For Washington defensive coordinator Ryan Walters, Saturday’s Big Ten game against visiting Purdue will be all business.
Walters will face the Boilermakers in a reunion of sorts. He was fired as their head coach last season following a 66-0 loss to Indiana in the game for the Old Oaken Bucket.
“I’ve already had these reflection periods as far as my time there,” said Walters, who went 5-19 over two seasons in West Lafayette, Ind. “For me personally, it’s another Big Ten game that we need to play well, especially coming off of last week. The focus has been now to improve and give our guys a chance to win a ball game at home and right the wrongs of a week ago.”
Walters was referring to an ugly 13-10 defeat at Wisconsin last Saturday that knocked the Huskies (6-3, 3-3) out of the College Football Playoff conversation just after they had entered it.
Walters’ defense kept the Huskies in the game against Wisconsin, which hadn’t won a conference game all season, but they couldn’t overcome injuries to running back Jonah Coleman, wide receiver Denzel Boston and a pair of starting offensive linemen in right tackle Drew Azzopardi and center Landen Hatchett. Quarterback Demond Williams Jr. was pressured a season-high 21 times by the Badgers and sacked on four occasions.
“Protection,” said Huskies coach Jedd Fisch, “wasn’t as good as we wanted it.”
The Boilermakers (2-8, 0-7) have lost eight in a row, including a 34-10 defeat to No. 1 Ohio State last weekend.
Purdue has had some success against dual-threat quarterbacks like Williams, who ranks fifth in the Big Ten in passing yards per game (250.1) and has nearly 500 yards rushing.
“He’s most talented when he’s been able to move and run,” Purdue defensive coordinator Mike Scherer said. “His arm talent when he’s on the run is extremely good, too.”
The Boilermakers will be without leader rusher Devin Mockobee, who recently underwent season-ending ankle surgery.
