After a big 66-31 win over Iowa State, Texas Tech football head coach Kliff Kingsbury seemed happy with his team's consistent improvement.

"With the exception of the Baylor game, and that wasn't effort, it was just the penalties and those four turnovers... Other than that I feel like we've gotten better progressively," Kingsbury said.

The coach touched on the team's record-setting performance against Iowa State Saturday (Oct. 10) and how they can actually get even better.

"Anytime you watch the tape, there are a lot of yards left out there, a lot of mental mistakes that you can get better at," he said. "So we are still a work in progress offensively, playing all those young wide receivers. We'll just keep getting better. We've got to get better over the last six weeks, and trying to get bowl eligible and go from there."

Offensive Improvement

Ashley Wirz, 1340TheFan.com
Ashley Wirz, 1340TheFan.com
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Kingsbury also felt that his budding star at quarterback Patrick Mahomes has been improving steadily.

"He's getting better. He made some tremendous plays on Saturday where he just kind of made it all happen," said Kingsbury. One of the plays was an incredible play where he connected with Jakeem Grant for a touchdown after evading a sack.

"Watching him operate, everything's happening at the line of scrimmage faster. He made some great checks, and so now it's just continue to protect the football," Kingsbury said. According to the coach, Mahomes has a chance "to be very, very good if he continues to work hard at it."

Kingsbury expanded on the Jakeem Grant touchdown: "On the head set it was like, 'no, no, no.' 'Yes,' was about the dialogue. It was one of those. Yeah, I mean, [Mahomes] just did everything and found those guys."

The most impressive thing this season is how Mahomes has made everyone on offense better.

Kingsbury said it like this: "Our receivers and O-line have really learned to play with him in that they continuing to and keep playing and keep blocking and keep trying to get
open, because it may take a while."

"DeAndre's the proven veteran leader on our offense. That's really been fun to watch him help Justin [Stockton]," said Kingsbury. "They have a great relationship, but DeAndre knows he's got a really good back right behind him."

Injuries

On the injury front, Kingsbury said that Taylor Symmank was too hurt to kick off, but was still healthy enough to punt. Kingsbury deferred any explanation of that anomaly to the training staff.

Devin Lauderdale will be back against Kansas. Dylan Cantrell, however, will not play. Patrick Mahomes knee has improved for the third straight week, so that's encouraging.

 

Defensive Battles

When asked about the defense, Kingsbury said he looked at the tape.

"It's always not as bad as you think or as good as you think," he said. "I think there are some guys growing up, some of those young linebackers, some young guys in the safety. Breiden Fehoko gets better each week."

JJ Gaines made his first start at Safety this week. Kingsbury was impressed.

"For him to step in first game, create some turnovers, he's just a very tough kid," he said. "He's been through some surgery and just keeps fighting, keeps showing up and keeps making plays.

That youth needs to grow up fast if this defense is going to be a difference maker in a big game this season.

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Texas Tech-Iowa State Tailgating Photos

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