Each week one Kansas assistant will meet with the media. Dave Campo was the first assistant in week one. We have the Q&A from Campo's media session.

First of all it is a cerebral position. Most of the changes that are made on defense you can just look at a corner we play some coverages were they are doing some different things. The key to playing corner is being able to line up one on one and cover somebody. Where as a safety position you have all these different run fits, changing coverages, changing coverages in the middle, and those guys make those decisions.

With our two safeties one of them handles one side of the secondary, and the other safety handles the other. One thing about Cassius (Sendish) he demonstrated right from the very beginning that he was capable of number one playing two positions, and number two understanding what we we're trying to accomplish defensively.

I think a lot of you guys have heard me say before the one thing the Big 12 forces you to do is to be relatively simple because everything is happening so quickly. If we had 20 different coverages it would be more difficult but Cassius has definitely shown us he is capable of making that transition. He has the skills to play the nickel position or the safety position. We didn't feel real comfortable where we were at at safety and felt it was the right time to make that move.

There are going to be questions with players being relatively new. Especially a guy like Kevin Short. We love Kevin Short's talent. You can see he's listed at the top of the depth chart at either or. He's only been here for a short period of time. I think that some of our guys like Brandon Hollomon who was a young corner from a junior college we feel have made progress. But until we get out there and see them in game action there are some questions.

I had a very similar situation when I got to the Cowboys. Remember we were 1-15 we brought a bunch of new guys in there and for the first couple years when we were trying to turn that program around we had a similar feeling. We ended up starting Larry Brown and Kevin Smith, two guys who were rookie corners. One started after five games and one after 11 games. Those guys proved relatively quickly they were ready to go and we felt we could go forward with it. There is nothing like having a veteran crew.

At the same time I feel good about the guys that we brought in here as far as athletic ability. Before you start anywhere if you line up against the Oklahomas and the Texas, and those type of teams in this league you better have some guys that can run and are decent athletes back there. I think we have accomplished that part of that.

I will say this, from the day we've gotten here that has been a major major issue with us. Starting with the fact that it has been a while that Kansas has won. Everyone in this organization knew if we don't look at things from a positive standpoint and what direction we're headed then it won't happen. The players won't do it all themselves. The coaching staff has to be part of the process by feeling confident in the direction we're going is the right one. I don't think there is any question that coach Weis has the right idea and mentality going forward. We won't know until we get going here how much progress we have made.

We feel really good. I don't feel like there is any football game we will go into this year that we automatically walk out on the field and think that we're going to lose the game. I don't think that's in our mentality. I think we got rid of some of the guys that looked at it that way. I think we have a group of guys that feel very, very good that we're making progress. Now whether we win them all I don't know but I think our guys will go into the ballgame feeling like we have a chance and that we are going forward.

I really think this league is a learning experience for anybody. The game is different. The game is fast paced. It is not as technique oriented. On defense you have to learn how to survive. That is part of the reason that coach Weis went out and brought in some junior college guys to where we could get more depth. To play in this league you have to have depth. And to be honest with you we ran out of gas in the fourth quarter a number of times last year on defense in my opinion.

Part of that was because I was reluctant to play back-up guys. I don't think that you can go through a season in this league and play a starting 11 guys for 60 minutes of every game, it won't happen. It is too fast and the stamina is a factor and you have to be able to play some young players. We have got to be able to put some of those guys out on the field and have guys we can feel confident in.

So when you look at our roster there are a number of guys with experience now in the back-up roles. We have to play those guys and that is probably the biggest, single thing that I have taken from the first year here. It is not that way in the NFL. You play the starting guys and that's it. You don't fool around with the other guys unless you have to.

We're real pleased was Samson and what he brings to the table. I think you have more size there and he is a more physical player than we've had. He can rush the passer, he has some speed, and he plays with an awful lot of passion. That is something that you can't put a number on as far as how important it is. I will say he is as passionate about the game of football and is the type of player we want out there that are competitors.

I wasn't really. The one thing I hope we did a good job with is when you go out and study guys and know what type of guy you want in your program. You see some of the qualities that make your team better. This is a process of improving your position player by player. It's not like you have 11 new guys and all of a sudden you are going to go from 1-11 to 12-0. You have to improve by leaps and bounds and we felt Samson would bring that competitive spirit and excitement, and a physical presence.

Victor is a different guy. First of all he went from a safety to a linebacker. Now he is kind of a hybrid. That is great. Victor has had an excellent camp in my opinion. I think the light has turned on. Sometimes when guys don't feel like they're going to have a chance to play a lot it is human nature to not get the most out of them. You would like to think all of your guys have the ability to crank it up no matter where they are on the depth chart.

But since victor has gotten a feel for that he is going to get some playing time. He is a physical guy with speed. From being able to cover guys as a safety and now also being able to support the run which is really important.

I am pleased with JaCorey. I had some questions at the end of last year with him. You know we threw him in there in the middle of the season last year. The mentality of a receiver, not every receiver, but a lot of them is not the same mentality as a cornerback or guy on defense with the hitting part of it. I didn't know for sure whether or not he had a true receiver mentality or if he could make the transition. But really he has come back thinking more about playing defensive back and made strides there.

He is an athlete that can run. Until we get him out there the experience part is a little bit of a concern. Throwing him out there like we did last year he did get a little bit of experience which is to his advantage.

In camp it helped him because he knew some of the routes ahead of time. He understands splits and what guys are doing it gives them a little bit of an advantage because he knows what the receivers have been taught about how to get themselves into position to run certain routes.