MIZZOU
Report: Mizzou DC Ryan Walters interviews for DC job at Big Ten school
The Illinois Fighting Illini recently hired former Arkansas and Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema to replace Lovie Smith.
Now, Bielema is trying to put together his staff, and he’s targeting a few big names for his defensive coordinator position.
Per FootballScoop.com, Bielema has conducted an interview with Mizzou DC Ryan Walters for the same job in Champaign:
Multiple sources tell FootballScoop that Bielema’s been conducting interviews with Missouri’s Ryan Walters, Oklahoma State’s Jim Knowles and Wofford’s Josh Conklin.
Walters has been at Mizzou since 2015. Will he consider leaving for the Illini, who are entering a rebuilding phase?
We’ll see what happens as Bielema puts together his first staff at Illinois.
I’m not going to lose any sleep about this…
Our last 3 games 48, 49, 51 points. That’s not all on the D but I think is time to get fresh blood on the defensive side. It was very smart for Drinkwitz to retain him but now is the time for change if you’re going to make one.
If we do go looking for a new D coordinator I hope they make sacks a premium. When Mizzou went to back to back championship games it wasn’t because we had some amazing QB. It was James Franklin and Maty Mauk. But we did have countless defensive linemen that could create havoc in the backfield every play. That is what Mizzou needs to do if we want to get back there. NFL starter Drew Lock set the SEC record for TDs a few years ago, since broken, and the Tigers didn’t do anything that year, except beat Arkansas.
That’s also why Missouri couldn’t win the SEC Championship. Steckel let Kuligowski sacrifice all kind of yards between the defensive ends. Balance still rules defense. From the first whistle to the final whistle a good offensive is looking for weak spots to attack. Don’t let them find one, if they find one shut the door quickly. Missouri was good but too predictable.
Sorry but I want to piggy back a Mizzou Wrestling comment in here. #12 ranked Missouri opened the season with a 43-0 shut-out of Oregon State, and dominant big scores against North Dakota and South Dakota as well.
Illini wouldn’t be my choice but if he gets a pay upgrade I wish him the best of luck.
We were up and down on defense, it seems. I know at one point during the season I was impressed with our defense and then that seemed to trail off, but covid could explain that. I think Walters is decent, obviously he’s making a name for himself and getting attention. We’re not getting much pressure on the QB in his system, and we don’t seem to get many turnovers either. Seems like a bend but don’t break thing, where 1 LB gets to be the top dog.
Can’t say I’d want him to leave at this point, mostly because we’re pretty invested in his system right now and who knows who we could get to replace him.
Who will be better? Can you give me some names? I guess not! That is what is going on with LSU, South Carolina, and Auburn. Some other schools are also looking for a DC. Also need to remember Mizzou doesn’t have 4* and 5* players like some of the other schools have. That really is what lacking is recruiting much better players in general. Drinkwitz have done some but need a lot more and do it this time around. Maybe need another ace recruiter for the defense side if that might be the answer?
“Who will be better?”
That’s easy, the guy who is also interviewing and will probably get the job over Walters based on merit, Josh Conklin.
I would feel like I was leaving a five star restaurant to go work at a Wendys. Whatever floats your boat though
Adios amigo…
Bielema/Illinois interest is probably just trying to steal a recruiter with current StL ties, and stick it to Mizzou. Walters is probably leveraging, which you can’t blame him. Or, he’s simply willing to leave and move on at this point. I doubt he’ll take the Illinois job unless he just really wants out, better opportunities will come his way.
I believe he is paid 900k a year by Mizzou. If hes wanting more, he can move on. He’s not worth what hes getting paid now IMO
Yeah I’m not gonna cry for anyone making that kind of money, they all do at that level. But just consider that SEC offenses are some of the best in the country right now. Pelini found that out real quick. We played I think 2 of the top 10 in Total Offense, there are 3 SEC in the Top 10 but we didn’t play Ole Miss. Compare that to the Big12 who had 0 teams in the Top10 total offenses. That’s a bit of a shift, and yeah I think DC’s all across the SEC have fallen a little behind right now.