OPPONENT: Charlotte

SUBJECT: 49ers Defensive coordinator Matt Wallerstedt

Instead of a standard preview each week, we’ve decided to simply talk straight to someone with intimate knowledge of the other guys. This week, it’s a familiar face - Charlotte defensive coordinator Matt Wallerstedt, who graduated from K-State in 1988, led the Wildcats in tackles from his linebacker spot in last two seasons in Manhattan, and later was an assistant coach for two years at K-State on Ron Prince’s staff.

Q: How much of a challenge has this been?

A: This has been kind of a work in progress getting this thing jump-started, the fifth year of competitive ball. Now in Year 3 of FBS, so some good, some bad and some ugly. Guys are learning, learning how to win here, didn’t do a good job of finishing last year after we had two huge wins on the road against Marshall and Southern Miss. Felt we had a chance to win two of the last three and dropped all three to not get bowl eligible. They’re getting a taste of it - still trying to learn how to finish. Obviously been competitive, just trying to get over the hump. But Saturday will be a whole another animal for us, trying to deal with Kansas State’s personnel - No. 1 - and their schemes should be a really good task for our defense.

Q: What makes K-State so challenging?

A: The thing for us, personnel-wise, is the size of their offensive line. Their physicality, their tight end is as big as they are. You have those issues. But Coach Snyder and his staff do a great job schematically and getting multiple hats in the different gaps - pullers, fullback, obviously - you’re really playing a Wildcat set - literally - the Wildcat package with (quarterback Jesse) Ertz being capable of being that other running back. Whether it’s a one-back scheme, it’s really two-back. If it’s two-back, it’s actually a three-back. How do you defend that if you start adding safeties to the box, or both safeties? Then you’re hanging your corners out. Are they fast enough to match up with No. 9 (Byron Pringle) and No. 4 (Dominique Heath)? Those are the issues, that’s what hurt Central Arkansas. They couldn’t get pressure on him by rushing four. Play action, they were loading the box with the safeties and leaving the corners hung out. If you continue to do that and live in one coverage, they’re going to sit there and drill into you.

Q: You went to K-State. You’ve coached at K-State. Amazed at what Bill Snyder has built?

A: I think what he has done is brilliant. The way they’ve recruited, the way he does his program has obviously been one of the greatest success stories in college football.

Q: How is this team different than some of his others?

A: 9 (Pringle), 4 (Heath), and 2 (Isaiah Harris) can really stress your secondary. And when you have a run game that’s as good as they’ve got, that’s solid, it’s pick your poison. We have to do a good job of making them work the field. Hopefully the longer into a drive we go, maybe the odds go with us, make them make mistakes, turn the ball over. Try to keep a lid on it, eliminate explosive runs and explosive passes. Talent-wise, they don’t go after the 4- and 5-stars … Still blue-collar, disciplined, everything he’s about they buy into.

Q: Is this return to Manhattan going to be awkward?

A: It will be emotional. It’s my first time being back as an opponent. That part… It will be fun being with Brad Lambert - we were roommates my senior year. He's been back one time for a family reunion almost 10 years ago, when he walked through the old facility. But he hasn’t been there in a game setting. When I went back with (former coach Ron) Prince, I’d been gone since 1988, when I was a student coach. Almost been gone 20 years. Now, on game day and you’re coaching, it’s like, ‘Wow, this place has changed.’ It’s a great college atmosphere - those fans are fired up about what’s going on in there and that wasn't the case when I was there.

Q: In helping build Charlotte, do you look at what Snyder has done at K-State as inspiration? How is progress and success measured in your situation?

A: The funny thing about it is the expectations are the same - we all want to win, and we all want to win yesterday. The reality is when they built this, initially it was going to be a I-AA program for a while. But then they got the invite to Conference USA, so the first few recruiting classes, you’re grabbing guys you’re beating NOBODY on, and that was the first class that just left here… As we go, more media exposure now, more enthusiasm as this thing continues to grow every year with the fan base, which wants to see us win right now, that’s picking up. We doubled our win total from two years ago to get it to four - it’s increments. If we can get to six wins this year and get to a bowl game, that would be huge for this program. I thought all along, when Brad (Lambert) took over this program, when he got hired, I said, ‘Man, if they back you the right way, financially and what you need, you guys will grow and has the potential to be what South Florida ended up being.’ Just the recruiting base, so many players in the area. It’s got a chance. Everyone that has been in here - the stadium is first-class, it’s a little small now, but it has to plans to grow as we grow. The athletic director is behind Brad all the way. Everything has been positive.