UTEP Miners coach Scotty Walden says QB depth chart has not changed, Malachi Nelson will get the start against Liberty as UTEP begins midweek games.
UTEP coach Scotty Walden didn't wait for the first question at his weekly news conference to promote UTEP's midweek game against Liberty to address the Miners' quarterback situation.
Coming off a four-interception game in a loss to Louisiana Tech, Malachi Nelson is still the starter as UTEP prepares for its Wednesday, Oct. 8, game — the first of three games on either Tuesday or Wednesday in October.
Scotty Walden: Malachi Nelson still UTEP's QB
"Our depth chart has not changed," Walden said. "We recognize we need to play better at the quarterback position and that starts with me, putting our quarterback in great spots and making sure we have a really good plan that's crystal clear on where our eyes need to be and what we need to be.
"Quarterbacks take too much credit and get too much blame. Guys around him in the offense need to play better, we need to coach better, we need to play better."
As to how long the leash is against a Liberty team that also comes in 1-4, Walden said he doesn't think that way. He did pull Nelson after the fourth interception in favor of Skyler Locklear but he doesn't have a set formula for when to make a change.
"It depends on the game," Walden said. "I'm thinking about the whole season. Sometimes you have to let a guy play through mistakes, you can't just pull someone every time they make a mistake, especially at the quarterback spot.
"A guy throws a pick I'm going to let him throw the ball again. Hey man, you have to get back up on that horse and put that behind you. I want to see the mental toughness to come back and keep throwing punches.
"The thing I look for is the response from the offense to the quarterback. When you feel like you need a spark, that's when you make the change."
Walden explains kicker change
UTEP also made a change at kicker against Louisiana Tech that may or may not mean something going into the game against Liberty. After Clint grad Carlos Arreola had a kick blocked at the end of the first half, Tanner Cragun came in for his UTEP debut (he made 7-of-9 field goals at Utah State last year) and made a second-half field goal.
Walden said that was a situational decision, though it's worth noting Cragun now appears atop the two-deep UTEP released for the Liberty game.
"We knew what type of block (Louisiana Tech was) trying to bring and where they were trying to bring it," Walden said. "We knew we needed a higher trajectory kick. Tanner has shown that in practice.
"Carlos was the first guy loving him up. When Carlos is making those field goals Tanner is the first one loving him up. We have a 1-2 punch at kicker that's pretty unique. We'll gauge that by situation and what the field goal block is trying to do to us."
Scouting Liberty
Liberty has been the class of Conference USA since joining the league in 2023, but is down this year, as it comes in 1-4. Walden said he sees similarities to his 1-4 team, which he means as a big compliment.
"I know their record isn't what they want it to be right now," Walden said. "Listening to coach (Jamey) Chadwell talk and looking at them on tape, they are a similar story to us. They've hit some key injuries, but they've got guys and they are really well coached. They may be the best to this point schematic team we've played.
"They do a great job in all three phases of keeping you off balance, their pass defense is the best pass defense in the conference, their offense is always going to test you with their option."
Liberty quarterback Ethan Vasco was injured two weeks ago against James Madison and did not play last week in the 21-7 loss to Old Dominion, but Walden expects him to play against UTEP. Liberty, typical of every program in the country, has given no word on his availability.
"He can throw it, he can run it, he's a heck of a player," Walden said. "Their formation, their schemes make it a bear to prepare for. ... But it's all about us, correcting our mistakes."
Walden's take on midweek games
Walden began his Friday press conference in an interesting way.
"Happy Monday!" he said. "In my world it's Monday. It's Monday for us. I have to keep telling myself so I get it right."
His point, of course, is that Friday is five days before game day, just like a Monday is before a normal Saturday game. The two biggest practices this week, instead of Monday and Tuesday, were/are Friday and Saturday.
What Walden likes most about this is how the schedule sets up. UTEP has 10 days off before Liberty, then seven days before a Wednesday game against Sam Houston, then 13 days off, though a bye, before playing Kennesaw State on a Tuesday. The Miners then have 11 days before resuming Saturday football against Jacksonville State on Nov. 8.
That's the kind of schedule Walden likes.
"They listened to feedback from the coaches," Walden said. "It's not the midweek games as coaches (they dislike), it's when the days fluctuate. Last year we went from a Thursday to a Wednesday, then a Wednesday to a Tuesday. That's difficult. When you play on consistent dates — we want routines. The more you can keep us in that the better."
A new routine starts Wednesday against Liberty.
Bret Bloomquist can be reached at [email protected]; @Bretbloomquist on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: UTEP coach Walden not changing QB1 as Liberty comes to Sun Bowl
Category: General Sports
