Indiana University Athletics
Quoted: Walt Bell Introductory Press Conference
12/12/2021 1:16:00 PM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – New Indiana football offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Walt Bell addressed the media for the first time on Sunday (Dec. 12).
Below is a partial transcript of the press conference, while video of the full media session can be found on the right sidebar at IUHoosiers.com.
Walt Bell | Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
Opening Statement
WB: I think the biggest thing from, and everyone wants an opening statement, I think number one is how incredibly excited I am to be here. Having been at Maryland in 2016 and 2017 when Coach Allen was the [defensive] coordinator in '16 and then the head coach in '17, is just what Coach Allen has done here is incredible in of itself, to go to an Outback Bowl and Gator Bowl, I mean, he has done incredible things here. Then, to have a chance to come work for an unbelievable man and an unbelievable human being like Tom Allen. Those two things: to work for a guy that has accomplished a lot of things people didn't think you could do at the time and to also have a chance to work for an unbelievable human being. Those two things are really what excites me about being here. Excited to be here and can't wait to get to work.
After that, any questions that you guys have.
On what made this position fit for him...
WB: I think the biggest thing was our first initial conversations were really just getting to know each other. I think more than anything else, we have competed against each other in the past, we have some people that are really important in his professional life and my professional life, there is some common crossover there. After the kind of get-to-know each other things, it just me as an offensive coordinator and he as the head football coach, because ultimately my job is to do exactly what he wants done. I think that is really important.
Obviously, I have been in the role of head coach, been in the role of offensive coordinator at different places for different guys, so number one after the get-to-know each other thing, part of the reason is how we approach the game, what's important to him outside of the white lines and was that important to me. Once we figured that out, then really the Xs and Os piece kind of takes care of itself. If you are surrounding yourself with good people, and again, piggybacking off the opening statement, he is a world-class man and about all of the right things. So hopefully I can help score points and help do the job and do it in a way that satisfies him and the way he wants the program run.
On how he views quarterback play...
WB: To me it is all about winnable tools. When I got to Arkansas State in 2014, we inherited a guy at the time that was a little bit more of a dual-threat, run-around guy, but to me it is about winnable tools. It is kind of a sliding scale, the greater distributor that he is the little bit less of an athlete that he has to be, and if he is not going to be a great distributor he is going to have to be a really dynamic athlete. It is about winnable tools and what can you win with.
Ideally, which is probably what you are trying to get to, you want somebody that is a top-line distributor, but somebody that also can expect plays and win with his feet, run situationally when called up to help the football team, whether that be third downs, red zone/score zone, because we are in a league that if you run these guys a lot, this is a really physical league. Whether it be a guy like Austin Davis who played for us at Southern Miss, who was a great distributor, but could take care of himself. Mitchell Trubisky is a great example. But, I have never been fortunate enough to be somewhere that you get to pick that guy. Again, what are their winnable tools and what can we do as an offense to make sure we are asking that young man to do what he does well and not putting him in a position to do things he is not very good at. It is a little bit of a sliding scale. Ultimately, you want a great distributor, somebody that can extend plays, win a couple of third downs with his feet, and run situationally.
On what he can bring schematically to help the offense evolve as a whole...
WB: First and foremost, I got here Monday (Dec. 5) afternoon, was here for probably less than 24 hour and then on the road recruiting. From what I have seen from our offensive personnel has been on TV and I have watched a little bit of game tape yesterday in between things we have to do through the recruiting weekend. I would be lying if I told you I had a great feel for our offensive personnel.
I know we played a lot of quarterbacks, got some receivers that are gone, we feel pretty good about our tight ends room. I kind of know of them, but I would be lying if I said I had an unbelievable grasp of where guys are going to fit, how we are going to help them improve. I don't have a great grasp of that right now, but we will. Once we get through this recruiting weekend, which we are still a part of, then Monday and Tuesday as we go into Wednesday's Signing Day. Once we are not recruiting that is probably what I will dive in to.
On his offensive philosophy...
WB: I think offensive philosophy, number one, no matter what level of football you are in, be it middle school football, high school football, college football, or NFL football, you've got to be able to effectively run the football. How you get that done is some quarterback driven, some systematically driven and, honestly, your offensive line and the personnel. Then, how can you win, where are your better players, how can you create matchups, where can we dent the defense. Number one is you have to be able to effectively run the football. Then, number two, you have to be able to create, no matter who your quarterback is and how your skill is, somehow, some way you have to create a quick, efficient, well-protected pass game that can create explosives.
Between those two things, overall from a philosophy standpoint, I think those are the things that have to be done to have any positive impact on the impact on the offensive whatsoever. The second question, in terms of pace and tempo, again, that has been a part [of what we have done], but different things for different places. More than anything else, that, to me, is a reflection of what Coach Allen wants and what he wants this program ultimately to look like. That could be a week-to-week thing. That could be an all the time thing, so I am going to defer to Coach Allen on that. Obviously, we have had some very in-detailed conversations about what he wants this to look like, but at the same time, I'd like to keep as much as close to the vest as humanly possible as long as possible. Sorry for dancing around your question, but that's the truth.
Below is a partial transcript of the press conference, while video of the full media session can be found on the right sidebar at IUHoosiers.com.
Walt Bell | Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
Opening Statement
WB: I think the biggest thing from, and everyone wants an opening statement, I think number one is how incredibly excited I am to be here. Having been at Maryland in 2016 and 2017 when Coach Allen was the [defensive] coordinator in '16 and then the head coach in '17, is just what Coach Allen has done here is incredible in of itself, to go to an Outback Bowl and Gator Bowl, I mean, he has done incredible things here. Then, to have a chance to come work for an unbelievable man and an unbelievable human being like Tom Allen. Those two things: to work for a guy that has accomplished a lot of things people didn't think you could do at the time and to also have a chance to work for an unbelievable human being. Those two things are really what excites me about being here. Excited to be here and can't wait to get to work.
After that, any questions that you guys have.
On what made this position fit for him...
WB: I think the biggest thing was our first initial conversations were really just getting to know each other. I think more than anything else, we have competed against each other in the past, we have some people that are really important in his professional life and my professional life, there is some common crossover there. After the kind of get-to-know each other things, it just me as an offensive coordinator and he as the head football coach, because ultimately my job is to do exactly what he wants done. I think that is really important.
Obviously, I have been in the role of head coach, been in the role of offensive coordinator at different places for different guys, so number one after the get-to-know each other thing, part of the reason is how we approach the game, what's important to him outside of the white lines and was that important to me. Once we figured that out, then really the Xs and Os piece kind of takes care of itself. If you are surrounding yourself with good people, and again, piggybacking off the opening statement, he is a world-class man and about all of the right things. So hopefully I can help score points and help do the job and do it in a way that satisfies him and the way he wants the program run.
On how he views quarterback play...
WB: To me it is all about winnable tools. When I got to Arkansas State in 2014, we inherited a guy at the time that was a little bit more of a dual-threat, run-around guy, but to me it is about winnable tools. It is kind of a sliding scale, the greater distributor that he is the little bit less of an athlete that he has to be, and if he is not going to be a great distributor he is going to have to be a really dynamic athlete. It is about winnable tools and what can you win with.
Ideally, which is probably what you are trying to get to, you want somebody that is a top-line distributor, but somebody that also can expect plays and win with his feet, run situationally when called up to help the football team, whether that be third downs, red zone/score zone, because we are in a league that if you run these guys a lot, this is a really physical league. Whether it be a guy like Austin Davis who played for us at Southern Miss, who was a great distributor, but could take care of himself. Mitchell Trubisky is a great example. But, I have never been fortunate enough to be somewhere that you get to pick that guy. Again, what are their winnable tools and what can we do as an offense to make sure we are asking that young man to do what he does well and not putting him in a position to do things he is not very good at. It is a little bit of a sliding scale. Ultimately, you want a great distributor, somebody that can extend plays, win a couple of third downs with his feet, and run situationally.
On what he can bring schematically to help the offense evolve as a whole...
WB: First and foremost, I got here Monday (Dec. 5) afternoon, was here for probably less than 24 hour and then on the road recruiting. From what I have seen from our offensive personnel has been on TV and I have watched a little bit of game tape yesterday in between things we have to do through the recruiting weekend. I would be lying if I told you I had a great feel for our offensive personnel.
I know we played a lot of quarterbacks, got some receivers that are gone, we feel pretty good about our tight ends room. I kind of know of them, but I would be lying if I said I had an unbelievable grasp of where guys are going to fit, how we are going to help them improve. I don't have a great grasp of that right now, but we will. Once we get through this recruiting weekend, which we are still a part of, then Monday and Tuesday as we go into Wednesday's Signing Day. Once we are not recruiting that is probably what I will dive in to.
On his offensive philosophy...
WB: I think offensive philosophy, number one, no matter what level of football you are in, be it middle school football, high school football, college football, or NFL football, you've got to be able to effectively run the football. How you get that done is some quarterback driven, some systematically driven and, honestly, your offensive line and the personnel. Then, how can you win, where are your better players, how can you create matchups, where can we dent the defense. Number one is you have to be able to effectively run the football. Then, number two, you have to be able to create, no matter who your quarterback is and how your skill is, somehow, some way you have to create a quick, efficient, well-protected pass game that can create explosives.
Between those two things, overall from a philosophy standpoint, I think those are the things that have to be done to have any positive impact on the impact on the offensive whatsoever. The second question, in terms of pace and tempo, again, that has been a part [of what we have done], but different things for different places. More than anything else, that, to me, is a reflection of what Coach Allen wants and what he wants this program ultimately to look like. That could be a week-to-week thing. That could be an all the time thing, so I am going to defer to Coach Allen on that. Obviously, we have had some very in-detailed conversations about what he wants this to look like, but at the same time, I'd like to keep as much as close to the vest as humanly possible as long as possible. Sorry for dancing around your question, but that's the truth.
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