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 Tuesday, August 7, 2001
Q&A with Randy Walker
By Terry Bowden
Special to ABC Sports Online
Bowden's Weekly Chat Show
ABC college football analyst Terry Bowden chatted with Northwestern football coach Randy Walker about the Wildcats' upcoming season. In Part I of their Q&A, Coach Walker talked about his coaching future and what makes the Northwestern offense work. Here is Part II:
Terry Bowden:
What kind of an intellect does a quarterback have to have to run a no-huddle offense?
Randy Walker:
Zak is very smart. He scored 32 or something on the ACT. He's very bright. But I don't think it's that as much as you have to be a quick processor. There are some people who are very bright, but mull over things and are very methodical. Zak thinks quick too. He's quick-footed, quick-handed. You have to be a shortstop playing quarterback. You have to turn it over quick. You have to turn and get out of the away sometimes. You have to process information quickly because we are doing it real fast. He has that capability to manage all that and sort it all out and keep his wits and composure in every situation.
Terry Bowden:
Damien is on everyone's preseason Heisman list because of the yardage he gained last year with the spread offense opening up holes. Is he the type of back who would be a great back in an I-formation or an option offense as well as the spread?
Randy Walker:
|  | | Damien Anderson rushed for 2,063 yards last season. |
He had 1,100 as a sophomore when we were horrible. We couldn't throw it a bit. We were a conventional I, and he got 1,100 the hard way. It wasn't easy. He's a good football player. He breaks tackles, he has great vision. He's faster than he looks. People underestimate how fast he is. He really can run.
He's another guy who is just a warrior. His work ethic and his abilities amaze me. He'll come in on a Sunday -- and he has done this both years that I have been here -- after carrying it 30-something times a game. I remember days like that because I carried the ball 30-something times a game. I couldn't walk on some of those Sundays. He comes in looking like he could play again. He looks better on Sunday than he did on Saturday.
He wins every sprint. He's another kid with a great attitude, a great work ethic. He's going to be a ballplayer. You could throw him anywhere. He could play for anybody and be a great, great asset.
Terry Bowden:
The rushing game averaged 257.3 yards per game last year, but the passing game was nearly as effective. In addition to Sam Simmons, what receivers will teams need to be worried about?
Randy Walker:
Sam Simmons is our guy. Everyone talks about Zak and Damien, and rightfully so. Damien is a great talent and Zak is the straw that stirs the drink. But Sam, if you look at our games, and when Sam plays well -- Sam has had some injury problems, he didn't play every game last year -- we win. He has a dramatic effect on the game. Not just in keeping people honest with us and making them defend him and the field, but his punt returns and kick returns. He can take it to the yard any time. He is a key aspect to this team. He gets undervalued quite frankly. Sam is a huge aspect.
Another kid who has improved and made the progress you like to see is (Jon) Schweighardt, who plays the other receiver. You couple him with Kunle Patrick and Roger Jordan. We had four or five guys who caught 30-something balls. We didn't have a 60-catch guy, although I do think that Jon Schweighardt and Sam could be that. They both need to play every down and play all games, which they haven't done in their careers. We do have some guys in the offense who can spread it around. We have a pretty solid receiving corps.
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We sure can't look down the road. It's easy around here when you are in the Big Ten or the SEC; everything is about the Big Ten. You get carried away with what is going to happen in the Big Ten. Opening up with UNLV needs to have our full attention.
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— Randy Walker, on opening against UNLV |
Terry Bowden:
Did you ever think you would say that you would have all five offensive linemen back?
Randy Walker:
Again, probably one of the most undervalued, underrated aspects of our program. Damien would say this. Zak would too. We owe everything to those guys. They are a group of guys who have been together for a couple of years. A lot of them have played well. They have all played for two years, too. They played young. They have endured some difficult and challenging times to where they have come together and played very well now.
Terry Bowden:
Who is the leader of this group?
Randy Walker:
The best player without question is (guard) Jeff Roehl. He is a very good football player. Unbelievably talented. He doesn't look it. If you walked in, you'd say, "He's OK." He's 6-3, 295. He's not outstanding, but he stays on blocks and blocks them forever.
Austin King is our center. Again, he started as a true freshman and has started for two years. Those two guys in the middle really anchor the line. If Jeff is our best player, Austin is real close. Probably the biggest overachiever is (Leon) Brochmeier. Leon is a guy who has battled through some tough things and injuries. He has become an emotional leader for our football team and rallies the seniors.
I mentioned two underclassmen first in King and Roehl, but (Lance) Clelland, (Mike) Souza and Brochmeier are three seniors on the offensive line who have been, in a lot of cases, started for three years. Those guys all have chances to play on Sundays as well.
Terry Bowden:
A special year is going to come down to one or two games won by one or two points. You had battles in the kicking and punting games in the preseason. Can you get them sewn up before the first game?
Randy Walker:
I have some concerns. I'll be honest. If I have sleepless nights, it's regarding that element of our game. I feel good about the way our defense improved this spring and the direction it's taking. I feel good about our offense and the work ethic they continue to exhibit.
Our punter right now is a good player, a solid player, J.J. Standring. I think we'll get at least what we got out of J.J., and that's a third or fourth rating in the Big Ten. He's pretty solid
I ended spring with Brian Huffman and Dave Wasielewski at kicker. It's about a deadheat, and it was statistically about the same. But it wasn't statistically awesome. It was pretty average, and I told them that. I said, "Right now, we have a deadheat and it's about as mediocre as it can get." It needs to be a lot better or we're going for two a bunch. We will see how they respond to that. I think they are both talented kids. But I'm a talented golfer at times. It's consistency that's a challenge.
Terry Bowden:
The Big Ten is a toss-up with a number of teams that could win it. But you have to be nervous about opening up at UNLV?
Randy Walker:
I don't know if you saw that bowl game (a 31-14 win over Arkansas in the Las Vegas Bowl). It's a tempo setter and a confidence builder. You sort of establish yourself. They are going to have the advantage of playing the week before us and having a game under their belt. We have to go into their place.
I think they are a top 25 football team. We sure can't look down the road. It's easy around here when you are in the Big Ten or the SEC; everything is about the Big Ten. You get carried away with what is going to happen in the Big Ten. But I said, "Hey, fellas, we have three non-conference games." Opening up with UNLV needs to have our full attention. I know our kids know. They all saw that game, too. We have seen it a number of times since. It's got our attention. We know we are going to have the battle of our lives, and we are going to be very fortunate to win if we go in there and win.
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