Purdue's Ryan Walters 'happy with where we're at right now' following first spring scrimmage
Ryan Walters‘ first spring scrimmage as a head coach is in the books. Was there a winner or a loser?
“No, it’s hard in scrimmages,” said Walters. “I was happy at times on defense. I was happy a lot of times with the offense. I don’t know if there’s a winner or loser. We all win. At least I can. We all win as a head coach.”
Walters says he ran “upwards” of 90 plays in the Mollenkopf Athletic Center to cap the second week of spring drills with practice No. 6. Purdue has nine spring sessions left, culminating with a final spring practice on April 22. Today, the team worked on an array of down-and-distance situations. There even was special teams work.
“Had fun,” he said. “It was the first live situations. A lot of lessons learned just in terms of operations. Had referees out here, so we were able to see what’s real and what’s not from practice tape just on some of the holdings and defensive PI’s and things like that. So, that was good. Good first scrimmage.”
Walters says there were no injuries today in the scrimmage, which was closed to the media. But the first-year Boilermaker boss did say he’s operating with a less than robust roster, as several key players were out.
MORE: Deep Dive Saturday scrimmage
On offense, Purdue has been without all spring several key players who are coming off injury. On offense, some key players missing were C Gus Hartwig, TE Garrett Miller, OT Daniel Johnson and WR Broc Thompson. The defense has been without NT Damarjhe Lewis, OLB Scotty Humpich, NT/DE Isaiah Nichols, DE Prince Boyd and OLB Kydran Jenkins.
“We’re still really thin right now in some areas, just with guys dinged up,” said Walters. “A lot of guys got reps that they haven’t gotten in a while. So, it was a good opportunity for some of those guys to gain some experience.
“Just proud of the way they competed and there was some good back and forth today. We got some guys we’re counting on playing really well. Some guys that we need to come along are making improvement. I’m happy with where we’re at right now.”
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Some of the standouts from Saturday that Walters cited: OLB Nic Caraway, S Sanoussi Kane, OLB Khordae Sydnor, DE Joe Anderson, WR T.J. Sheffield and LB O.C. Brothers. The Purdue coach also is pleased with QB Hudson Card, who Walters says had his best practice today since transferring from Texas in the offseason.
“I think he’s got a chance to be special,” said Walters. “I don’t know if I’ve been around somebody that’s got the elite talent in terms of his arm talent that’s coupled with his ability to extend plays with his legs. Because he doesn’t just extend them. He can he can go hit a home run.
“So, really, really pleased that he’s here. I’m happy that he’s on our team. But I think even more impressive is just his demeanor, his understanding of what we’re trying to do schematically and the way he just put his head down and has gotten to work since he’s been here.”
Walters is installing a new offense based on Air Raid principles. And the defense is new, too, as the scheme will be based on a five-man front.
“I think it is steady improvement,” he said. “I don’t know if I would necessarily say rapid. I think that’s sort of impossible in this arena. There are too many moving parts. We measure success in the springtime just by steady improvement, which is just not making the same mistakes from practice two to three, practice three to four and so on.
“I think guys are understanding that. We aren’t seeing the same mistake being made twice very, very frequently. So, I do think we’re improving at a good pace.”
MORE: BOILING OVER: Hoops roster rumblings, football recruiting buzz and more | FaceTiming with Drew Brees helped sell QB Hudson Card on Purdue | Anchored by T Eric Miller, Purdue O-line may be A-OK | Precocious Nic Caraway eager to improve, dominate at new position in new defense
