RYAN WALTERS: Hmm, we got finally got two turnovers, you know, in the first half. Thought we came out and were playing the game the right way.
That's about it.
Q. I guess everybody wants to know, Ryan, can this be fixed?
RYAN WALTERS: Yeah, I think I believe it can. You know, I don't see any reason why it can't. You know, whenever I've been in a struggling time or adverse time, the thing that you do is you take lessons from the struggles. You take lessons from the adversity. You identify problems and you fix them.
So that is what we are in the process of doing right now with seven games remaining on the schedule.
Q. You talked a little bit Saturday about being more involved with the offense. Can you get any more detailed about that and just give us your assessment of Jason Simmons' maiden voyage.
RYAN WALTERS: Yeah, obviously we have a defensive coordinator. We do not have an offensive coordinator right now. It would be negligent of myself as the head coach to just sort of abandon that side of the ball while making that move, and so I've spent time in there just helping the organization, coming up with ideas on how to attack defenses and what types of things give certain coverages or certain front problems.
So that's what I've been doing. Spent time on that side of the field during practice. We got a roster full of guys that are on that side of the ball that needed leadership and guidance.
So like I said, we have a defensive coordinator, so let him do his job and help out with the offense.
Q. You talked about doing kind of self-evaluations after games before. Curious, what all does that entail for you personally?
RYAN WALTERS: You know, you look at game management. You look at how we're using the roster. You look at schematic issues. Then you evaluate the play of the individual, you know, all those things and take an assessment and evaluate and try to improve the areas that you failed.
Q. What all do you think has contributed to the slow second halfs that you guys have had the last three weeks?
RYAN WALTERS: Yeah, so we are struggling to play from behind. For some reason, it kind of snowballs when things don't go our way, and so I've got to do a better job of giving them like emotional answers on how to respond when you're behind or when things aren't going your way so that you don't play without outside the framework of the play call, outside the framework of the technique; you don't panic.
Right now when we get behind we tend to hit the panic button. There is no need to. So that's been the message. That's been sort of what we've been talking about the last couple days post Saturday.
Q. Were there any other -- in the past 48 hours any other structural changes, approach changes that you implemented going forward?
RYAN WALTERS: Obviously there are tweaks. It would be irresponsible of me to tell you what those tweaks are with the game coming up on Saturday. The last 48 hours have been emotional. It's been challenging. You know, it's been -- again, I'm a problem solver, so I've been working diligently to solve problems.
Q. What's the message right now to the players committed to the 2025-2026 classes?
RYAN WALTERS: Just watch the season. See how it unfolds. They're committed here for a reason. They love this university, they love this place. They have gotten to know and have belief in the coaches that are recruiting them.
So that's what I would say. Just seven games left. Let's see how this deal plays out.
Q. How significant right now is a better product on the field going to be on the class that you sign in December?
RYAN WALTERS: I think it's hugely significant. You know, as a recruit you want to see progress, improvement. You want to see wins, right?
I think everybody we are recruiting is of the mindset that I am. Like I hate losing. I hate it with a passion. Drives me crazy.
And so we got win ball games.
Q. How big is that class, do you expect it to be? At this point I think 11 known commitments right now.
RYAN WALTERS: There is lot predicated on sort of the roster numbers, the revenue sharing, and evaluating our roster and deciding on how many high school guys we take, how many guys we get in the portal, the whole nine.
Q. Is Jason going to go out on the road in place of Graham when you have that opportunity here the next bye week?
RYAN WALTERS: We're still discussing that but I would imagine so.
Q. You expect CJ Madden to play again this season?
RYAN WALTERS: I'm not sure.
Q. Just about your opponent this week, Illinois, you know them well; had good success against them last year. They're different. They've had a lot of the success or fair amount this year. What do you expect from them? Luke Altmyer looks like he's made some big steps forward offensively. What extra challenges do you see from them this week?
RYAN WALTERS: Yeah, they're playing confident. They're playing complementary football. Obviously got a lot of the respect for the staff and the roster there. Gotten to know them very well, so expect them to play the best brand of ball they can play.
That's what they been doing up to this point this season. You know, fully expect them to come out guns blazing.
You know, like you said, like last year didn't go their way so I'm sure that is being replayed and reminded, so I fully anticipate to get their best shot.
They've had an extra week to prepare for us as well. I think Coach B does a great job during bye weeks in presenting new wrinkles, new personnels, so I fully expect to see things we haven't seen on tape yet.
It'll be critical of us to be able to adjust to those things and to play and to go fight for four quarters.
Q. In light of how you seem to want to use your tight ends in a variety of roles right now, do you expect to have George Burhenn any time soon?
RYAN WALTERS: Yes. He's very close.
Q. When you go back and look at your zone coverage, obviously you're in man-to-man staff. What needs to be better in the zone?
RYAN WALTERS: Just our zone integrity. I think guys' eyes, the main culprit Saturday was eye discipline was awful.
You know, we're not getting the quarterback out of the pocket either. He's just being able to sit back there and kind of wait.
And then when the ball is in open space, angles to get the ball down, and the technique with which we're tackling was awful on Saturday. That's got to be addressed; has been addressed. Definitely be repped in practice.
Q. Coach, have you been able to talk to maybe some mentors of yours who have maybe gone through what you're going through, whether it's emotionally, mentally, trying to fix what you can control?
RYAN WALTERS: I have, yes.
Q. Who might those people be? What have those conversations been like?
RYAN WALTERS: Those are personal. Yeah, so I'll keep that in-house. I appreciate you asking the question, though.
Q. I don't know if you can say anything, health on some guys, Mo, I don't think he played a snap. Down late against Nebraska. Antonio Stevens. I guess Cole and Winston, I know JDD didn't play either.
RYAN WALTERS: You said Cole?
Q. Yeah.
RYAN WALTERS: Yeah, he's fine.
Mo obviously didn't play. Had ankle in the Nebraska game. Hopeful to get him back.
Who was the other guy?
Q. Antonio.
RYAN WALTERS: Antonio should be back. Winston, I'm not sure yet.
Q. (Indiscernible.)
RYAN WALTERS: He's close.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports