Northwestern University Athletics
Coach Walker Q&A
11/5/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 5, 2003
EVANSTON, Ill. - We're back with another Wednesday edition of 'Ask Coach Walker.'
Don't forget, you can ask Coach Walker a question by clicking on 'Ask Coach Walker' on the right column of the NUsports.com home page. Fill out the form below and press send, then check back every Wednesday to see if Coach Walker has answered your question.
Here are today's inquiries:
Jim from Grandville, Mich.: I have had a chance on a few occasions to watch your football team, and I have been very impressed with the play of Brett Basanez. He looks like a great player who has not gotten the support, offensively speaking, to make big things happen. My question is, what is the future Basanez has with your team? Is he the starter for the next two years, or are you considering a change?
Coach Walker: Well Jim, Brett is our starter this week, that's for sure. I think he has grown and improved as a football player. We will continue to evolve as a football team and we are excited about some of the young players that will emerge next year. I fully expect Brett to grow more and mature more and become a better player in the future.
James from Chicago: With Brett Basanez struggling, what is the chance we will see more of Alexander Webb in the upcoming games? Is he really'back from his injury of a year ago?
Coach Walker: As I have said often, the starting quarterback tends to get too much credit when it goes well and too much blame when it doesn't. Offense is a game, and especially the quarterback, that is dependent on 10 other guys. Hopefully, we can execute at all 11 positions this week and every guy will execute to his fullest. Hopefully, our quarterback, as well as receivers and everyone else can play their best game this week.
Trent from Paris, Wis.: I have been a season ticket holder for about nine years. I was just wondering if you think that the loud speaker announcer (public address) helps the team get pumped up? I know as a fan that it gets me excited when he says "first down" really loud.
Coach Walker: I think anything you can do, whether it's over the PA, the music, the fans, or even the cheerleaders, anything that adds to the ambiance of a football game makes it better.
Jeff from La Crosse, Wis.: Coach, you've talked repeatedly about getting the team to execute, and thereby perform better, so is the coaching staff beginning to get tired of the mental mistakes that have taken place so far this season?
Coach Walker: Well it's ironic that you mention that. Heading into last week, we had the fewest lost fumbles in Division I football, and then we had four last week and that cost us. Going into that game we had done a great job holding onto the football, and really our penalty avoidance has been much better than in the past and I believe is among the best in the Big Ten. Obviously, you don't want any costly penalties and certainly don't want any turnovers, but I think by-in-large we have done a fairly good job of eliminating those things and hopefully we can take that attention to detail to where we have in the past and become successful.
Todd from Mundelein, Ill.: Hi coach. I've read that you won't burn the redshirt of five of your freshmen receivers. Last year, you played Derell Jenkins in the Indiana game. How are the situations different?
Coach Walker: The difference at that point (2002) was, we only had two quarterbacks healthy. The certainty of having to play Derell was unavoidable. This year, we have enough receivers to continue to execute offensively, we might have to make some adjustments with a couple people, but we still have more numbers available and I think we will be able to go without playing those guys in the near future.
Jim from Lake Geneva, Wis.: We fans remember how Zack Mills (Penn State quarterback) came off the bench as a freshman and rallied the Nittany Lions to a fourth quarter win in Evanston. What specific problems does he pose for your defense and how do you defend against him?
Coach Walker: Good question Jim. He did a great job in 2001. He is a tremendous player and a gutsy player. He combines the elements of being able to throw the ball extremely well, with the ability to run. That is always a tough quarterback to deal with. He is back and playing at full strength and I know it will be difficult to contain him. Hopefully we can go in and squeeze the line of scrimmage, play heads-up football, and be able to make a couple breaks on the ball. We are going to try and make sure he doesn't have the same kind of success he had in 2001.
