Northwestern University Athletics
Spring Football Update -- April 22
4/22/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 22, 2002
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern's football team went through spring drill No. 12 Monday afternoon, but was forced inside due to the return of winter temperatures and wet field conditions. After enjoying four 85-plus degree days last week, the Wildcats practiced in Trienens Hall.
Like the past two Mondays, the Wildcats spent a great deal of the afternoon in meeting rooms, evaluating film from Saturday's scrimmage. This week's three practice sessions are being conducted in a closed environment.
After practice, we talked to Head Coach Randy Walker to get his thoughts on where the Wildcats are as they begin their final week of spring practice.
Question-and-Answer with Head Coach Randy Walker
Q: After evaluating the film from Saturday's second spring scrimmage, what were your thoughts?
Walker: "There are a lot of very good things taking place. I've said all along, I think we have some very, very talented football players. We just need to get up to speed with our system. As you know, we've made some changes offensively and defensively and we still have too many wheels spinning out there. The big focus we're making this week is 'let's try to reduce the thinking, let's start making some of this second nature.' Because you can see some of the mistakes are a result of really having to process too much information. I still see a lot of the right things, the right kind of effort, the right kind of intensity, a lot of really positive things. And some big errors, too, but that's to be expected. We're going to try to be more consistent and more focused this week."
Q: Were there any individuals that impressed you?
Walker: "Yeah, Jeff Backes (9 carries for 133 yards, 1 TD) had a big day, but, heck, he should have. The line knocked some guys out of the way for him and he was there to make some big plays. Jarvis Adams is playing really well. He's flying around, he's really had an excellent spring. Some of the guys up front, DeMaris Wilson and David Thompson, are getting better and better and you can see the promise in what they're doing. Offensively, I thought Tony Stauss (13 of 18, 139 yards, 1 TD) took another step in the right direction. Again, he's not ready to take the next step to the NFL or anything yet, but he's really making the kind of steps he needs to make to be a good, effective quarterback. I think it was just a real solid day for some guys, and a couple guys stand out like Jeff, Jarvis, a couple of the defensive ends, but by and large, everybody made a positive step."
Q: When we talked with Jeff Backes on Saturday, he gave a lot of credit to the offensive line. How do you rate their play on Saturday and their progress this spring?
Walker: "In those particular instances, they really executed well. And Jeff's success was a result of a real good job of execution by the offensive line and then having a pretty fast back in there that hit it like a shot. Those two things are typically a good combination."
Q: Coach, this week you're holding closed practices prior to Saturday's spring game. Without giving away any secrets, can you tell us what you want to get accomplished in this final week?
Walker: "Well, we have some wrinkles and some things on offense and on defense that we want to get a real good look at and not have them for public consumption. It's just some schemes, some things we're trying to do that we think can enhance what we're trying to be about. We're also going to do a little preliminary look and do some things involving Air Force. But mostly, it's not as much working on Air Force as much as doing some of the new things we want to do."
Q: Finally, nine Northwestern players have been drafted or signed by NFL teams the past few days. How proud are you of this class and what does it say about Northwestern Football overall?
Walker: "It's a great statement and, of course, we're obviously thrilled for Napoleon. It's a great, great achievment to be a first-round selection and obviously that puts him in an elite class of people. So we're awfully fired up for him. But also, I'm just as fired up and excited for Sam Simmons, for instance. Here's a guy that kept getting better and better. I've told all the pro scouts I think his upside's huge. Because he has just improved and improved over the last couple years. He had 50 catches for us, he's a great return man and I think his future is still ahead of him. So as happy as I am for Napoleon, I'm just as excited for some of the guys who got free agent opportunities because they all have a chance, they have contracts, and they're going to have a chance to be a professional football player. Now it's just a matter of going to camp, whether you're Napoleon Harris, you're a first-round pick, or you're Zak Kustok who's going as a free agent. You have a chance to make that club. They get to go in there and bust their tail and make a difference and find a way to be a pro football player."
