys had more time to practice with a first-year coaching staff.

Gill’s keys to the game: 1. KU must create turnovers (Gill says three or more); 2. KU needs to have 10 missed tackles or less; 3. Offensively, KU needs to score 28 points, have one turnover or less and have 80 knockdowns (on blocks). 4. Special teams must play physical and with confidence

Safety Keeston Terry and quarterback Kale Pick are questionable. Tight end A.J. Steward and defensive lineman Tyrone Sellers will play against Kansas State.

Safety Phillip Strozier is out for the Kansas State game.

KU right guard Trevor Marrongelli is out for season with a knee injury. He will have surgery.

Josh Richardson has moved from linebacker to defensive end and he could play this week.

Red-shirt freshman Riley Spencer would be the first offensive lineman off the bench to play if needed for any reason.

• Gill and running back James Sims talked about where he was comfortable, and the RB said he wasn’t comfortable in interview settings. Gill told him that next year, he could get more involved in that aspect. Sims will not be available for interviews for the rest of this season.

Gill thinks Jordan Webb’s progression at quarterback has gone well. Baylor was a setback. Gill wants to see the QB take better care of the ball. Webb’s inconsistency is partly due to his inexperience.

Gill doesn’t know KSU coach Bill Snyder well, but he respects the job that the coach has done at Kansas State. He admires some of the things the coach has done. Gill is trying to learn from a lot of different coaches and add that to what he does with his program.

Gill believes his team might be more likely to stop a team that is run-oriented rather than pass-oriented. He believes his team is ahead in run defense as opposed to pass defense. But his team has to tackle well to play well against the run.

Gill says KSU’s quarterback doesn’t matter that much to KU. It’s not going to change KU’s scheme a whole lot. Gill doesn’t think that a different quarterback will change KSU’s offense drastically.