Defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker runs back and forth on the
UCLA Intramural Field during training camp on Saturday, chirping at
his cornerbacks during a one-on-one drill against the wide
receivers.
Wide receiver Junior Taylor shakes off bump-and-run coverage
from cornerback Michael Norris, and catches a perfect strike in the
end zone.
“Hey, Junior, nice job,” says Walker, before going
over to Norris. “A big guy like Junior is going to want
contact to push you off. You have to be more aggressive, and get in
his route.”
It was only one of countless observations Walker has been making
during his first week of training camp as UCLA’s new
defensive coordinator. But his explanation of how the Bruins are
going to turn around a defense that was one of the weakest in the
nation in 2005 has a lot to do with these details.
Details, and information.
That sounds like an antidote for a unit that gave up 232.8
rushing yards and 34.2 points per game in 2005.
Perhaps nothing more could be expected out of a man who has
coached under Pete Carroll and has continued the trend of bringing
NFL defensive coaching experience to the collegiate level. After
Larry Kerr was dismissed in the offseason, Walker was brought in as
the man to tighten up a defense that was the weakest link on a 10-2
team.
He intends to do it with unbridled attention to detail. But he
also brings with him a swagger and a level of expectation that many
veterans admit was missing from last season’s defense.
“We’ve tried to change our attitude out there; be
more physical,” cornerback Trey Brown said. “Coach
Walker has brought a tough mentality to the defense. This is a
totally different defense with the attitude.
“We didn’t like the way we handled business last
year, and there are things we have do to get back to be a dominant
defense. We can’t be soft out there. (We’ve) got to be
more physical.”
For Walker, the first week in training camp was just another
brick to be laid.
“We always talk about setting a foundation, and we are
still doing that,” Walker said. “Getting the guys to
believe in what they’re doing, the details of their roles. I
think it’s coming together, but we’ve got some work to
do.”
Walker comes to Westwood with an impressive resume. He served as
the secondary coach for the Washington Redskins in 2004 and 2005.
He’s also worked under defensive gurus Bill Belichick and
John Fox.
Walker was Pete Carroll’s first hire at USC after coaching
the secondary for Carroll in New England. The football community
has often been characterized as a copycat industry. If one coaching
philosophy has achieved success, it is usually adopted by other
programs and the coaching staff creates a pipeline throughout the
country. Like Carroll at USC or Nick Saban at LSU, Walker is viewed
as a man who can take his NFL experience and use it at the college
level.
“It’s not really the scheme,” Walker said.
“It’s more the approach to the game, in terms of the
type of information you are able to gather. Those guys from the NFL
like Saban or Pete are able to gather the information and parlay
it, so they are just very good teachers.
“They have that same experience. That’s the thing
that we bring to the table with a working knowledge. But the
players still need to execute.”
Walker will be guiding a completely rebuilt defensive coaching
staff for UCLA coach Karl Dorrell. Todd Howard (line) and Chuck
Bullough (linebackers) are in their first year in Westwood as well,
as Gary DeLoach (secondary) is the lone holdover from last
year’s staff.
At least one popular trend that Walker intends to implement at
UCLA this season is the use of different packages that take
advantage of the skills of “hybrid” players such as
junior end Bruce Davis or junior safety Chris Horton.
Davis, standing at 6 feet 3 inches and weighing 250 pounds, is
featured as a cross between a defensive end and an outside
linebacker. He’s the starter at weak side end, but will be
moved around to linebacker in different formations.
“It’s just putting me in a position to use my speed
off the corner and make a lot more plays,” Davis said.
“And then we have our blitz packages, where I get to
basically play linebacker, stand up and cover a back, or just drop
over the middle and just read everything. My role has changed in
each package a little bit.”
Horton, who has gone from 198 pounds to 215 with intense weight
lifting, has the size and speed of either a safety or a linebacker.
He’s coupled with Dennis Keyes to give the Bruins a
hard-hitting safety tandem, but he expects to be brought closer to
the line of scrimmage this season to help contain the running
game.
Walker’s depth charts are still changing, and he cites
several positions as being wide open to competition. Eric McNeal,
Reggie Carter and Aaron Whittington are splitting time at
linebacker, while freshman cornerback Alterraun Verner is making a
push to be the No. 3 cornerback, Walker said.
“We’re trying to create a level of competition out
here,” Walker said. “Guys can’t be in a comfort
zone with their role.”
There is unified tone among the players that expectations for
the defense have been raised and excuses are not going to be
tolerated. As much as Walker preaches attention to detail as the
source of strong defense, Christian Taylor believes that it has as
much to do with the way Walker is communicating as it does the
message itself.
“He’s a player’s coach,” said Taylor,
the starter and play caller at inside linebacker. “He’s
been under a lot of great defense coordinators, and he relates well
with us, and he isn’t afraid to call any of us out if he
isn’t satisfied with our play. From the top guy to the bottom
guy, he’ll do it. That’s what players love.”