Leipold on self-scouting during third bye, previewing Iowa State

Kansas had a rare third bye week and will head on the road to play Iowa State on Saturday. Lance Leipold spoke with the media on Monday, talking about how the Jayhawks handled the bye and preparing to play the Cyclones on their senior day.

Kansas worked on red zone offense, situation football during the bye

All three of the Jayhawks’ bye weeks have come after disappointing road losses, having weeks off after losing to rival Missouri, getting blown out by Texas Tech, and suffering a close loss to Arizona. 

During the bye, Kansas focused on areas where it struggled against Arizona, red zone and third-down offense. The Jayhawks were 6-for-17 on third down and scored once on two red zone chances, a touchdown in the first quarter. Leipold said they tried to simulate late-game opportunities.

“I think we did some more situational things of areas where, again, we weren’t good in third downs in Tucson. And to be better in that down the stretch is going to be critical,” Leipold said

“When we do the red zone stuff, we do that late in practice, offense versus defense. So we’re trying to do it at the end of practice, like end of game, trying to simulate the best you can within practice.”

Kansas also switched its bye week schedule compared to its previous two. Leipold met with the Jayhawks’ leadership group and decided to give the players more rest heading into the final stretch of the season.

“Talking with our leadership group, they kind of had asked about the two days of maybe some time mentally, you know, versus practicing Sunday and having off today,” Leipold said. “So they talked about it, we looked at it, and I thought at this stage, kind of like you said with three of these, that it was worth doing and kind of give them that little extra break there mentally and kind of help their bodies hopefully a little bit as we head into these last two.”

Leipold called Iowa State a talented and physical football team

Iowa State picked up its sixth win two weeks ago, also having a bye week after coming back to beat TCU two weeks ago. The Cyclones have battled through a lot of injuries but have continued to succeed under Matt Campbell.

“Matt Campbell and his staff have been so consistent, done such a great job there,” Leipold said. “They’ve been hit hard by the injury bug and things that probably took their season a little bit different than what it was heading. But again, a big win for them down at TCU. A talented, physical football team, well-coached.”

Kansas and Leipold have won three straight against Campbell and the Cyclones, including a win in Ames in 2023. Leipold isn’t holding on to that streak too closely, instead referencing closing the gap after getting blown out in 2021.

“We’ve had some really good close ballgames with them and found a way,” Leipold said. “I can still remember, and I talked to some of the guys who are still here, our first year going up there, and they really got after us. And that was one that probably showed that we’re a long ways away. And then obviously we’ve been able to close gaps on people and stuff. But we’ve got to be able to go up there and be at our best, play our best football of the year, and find a way to get our sixth win.”

Jayhawks have to weather early rush of emotion on Iowa State’s senior day

Saturday will be senior day for the Cyclones, which could help them come out with extra energy. Leipold said he’s seen times in the past where it’s the opposite, with senior day being potentially an emotionally draining day, causing a team to come out flat. However, he expects Kansas to have to weather an early storm of energy.

“Many times going into it you can see that extra energy and enthusiasm that seniors and teams will take the field with,” Leipold said. “And you just gotta make sure that you weather any of that early and let it get back into game mode and go from there.”

Kansas has played in its fair share of tough environments this season, and Jack Trice Stadium is known to be a tough place to play. Leipold said he always overemphasizes crowd noise, to the point where his players at Buffalo said practice was louder than playing at Penn State.

“I guess whatever you have, resources to you, to make it very close to impossible… because what you really have to do is focus on what you have to do,” Leipold said. “The little things like we talk about with details, but with communication and your eyes and not relying on somebody always telling you. You’ve got to get the signal, you have to see things. So we try to emphasize that.”