3yardsandacloud
Administrator Emeritus
2005 Northwestern Wildcats Game Preview
written by: BB73, Bucklion, DaddyBigBucks, daddyphatsacs,
Hubbard, Jaxbuck, LordJeffBuck, and 3yardsandacloud
written by: BB73, Bucklion, DaddyBigBucks, daddyphatsacs,
Hubbard, Jaxbuck, LordJeffBuck, and 3yardsandacloud
As we look forward to this Saturday's game in the 'Shoe against Northwestern, it's important to note that this will be the final home game for many guys who have played their hearts out on that field.
This will be the last home-field contest for these Buckeyes: Bobby Carpenter, John Conroy, Tyler Everett, Marcus Green, Rob Harley, A.J. Hawk, Josh Huston, Mike Kudla, Nick Mangold, Nate Salley, Anthony Schlegel, Rob Sims, Andree Tyree, and Steve Winner.
Ryan Hamby and Brandon Schnittker will also be making their last entrance with the team this week, although injuries may prevent them from being able to play.
Santonio Holmes may be playing his last home game as a Buckeye, pending the NFL decision he'll make after the bowl game. One or two other names could be mentioned here, but they've not been listed; clinging to the foolish notion that since their names aren't here, they won't be able to leave early, and we'll be able to enjoy watching them play one more season.
Over the last four years, we've all seen their efforts as the team has posted a 40-8 record, including that perfect 14-0 mark in 2002, with three games left in their college football careers. The noise in the stadium Saturday afternoon should reflect how proud all Buckeye fans are of the performance of these student-athletes.
Since the opponent is a program that has only won 1 bowl game in its entire history, and has only had one 10-win season in the last 100 years, is it possible that the team will be looking ahead to the last game of the regular season, against that squad-from-up-north-that-will-not-be-named? Hopefully anybody on the team would answer that question with something like this:
"Are you kidding me? This is our final home game and we've gotta pay them back for what happened in Evanston last year!"
As we all know, what happened last year was the first Northwestern win over tOSU since 1971. But this is no longer the 'Mildcats' or 'Pretty-Kitties' from the old days.
In 1997 they shut out Oklahoma 24-0. They actually have a 3-1 all-time record against the Sooners, a 1-0 slate against Texas, and a 21-10 overall mark against current Big-12 teams. Now, since the Wildcats only have a winning record against one Big-10 team (Indiana), what does that say about the Big-12 in relation to the Big-10?
But Northwestern has won or shared 3 Big-10 titles in the previous 10 years, although each of those was in a year where they avoided playing tOSU. Gary Barnett and Randy Walker have made them a respectable team that can occasionally have an excellent year.
Walker is currently tied with Barnett and Ara Parseghian for second most career wins as a Wildcat head coach, with 36. Pappy Waldorf holds that record with 49 wins between 1935 and 1946, and Ara's 36-35-1 mark (just before leaving for Notre Dame) is the only winning record for anyone since Waldorf.
But enough about Northwestern's history for now. Randy Walker will have other days where he can break that tie with Barnett and Parseghian.
This game should be all about the Buckeye seniors finishing their contests in Columbus with a win in the Horseshoe; the fact that a victory will avenge something that happened last year is just icing on the cake.
This will be the last home-field contest for these Buckeyes: Bobby Carpenter, John Conroy, Tyler Everett, Marcus Green, Rob Harley, A.J. Hawk, Josh Huston, Mike Kudla, Nick Mangold, Nate Salley, Anthony Schlegel, Rob Sims, Andree Tyree, and Steve Winner.
Ryan Hamby and Brandon Schnittker will also be making their last entrance with the team this week, although injuries may prevent them from being able to play.
Santonio Holmes may be playing his last home game as a Buckeye, pending the NFL decision he'll make after the bowl game. One or two other names could be mentioned here, but they've not been listed; clinging to the foolish notion that since their names aren't here, they won't be able to leave early, and we'll be able to enjoy watching them play one more season.
Over the last four years, we've all seen their efforts as the team has posted a 40-8 record, including that perfect 14-0 mark in 2002, with three games left in their college football careers. The noise in the stadium Saturday afternoon should reflect how proud all Buckeye fans are of the performance of these student-athletes.
Since the opponent is a program that has only won 1 bowl game in its entire history, and has only had one 10-win season in the last 100 years, is it possible that the team will be looking ahead to the last game of the regular season, against that squad-from-up-north-that-will-not-be-named? Hopefully anybody on the team would answer that question with something like this:
"Are you kidding me? This is our final home game and we've gotta pay them back for what happened in Evanston last year!"
As we all know, what happened last year was the first Northwestern win over tOSU since 1971. But this is no longer the 'Mildcats' or 'Pretty-Kitties' from the old days.
In 1997 they shut out Oklahoma 24-0. They actually have a 3-1 all-time record against the Sooners, a 1-0 slate against Texas, and a 21-10 overall mark against current Big-12 teams. Now, since the Wildcats only have a winning record against one Big-10 team (Indiana), what does that say about the Big-12 in relation to the Big-10?
But Northwestern has won or shared 3 Big-10 titles in the previous 10 years, although each of those was in a year where they avoided playing tOSU. Gary Barnett and Randy Walker have made them a respectable team that can occasionally have an excellent year.
Walker is currently tied with Barnett and Ara Parseghian for second most career wins as a Wildcat head coach, with 36. Pappy Waldorf holds that record with 49 wins between 1935 and 1946, and Ara's 36-35-1 mark (just before leaving for Notre Dame) is the only winning record for anyone since Waldorf.
But enough about Northwestern's history for now. Randy Walker will have other days where he can break that tie with Barnett and Parseghian.
This game should be all about the Buckeye seniors finishing their contests in Columbus with a win in the Horseshoe; the fact that a victory will avenge something that happened last year is just icing on the cake.
Date and Time
Game time: Saturday, November 12th, 2005
12:10 EST Kick-off at Ohio Stadium (Columbus, OH)
ABC (Regional Coverage) will televise the game.
12:10 EST Kick-off at Ohio Stadium (Columbus, OH)
ABC (Regional Coverage) will televise the game.
2005 Northwestern Wildcats Offensive Preview
Returning starters: 5
Gone are the halcyon days of the Big Ten, where all of the teams played smash-mouth football, and settled for an average offense, a great defense, and good special teams. This season, 3 of the nation’s top 10 offenses currently reside in the Big Ten conference. Ohio State has beaten two of them, and play the final one this week. The fact that Northwestern’s offense is as successful as is in 2005 more of a surprise than people might think. The team posted decent, but not outstanding, numbers in 2004. They were 29th in total offense, with 409.5 ypg. Their passing (237.3 ypg, 41st) and rushing (172.2 ypg, 39th) numbers were both respectable, but the telling number was their paltry 24.6 points per game, only 64th nationally. The translation: Northwestern could move the ball up and down the field at will between the 20s, but couldn’t finish drives when it counted. This year, the goals were to find another running back to replace the versatile Noah Herron, and hope that Basanez’s continued improvement allowed the team to rely on him throughout the season.
And what a season 2005 has been for the Wildcat offense. Joe Tiller and Purdue might get the A-level hype, but Northwestern has run offensive coordinator Mike Dunbar’s modified spread option about as well as it can be run for most of 2005. The team is 7th in the nation in yards per game (513.2), and they boast a deadly balance of rushing (189.0, 27th nationally) and passing (319.1, 7th nationally), both of which are up from a season ago. Most telling is the improved scoring, with their 33.9 ppg tied for 22nd nationally, and up almost a full 10 points from 2004. Not only has Basanez had a great season, but the emergence of little-known Tyrell Sutton has kept the offense versatile and given opposing defense headaches. Most of the Wildcat games have been wild, entertaining affairs this season, and it could be that this Saturday’s game fits that description as well. The Buckeyes will need to bring their best effort to control and contain this versatile option attack, and it will be essential to keep Sutton under wraps and force Basanez to throw downfield under pressure.
Quarterbacks
QB #14 Brett Basanez (6-2, 210, SR)
Basanez is an interesting story. He had a nightmare of a season in 2003, throwing for only 1858 yards on 54% completions and throwing 12 INTs to only 4 TDs, and was sacked 21 times en route to a 6-7 record. He bounced back to have better, though limited, success last year, throwing for 2838 yards, again on only 54% completions, with 12 TDs, and 9 INTs, as the Wildcats narrowly missed a bowl at 6-6. This season, his numbers have progressed further, and he is having the kind of year that keeps the teams in games and will send them to a bowl game. So far in 2005, he has thrown for 2845 yards, already a career high, with 16 TDs. More telling are 3 numbers he has improved on dramatically: he has only thrown 5 INTs, he has only been sacked 7 times, and his completion % is up 10 points to 64.7%. This improvement has cut down on the turnovers, increased the scoring, and allowed the team to win games like the Wisconsin contest this year. He has thrown for at least 2 TDs in every game since the Penn State loss, and he has thrown for at least 300 yards in every game since then as well, including a ridiculous 463 against Purdue and 361 in their big win over Wisconsin. He puts the ball up a lot (at least 30 attempts every game, and over 50 twice) and completes a lot of passes. Against Penn State and Michigan, both losses, he completed around 52% ... against everyone else, it’s well over 60%, including 80% against Michigan State in their 49-14 blowout. Obviously, the Buckeyes will have to eliminate his safe throws, and try to get him to take chances downfield by applying pressure to him, because when Basanez is comfortable, he is deadly throwing the ball.
Basanez is also a threat to run, and he is second on the team with 85 carries for 320 yards and 5 TDs. He’s cut down on his attempts since the Penn State contest, averaging between 3-12 carries per contest. Penn State forced him to run, as he had a season high 21 attempts for only 54 yards, so again, the Buckeyes will need to take the safe throws away and force him to either run or throw downfield, where the secondary can take advantage. The front 7 will have to be mindful of his running ability however, as he can get big first downs on scrambles at any time.
Freshman C. J. Bacher is the backup and heir apparent. He’s a small, shifty player (6-2, 190) who has attempted just 6 passes this year, completing 3 of them for 27 yards, a TD and an INT. If he sees the field Saturday, Northwestern is probably in trouble.
QB Rating: A-
Head-to-Head: Brett Basanez versus Troy Smith
This one is a much tougher call than it would have been a month ago. Smith is starting to look like the QB everyone hoped he could become, and with Pittman’s help, he has the offense firing on all cylinders. Basanez has been subpar when it mattered most (Penn State, Michigan), but he did play a great game against a good Wisconsin team, and had a nice comeback against Iowa last week. Smith is probably more dangerous as a runner, and Basanez is probably a better passer, but both quarterbacks are versatile, and both are playing well. Call this one even based on how both are playing now, and not the cumulative season.
Edge: Even
Running Backs
RB #19 Tyrell Sutton (5-9, 190, FR)
One might think that Sutton could never survive against an average Big Ten defensive line, but don’t let the stature fool you: he is an elusive back, but a tough runner who has proven he can take a beating. Sutton has come out of virtually nowhere to have a fabulous season, catching fire midway and totaling 1085 yards and a gaudy 16 rushing TDs, on 5.9 ypc. He’s rushed for over 200 yards twice, including his breakout game against Wisconsin, whom he torched for 244 yards and 4 total TDs, 3 rushing. He also scored twice each against Penn State and Michigan State, going over the 100 yard mark both times. His last two games have been subpar, however, as he gained just 50 against Michigan and 65 against Iowa. He’ll be looking to bounce back this week, though the Ohio State defense is hardly the team to try and bounce back against. In addition to rushing, Sutton can catch the ball, netting 300 yards on 31 receptions and scoring against Wisconsin. He has caught ten balls total in the last 2 games, so he is still involved in the passing game, despite tapering off some in the rushing game.
Second on the depth chart is sophomore Brandon Roberson, a player of similar build to Sutton who has 23 carries for 125 yards. He had 4 carries two games ago against Michigan and none last week against Iowa, so it is unclear how often he will see the field Saturday.
Third on the chart is Gerard Hamlett, who is also a smaller runner capable of leaking out of the backfield. He has totaled 26 carries for 124 yards, but hasn’t accumulated a carry the last 2 weeks.
The Northwestern backs are good, but they are all of similar size, build, and style. There is no change of pace or goal line runner to bring in for Randy Walker, which could be an advantage for the defense.
RB Rating: B+
Head-to-Head: Sutton versus Pittman
Sutton has tapered off in recent weeks, and Pittman has exploded. He ran for 171 against Iowa and 186 against Minnesota, showing he was just as impressive as the hyped backfield in Minneapolis. Over the course of the season, these two have been about even, but given the emergence of Pittman in recent weeks, he’s clearly playing better right now, and with as bad as the Wildcat defense is, expect another huge game Saturday.
Edge: Pittman
Wide Receivers
WR #84 Kim Thompson (6-4, 195, SO)
WR #9 Mark Philmore (5-10, 185, SR)
WR #3 Shaun Herbert (6-1, 200, JR)
As one might expect, this offense gives the receivers plenty of work, and there is plenty of talent here to work with. Of the starters, Herbert has put up the biggest numbers, catching 66 passes so far for 744 yards and 5 TDs, all team highs. His size presents challenges that the other receivers don’t: he is tall, physical, and can present matchup problems. He’s caught at least 7 passes six times, including 11 against Purdue and 10 against Michigan State. He’s only scored 1 TD in Big Ten play, however that was last week against Iowa. Philmore is third on the team in catches (39) and second in yards (526) and TDs (4). He has emerged as the go-to receiver in recent weeks. After playing sparingly early, he broke out with 6 catches for 97 yards and a TD against Wisconsin, and the last 2 weeks, he’s been the main man, catching 9 for 139 and 2 scores against Michigan, and 10 for 123 against Iowa. He is the receiver that is most likely to stretch the field on the Buckeyes Saturday. Thompson has caught 17 passes for 305 yards and a score. He’s caught 2-4 balls in each Big Ten contest, so he hasn’t been a huge presence, but he can make a catch when the team needs it.
Senior fourth man Jonathan Fields has gotten plenty of work, and will continue to do so, especially in the spread, where they frequently run 4 receivers out there. He’s caught 46 passes for 402 yards, but has yet to score. He caught 7 passes last week against Iowa, bouncing back from just 1 against Michigan. He’ll see the field plenty, and the Buckeye secondary needs to watch out for him. Other backups include freshmen Rasheed Ward (7 catches, 99 yards, TD), Ross Lane (13 catches, 193 yards, TD), and Eric Peterman (8 catches, 126 yards, 2 TDs) and all could see the field and contribute at any time. Overall, this unit has talent, but it’s greatest strength is probably the quality depth.
WR Rating: B+
Head-to-Head: Thompson/Philmore/Herbert versus Holmes/Ginn/Gonzalez
These units are both good, and there is little that is negative to say about either. The Buckeye unit probably has the best player of the lot (Holmes) and the most explosive (Ginn) so the edge goes to the Buckeyes, though don’t look at the Wildcat unit negatively at all.
Edge: Holmes/Ginn/Gonzalez
Tight Ends
TE #44 Erryn Cobb (6-1, 255, JR)
Cobb is a blocker, and has caught only 2 passes for 29 yards this year. He plays sparingly, but can help out with the running game in the red zone.
TE Rating: C
Head-to-Head: Erryn Cobb versus Ohio State
This really isn’t a fair comparison, as the Buckeyes are dealing with injuries to Ryan Hamby and the Wildcats don’t use the TE much. As such, give the edge to the Buckeyes.
Edge: Ohio State
Offensive Line
LT #74 Dylan Thiry (6-8, 300, SO)
LG #51 Joe Tripodi (6-3, 300, JR)
C #62 Austin Matthews (6-5, 285, SO)
RG #56 Ryan Keenan (6-4, 290, JR)
RT #63 Zach Strief (6-7, 335, SR)
This is a group that is lower on the experience end, but they are a smart and athletically adept bunch that has run the complex schemes of the Wildcats with very good success this season. Gargantuan tackle Strief is the unquestioned leader, and may very well have an NFL future. LT Thiry is also a monster at 6-8, and is difficult to get around, let alone through. The middle of the line is a bit smaller, but they use that to their advantage, running a lot of misdirection, counters, and traps. The quality of this group is evident in the very low sack number of Basanez in 2005, and also in the improvements in both passing and running per game. The Buckeye front 7 will have their work cut out with this bunch.
This line is not deep at all, as freshmen OT Kurt Mattes backs up both tackle spots, with freshman G Alex Rucks, sophomore G Adam Crum, and freshman C Joel Belding the rest of the two-deep. If the starters get hurt, this team won’t be nearly as good, and they can’t lose Strief under any circumstances.
OL Rating: B+
Head-to-Head: Northwestern versus Ohio State
The Buckeyes have picked up their game, as evidence by Pittman’s sharp increase in production. Smith has also had some more time to find receivers of late. The Wildcat line has been good for most of the season, as there can’t be fantastic finishes to games like Iowa and Wisconsin if the skill players are on their backs. Both lines earn the nod here.
Edge: Even
Offensive Analysis
Randy Walker has done a good job with this group this year. They have supplemented their gaudy yardage numbers with more points, and have turned the ball over sparingly. Looking over this group, they have begun to show signs of wearing down, and most of the edges are pushes or go to Ohio State. This does not indicate that the Wildcats don’t have a great offense, because they do. However, they were unable to hold a big lead over Penn State, and also struggled against Michigan and Iowa, so the offense hasn’t been at its best against the best competition. They did play very well against Wisconsin and Michigan State, but those teams have much weaker defenses. This is the final chance for this unit to prove themselves against elite competition, as they finish with Illinois and will probably play in a second tier bowl game, though playing on New Year’s Day is certainly a possibility. If they want a crack at a share of a title, the offense must step up in a big way against arguably the conference’s, and perhaps the nation’s best defense, and certainly a unit that is as good as any in the conference or any they have played so far. Sit back and enjoy the show.
Overall Offensive Rating: A-
Gone are the halcyon days of the Big Ten, where all of the teams played smash-mouth football, and settled for an average offense, a great defense, and good special teams. This season, 3 of the nation’s top 10 offenses currently reside in the Big Ten conference. Ohio State has beaten two of them, and play the final one this week. The fact that Northwestern’s offense is as successful as is in 2005 more of a surprise than people might think. The team posted decent, but not outstanding, numbers in 2004. They were 29th in total offense, with 409.5 ypg. Their passing (237.3 ypg, 41st) and rushing (172.2 ypg, 39th) numbers were both respectable, but the telling number was their paltry 24.6 points per game, only 64th nationally. The translation: Northwestern could move the ball up and down the field at will between the 20s, but couldn’t finish drives when it counted. This year, the goals were to find another running back to replace the versatile Noah Herron, and hope that Basanez’s continued improvement allowed the team to rely on him throughout the season.
And what a season 2005 has been for the Wildcat offense. Joe Tiller and Purdue might get the A-level hype, but Northwestern has run offensive coordinator Mike Dunbar’s modified spread option about as well as it can be run for most of 2005. The team is 7th in the nation in yards per game (513.2), and they boast a deadly balance of rushing (189.0, 27th nationally) and passing (319.1, 7th nationally), both of which are up from a season ago. Most telling is the improved scoring, with their 33.9 ppg tied for 22nd nationally, and up almost a full 10 points from 2004. Not only has Basanez had a great season, but the emergence of little-known Tyrell Sutton has kept the offense versatile and given opposing defense headaches. Most of the Wildcat games have been wild, entertaining affairs this season, and it could be that this Saturday’s game fits that description as well. The Buckeyes will need to bring their best effort to control and contain this versatile option attack, and it will be essential to keep Sutton under wraps and force Basanez to throw downfield under pressure.
Quarterbacks
QB #14 Brett Basanez (6-2, 210, SR)
Basanez is an interesting story. He had a nightmare of a season in 2003, throwing for only 1858 yards on 54% completions and throwing 12 INTs to only 4 TDs, and was sacked 21 times en route to a 6-7 record. He bounced back to have better, though limited, success last year, throwing for 2838 yards, again on only 54% completions, with 12 TDs, and 9 INTs, as the Wildcats narrowly missed a bowl at 6-6. This season, his numbers have progressed further, and he is having the kind of year that keeps the teams in games and will send them to a bowl game. So far in 2005, he has thrown for 2845 yards, already a career high, with 16 TDs. More telling are 3 numbers he has improved on dramatically: he has only thrown 5 INTs, he has only been sacked 7 times, and his completion % is up 10 points to 64.7%. This improvement has cut down on the turnovers, increased the scoring, and allowed the team to win games like the Wisconsin contest this year. He has thrown for at least 2 TDs in every game since the Penn State loss, and he has thrown for at least 300 yards in every game since then as well, including a ridiculous 463 against Purdue and 361 in their big win over Wisconsin. He puts the ball up a lot (at least 30 attempts every game, and over 50 twice) and completes a lot of passes. Against Penn State and Michigan, both losses, he completed around 52% ... against everyone else, it’s well over 60%, including 80% against Michigan State in their 49-14 blowout. Obviously, the Buckeyes will have to eliminate his safe throws, and try to get him to take chances downfield by applying pressure to him, because when Basanez is comfortable, he is deadly throwing the ball.
Basanez is also a threat to run, and he is second on the team with 85 carries for 320 yards and 5 TDs. He’s cut down on his attempts since the Penn State contest, averaging between 3-12 carries per contest. Penn State forced him to run, as he had a season high 21 attempts for only 54 yards, so again, the Buckeyes will need to take the safe throws away and force him to either run or throw downfield, where the secondary can take advantage. The front 7 will have to be mindful of his running ability however, as he can get big first downs on scrambles at any time.
Freshman C. J. Bacher is the backup and heir apparent. He’s a small, shifty player (6-2, 190) who has attempted just 6 passes this year, completing 3 of them for 27 yards, a TD and an INT. If he sees the field Saturday, Northwestern is probably in trouble.
QB Rating: A-
Head-to-Head: Brett Basanez versus Troy Smith
This one is a much tougher call than it would have been a month ago. Smith is starting to look like the QB everyone hoped he could become, and with Pittman’s help, he has the offense firing on all cylinders. Basanez has been subpar when it mattered most (Penn State, Michigan), but he did play a great game against a good Wisconsin team, and had a nice comeback against Iowa last week. Smith is probably more dangerous as a runner, and Basanez is probably a better passer, but both quarterbacks are versatile, and both are playing well. Call this one even based on how both are playing now, and not the cumulative season.
Edge: Even
Running Backs
RB #19 Tyrell Sutton (5-9, 190, FR)
One might think that Sutton could never survive against an average Big Ten defensive line, but don’t let the stature fool you: he is an elusive back, but a tough runner who has proven he can take a beating. Sutton has come out of virtually nowhere to have a fabulous season, catching fire midway and totaling 1085 yards and a gaudy 16 rushing TDs, on 5.9 ypc. He’s rushed for over 200 yards twice, including his breakout game against Wisconsin, whom he torched for 244 yards and 4 total TDs, 3 rushing. He also scored twice each against Penn State and Michigan State, going over the 100 yard mark both times. His last two games have been subpar, however, as he gained just 50 against Michigan and 65 against Iowa. He’ll be looking to bounce back this week, though the Ohio State defense is hardly the team to try and bounce back against. In addition to rushing, Sutton can catch the ball, netting 300 yards on 31 receptions and scoring against Wisconsin. He has caught ten balls total in the last 2 games, so he is still involved in the passing game, despite tapering off some in the rushing game.
Second on the depth chart is sophomore Brandon Roberson, a player of similar build to Sutton who has 23 carries for 125 yards. He had 4 carries two games ago against Michigan and none last week against Iowa, so it is unclear how often he will see the field Saturday.
Third on the chart is Gerard Hamlett, who is also a smaller runner capable of leaking out of the backfield. He has totaled 26 carries for 124 yards, but hasn’t accumulated a carry the last 2 weeks.
The Northwestern backs are good, but they are all of similar size, build, and style. There is no change of pace or goal line runner to bring in for Randy Walker, which could be an advantage for the defense.
RB Rating: B+
Head-to-Head: Sutton versus Pittman
Sutton has tapered off in recent weeks, and Pittman has exploded. He ran for 171 against Iowa and 186 against Minnesota, showing he was just as impressive as the hyped backfield in Minneapolis. Over the course of the season, these two have been about even, but given the emergence of Pittman in recent weeks, he’s clearly playing better right now, and with as bad as the Wildcat defense is, expect another huge game Saturday.
Edge: Pittman
Wide Receivers
WR #84 Kim Thompson (6-4, 195, SO)
WR #9 Mark Philmore (5-10, 185, SR)
WR #3 Shaun Herbert (6-1, 200, JR)
As one might expect, this offense gives the receivers plenty of work, and there is plenty of talent here to work with. Of the starters, Herbert has put up the biggest numbers, catching 66 passes so far for 744 yards and 5 TDs, all team highs. His size presents challenges that the other receivers don’t: he is tall, physical, and can present matchup problems. He’s caught at least 7 passes six times, including 11 against Purdue and 10 against Michigan State. He’s only scored 1 TD in Big Ten play, however that was last week against Iowa. Philmore is third on the team in catches (39) and second in yards (526) and TDs (4). He has emerged as the go-to receiver in recent weeks. After playing sparingly early, he broke out with 6 catches for 97 yards and a TD against Wisconsin, and the last 2 weeks, he’s been the main man, catching 9 for 139 and 2 scores against Michigan, and 10 for 123 against Iowa. He is the receiver that is most likely to stretch the field on the Buckeyes Saturday. Thompson has caught 17 passes for 305 yards and a score. He’s caught 2-4 balls in each Big Ten contest, so he hasn’t been a huge presence, but he can make a catch when the team needs it.
Senior fourth man Jonathan Fields has gotten plenty of work, and will continue to do so, especially in the spread, where they frequently run 4 receivers out there. He’s caught 46 passes for 402 yards, but has yet to score. He caught 7 passes last week against Iowa, bouncing back from just 1 against Michigan. He’ll see the field plenty, and the Buckeye secondary needs to watch out for him. Other backups include freshmen Rasheed Ward (7 catches, 99 yards, TD), Ross Lane (13 catches, 193 yards, TD), and Eric Peterman (8 catches, 126 yards, 2 TDs) and all could see the field and contribute at any time. Overall, this unit has talent, but it’s greatest strength is probably the quality depth.
WR Rating: B+
Head-to-Head: Thompson/Philmore/Herbert versus Holmes/Ginn/Gonzalez
These units are both good, and there is little that is negative to say about either. The Buckeye unit probably has the best player of the lot (Holmes) and the most explosive (Ginn) so the edge goes to the Buckeyes, though don’t look at the Wildcat unit negatively at all.
Edge: Holmes/Ginn/Gonzalez
Tight Ends
TE #44 Erryn Cobb (6-1, 255, JR)
Cobb is a blocker, and has caught only 2 passes for 29 yards this year. He plays sparingly, but can help out with the running game in the red zone.
TE Rating: C
Head-to-Head: Erryn Cobb versus Ohio State
This really isn’t a fair comparison, as the Buckeyes are dealing with injuries to Ryan Hamby and the Wildcats don’t use the TE much. As such, give the edge to the Buckeyes.
Edge: Ohio State
Offensive Line
LT #74 Dylan Thiry (6-8, 300, SO)
LG #51 Joe Tripodi (6-3, 300, JR)
C #62 Austin Matthews (6-5, 285, SO)
RG #56 Ryan Keenan (6-4, 290, JR)
RT #63 Zach Strief (6-7, 335, SR)
This is a group that is lower on the experience end, but they are a smart and athletically adept bunch that has run the complex schemes of the Wildcats with very good success this season. Gargantuan tackle Strief is the unquestioned leader, and may very well have an NFL future. LT Thiry is also a monster at 6-8, and is difficult to get around, let alone through. The middle of the line is a bit smaller, but they use that to their advantage, running a lot of misdirection, counters, and traps. The quality of this group is evident in the very low sack number of Basanez in 2005, and also in the improvements in both passing and running per game. The Buckeye front 7 will have their work cut out with this bunch.
This line is not deep at all, as freshmen OT Kurt Mattes backs up both tackle spots, with freshman G Alex Rucks, sophomore G Adam Crum, and freshman C Joel Belding the rest of the two-deep. If the starters get hurt, this team won’t be nearly as good, and they can’t lose Strief under any circumstances.
OL Rating: B+
Head-to-Head: Northwestern versus Ohio State
The Buckeyes have picked up their game, as evidence by Pittman’s sharp increase in production. Smith has also had some more time to find receivers of late. The Wildcat line has been good for most of the season, as there can’t be fantastic finishes to games like Iowa and Wisconsin if the skill players are on their backs. Both lines earn the nod here.
Edge: Even
Offensive Analysis
Randy Walker has done a good job with this group this year. They have supplemented their gaudy yardage numbers with more points, and have turned the ball over sparingly. Looking over this group, they have begun to show signs of wearing down, and most of the edges are pushes or go to Ohio State. This does not indicate that the Wildcats don’t have a great offense, because they do. However, they were unable to hold a big lead over Penn State, and also struggled against Michigan and Iowa, so the offense hasn’t been at its best against the best competition. They did play very well against Wisconsin and Michigan State, but those teams have much weaker defenses. This is the final chance for this unit to prove themselves against elite competition, as they finish with Illinois and will probably play in a second tier bowl game, though playing on New Year’s Day is certainly a possibility. If they want a crack at a share of a title, the offense must step up in a big way against arguably the conference’s, and perhaps the nation’s best defense, and certainly a unit that is as good as any in the conference or any they have played so far. Sit back and enjoy the show.
Overall Offensive Rating: A-
2005 Northwestern Wildcats Defensive Preview
Returning Starters: 6
Revenge will be on the mind of the Ohio State faithful this week when the #25 Northwestern Wildcats come to Columbus on Senior Day in a key Big Ten match up. I think the loss last season in Evanston is still lurking in the back of everyone’s mind, and would be willing to bet that payback is on the mind of the Buckeyes. Northwestern certainly can put up points from an offensive standpoint, that is a given. Defensively they have been terrible, which is nothing new if you follow Big Ten football on a consistent basis. In fact, Northwestern is ranked dead last nationally in total yards surrendered. This should be a nice welcome for an OSU offense that has shown signs of life as of late behind a constantly improving arm of Troy Smith, and great offensive line play. Here is where Northwestern stacks up against the rest of the conference, and nationally.
Points per contest: 32 (9th in Big Ten, 99th in the Nation)
Total yards surrendered: 494 (11th in Big Ten, 117th in the Nation)
Total Passing yards surrendered: 295 (10th in Big Ten, 112th in Nation)
Total Rushing yards surrendered: 199 (9th in Big Ten, 101st in Nation)
Defensive sacks: 8 (10th in Big Ten)
Interceptions: 15 (1st in Big Ten)
Red Zone Defense: Opponents are scoring 80% of the time that they reach Northwestern’s 20 yardline. 24 of the 35 trips resulted in a touchdown, the other 11 ended in a field goal.
Defensive Line
DE #95 Kevin Mims (6-3, 270, R-FR)
DT #67 Barry Cofield (6-4, 305, SR)
DT #53 Trevor Schultz (6-2, 295, JR)
DE #91 Mark Koehn (6-3, 260, SO)
Northwestern will be led up front by senior defensive tackle Barry Cofield. On the season Cofield has a total of 43 tackles, including 6 for a loss, and 1.5 QB sacks. In addition Cofield has broken up 5 passes, and been credited with a team high 6 QB hurries. Cofield has also forced a fumble and recovered one as well. Cofield has excellent size, and brings consistency to a poor Northwestern defensive line. He was selected as a preseason 2nd team All Big Ten pick by Collegefootballnews.com. The other defensive tackle will be junior Trevor Schultz. On the season Schultz has a total of 41 tackles, including 3 for a loss, and a half sack. Schultz also has 5 QB hurries and a fumble recovery on the season.
Leading the way at defensive end for the Wildcats will be freshman Kevin Mims. On the season Mims has a total of 28 tackles, including 2.5 for a loss, and a sack. Mims also has 4 QB hurries in the season along with a forced fumble. Mims is said to have a motor that never stops, he’ll need to put some premium fuel in it this week if Northwestern hopes to derail the Buckeyes. The other end for the Wildcats will be sophomore Mark Koehn. Koehn has a total of 18 tackles on the season, including a tackle for a loss, along with a sack.
Analysis
To put it bluntly these guys aren’t very good. The only consistent play that they get is from Cofield. Other than him it’s almost embarrassing for the Wildcats up front. This unit surrenders a lot of yards on the ground, and they do not get much pressure on the quarterback. OSU should be able to run the ball well this week, look for a lot of off tackle plays and Troy Smith option keepers.
DL Rating: D
Head-to-Head: Ohio State vs Northwestern
They say that it all starts up front when it comes to run defense. Ohio State currently leads the Big Ten giving up 76 yards per contest, Northwestern is currently 9th with a total of 199. Opponents are averaging 5 yards per rush against the Cats, in comparison to 2.3 yards against OSU. If you need any more proof, lets try it this way. OSU has as total of 36 sacks this season, Northwestern has 8. I rest my case.
Edge: Ohio State
Linebackers
OLB #38 Nick Roach (6-2, 245, JR)
MLB #41 Tim McGarigle (6-1, 235, SR)
OLB #43 Adam Kadela (6-2, 240, SO)
Northwestern will be led at linebacker by the school’s all time tackle leader Tim McGarigle. McGarigle has a total of 122 tackles on the season, which is double the amount of tackles of any other player on the Wildcat roster, and is also tops in the Big Ten. In addition he has a team high 6.5 tackles for loss, and 2 QB sacks. McGarigle has also picked off a pass, and recovered 2 fumbles this season, in addition to his 4 QB hurries. McGarigle has been named a Butkus , and Chuck Bednarik semifinalist for this season. He led the nation in tackles last season, and was on numerous pre-season All American lists to start the year. He is the leader of this defense, and has excellent instincts. Keep in mind that he played one hell of a game last year against the Buckeyes, so he knows how to make things happen. OSU will need to put a body on him all game long, and tire him down on Saturday.
Leading the way at outside linebacker for the Wildcats will be junior Nick Roach. On the season Roach has a total of 57 tackles, including 3.5 for a loss and a sack. Roach also has broken up 2 passes on the season in addition to recovering a fumble. The other outside linebacker spot will be manned by sophomore Adam Kadela. Kadela has a total of 52 tackles, including 3 for a loss and a sack on the season. Kadela has also forced a fumble and picked off a pass this season.
Analysis
As a whole this unit is the best on the Northwestern defense, but that isn’t saying a whole hell of a lot. McGarigle has taken on the Pat Fitzgerald role (anyone remember him?) at MLB for the Wildcats. What that equates to is a whole hell of a lot of tackles on a defense that is designed to give you a lot of tackles. Northwestern sets their defense up to funnel in the plays to McGarigle, judging by the stats it is working. Other than this McGarigle, who will probably be 2nd team all league this season (isn’t that crazy?) in a stacked Big Ten LB conference, the 'Cats are very average. OSU can have their way with this bunch, especially with passes out of the backfield and quick hitters to the tight end.
LB Rating: C
Head-to-Head: Ohio State vs Northwestern
If you used stats to determine who was the best of the best, you would probably go with McGarigle. But, as many wise men once said, stats don’t really mean a thing. Yeah, it’s not that tough to produce tackles when you are a part of the worst defense in the country, you are on the field more and are going to be part of more plays. I’d take A.J. Hawk or Bobby Carpenter ... or even Schlegel for that matter in a month of Sundays over McGarigle. The stats don’t lie, and this OSU bunch get’s it done.
Edge: Ohio State
Secondary
CB #20 Marquice Cole (5-9, 185, JR)
FS #24 Herschel Henderson (6-3, 195, SR)
SS #25 Frederic Tarver (6-2, 215, SR)
CB #22 Deante Battle (5-10, 180, SO)
Leading the way for the Wildcats in the secondary is junior cornerback Marquice Cole. Cole leads the Big Ten with 4 interceptions on the season. He has also amassed 40 tackles and 4 pass breakups for the weak Northwestern secondary. Cole is having a great season ... at least statistically, and is arguably the fastest player on the Wildcats squad. He is the leader in this paltry Northwestern secondary. The other corner for the Wildcats will be sophomore Deante Battle. On the season Battle has a total of 40 tackles and an interception.
Northwestern will call on senior Herschel Henderson to get the nod at strong safety. On the season Henderson has a total of 50 tackles, including 2 for a loss. Henderson has also picked off 3 passes, and broken up 5 other on the season. Leading the way at strong safety is senior Frederic Tarver. On the season Tarver has a total of 33 tackles and an interception.
Analysis
Northwestern is blessed with an opportunistic secondary that has given up the 2nd most yards in the big ten. Keep in mind that this secondary is rated 112th nationally. They lead the Big Ten in picks, but I would tend to think that it is because of teams throwing the ball quite a bit on them. This unit is weak, and can be exposed this week. Look for Holmes and Ginn to have some fun this weekend.
DB Rating: D
Head-to-Head: Ohio State vs Northwestern
Ohio State has the number 1 passing defense in the Big Ten, Northwestern has the number 10. If you really need any more explanation on this one you had better go back to school.
Edge: Ohio State
Overall Defensive Analysis
Not many teams can say that they give up the most yards from scrimmage nationally per contest, unfortunately for the Wildcats ... they can. This unit probably is better than a handful of others in the country, but seems to rely on their offense quite often. It seems that nearly every weekend Northwestern is locked in a shootout with some other Big Ten squad, it has pretty much become the norm for the most part. These guys really are not as bad as their stats indicate, but never will be mistaken for stellar squad. OSU will not have as much fun as most would think this week. Randy Walker has the Barry Alvarez effect going on right now vs. Jim Tressel. Ask me why I think this and I couldn’t really even tell you. My only explanation is that this Wildcat squad always seems to play the Buckeyes tough, regardless of venue. On a day where the senior’s will be honored, I think that the Buckeyes will have their hands full in Columbus. Call it a hunch, but this defense will play strong this weekend in the Shoe. The Bucks will prevail late and get the win, and move one game from a Big Ten title.
Overall Defensive Rating: D
Revenge will be on the mind of the Ohio State faithful this week when the #25 Northwestern Wildcats come to Columbus on Senior Day in a key Big Ten match up. I think the loss last season in Evanston is still lurking in the back of everyone’s mind, and would be willing to bet that payback is on the mind of the Buckeyes. Northwestern certainly can put up points from an offensive standpoint, that is a given. Defensively they have been terrible, which is nothing new if you follow Big Ten football on a consistent basis. In fact, Northwestern is ranked dead last nationally in total yards surrendered. This should be a nice welcome for an OSU offense that has shown signs of life as of late behind a constantly improving arm of Troy Smith, and great offensive line play. Here is where Northwestern stacks up against the rest of the conference, and nationally.
Points per contest: 32 (9th in Big Ten, 99th in the Nation)
Total yards surrendered: 494 (11th in Big Ten, 117th in the Nation)
Total Passing yards surrendered: 295 (10th in Big Ten, 112th in Nation)
Total Rushing yards surrendered: 199 (9th in Big Ten, 101st in Nation)
Defensive sacks: 8 (10th in Big Ten)
Interceptions: 15 (1st in Big Ten)
Red Zone Defense: Opponents are scoring 80% of the time that they reach Northwestern’s 20 yardline. 24 of the 35 trips resulted in a touchdown, the other 11 ended in a field goal.
Defensive Line
DE #95 Kevin Mims (6-3, 270, R-FR)
DT #67 Barry Cofield (6-4, 305, SR)
DT #53 Trevor Schultz (6-2, 295, JR)
DE #91 Mark Koehn (6-3, 260, SO)
Northwestern will be led up front by senior defensive tackle Barry Cofield. On the season Cofield has a total of 43 tackles, including 6 for a loss, and 1.5 QB sacks. In addition Cofield has broken up 5 passes, and been credited with a team high 6 QB hurries. Cofield has also forced a fumble and recovered one as well. Cofield has excellent size, and brings consistency to a poor Northwestern defensive line. He was selected as a preseason 2nd team All Big Ten pick by Collegefootballnews.com. The other defensive tackle will be junior Trevor Schultz. On the season Schultz has a total of 41 tackles, including 3 for a loss, and a half sack. Schultz also has 5 QB hurries and a fumble recovery on the season.
Leading the way at defensive end for the Wildcats will be freshman Kevin Mims. On the season Mims has a total of 28 tackles, including 2.5 for a loss, and a sack. Mims also has 4 QB hurries in the season along with a forced fumble. Mims is said to have a motor that never stops, he’ll need to put some premium fuel in it this week if Northwestern hopes to derail the Buckeyes. The other end for the Wildcats will be sophomore Mark Koehn. Koehn has a total of 18 tackles on the season, including a tackle for a loss, along with a sack.
Analysis
To put it bluntly these guys aren’t very good. The only consistent play that they get is from Cofield. Other than him it’s almost embarrassing for the Wildcats up front. This unit surrenders a lot of yards on the ground, and they do not get much pressure on the quarterback. OSU should be able to run the ball well this week, look for a lot of off tackle plays and Troy Smith option keepers.
DL Rating: D
Head-to-Head: Ohio State vs Northwestern
They say that it all starts up front when it comes to run defense. Ohio State currently leads the Big Ten giving up 76 yards per contest, Northwestern is currently 9th with a total of 199. Opponents are averaging 5 yards per rush against the Cats, in comparison to 2.3 yards against OSU. If you need any more proof, lets try it this way. OSU has as total of 36 sacks this season, Northwestern has 8. I rest my case.
Edge: Ohio State
Linebackers
OLB #38 Nick Roach (6-2, 245, JR)
MLB #41 Tim McGarigle (6-1, 235, SR)
OLB #43 Adam Kadela (6-2, 240, SO)
Northwestern will be led at linebacker by the school’s all time tackle leader Tim McGarigle. McGarigle has a total of 122 tackles on the season, which is double the amount of tackles of any other player on the Wildcat roster, and is also tops in the Big Ten. In addition he has a team high 6.5 tackles for loss, and 2 QB sacks. McGarigle has also picked off a pass, and recovered 2 fumbles this season, in addition to his 4 QB hurries. McGarigle has been named a Butkus , and Chuck Bednarik semifinalist for this season. He led the nation in tackles last season, and was on numerous pre-season All American lists to start the year. He is the leader of this defense, and has excellent instincts. Keep in mind that he played one hell of a game last year against the Buckeyes, so he knows how to make things happen. OSU will need to put a body on him all game long, and tire him down on Saturday.
Leading the way at outside linebacker for the Wildcats will be junior Nick Roach. On the season Roach has a total of 57 tackles, including 3.5 for a loss and a sack. Roach also has broken up 2 passes on the season in addition to recovering a fumble. The other outside linebacker spot will be manned by sophomore Adam Kadela. Kadela has a total of 52 tackles, including 3 for a loss and a sack on the season. Kadela has also forced a fumble and picked off a pass this season.
Analysis
As a whole this unit is the best on the Northwestern defense, but that isn’t saying a whole hell of a lot. McGarigle has taken on the Pat Fitzgerald role (anyone remember him?) at MLB for the Wildcats. What that equates to is a whole hell of a lot of tackles on a defense that is designed to give you a lot of tackles. Northwestern sets their defense up to funnel in the plays to McGarigle, judging by the stats it is working. Other than this McGarigle, who will probably be 2nd team all league this season (isn’t that crazy?) in a stacked Big Ten LB conference, the 'Cats are very average. OSU can have their way with this bunch, especially with passes out of the backfield and quick hitters to the tight end.
LB Rating: C
Head-to-Head: Ohio State vs Northwestern
If you used stats to determine who was the best of the best, you would probably go with McGarigle. But, as many wise men once said, stats don’t really mean a thing. Yeah, it’s not that tough to produce tackles when you are a part of the worst defense in the country, you are on the field more and are going to be part of more plays. I’d take A.J. Hawk or Bobby Carpenter ... or even Schlegel for that matter in a month of Sundays over McGarigle. The stats don’t lie, and this OSU bunch get’s it done.
Edge: Ohio State
Secondary
CB #20 Marquice Cole (5-9, 185, JR)
FS #24 Herschel Henderson (6-3, 195, SR)
SS #25 Frederic Tarver (6-2, 215, SR)
CB #22 Deante Battle (5-10, 180, SO)
Leading the way for the Wildcats in the secondary is junior cornerback Marquice Cole. Cole leads the Big Ten with 4 interceptions on the season. He has also amassed 40 tackles and 4 pass breakups for the weak Northwestern secondary. Cole is having a great season ... at least statistically, and is arguably the fastest player on the Wildcats squad. He is the leader in this paltry Northwestern secondary. The other corner for the Wildcats will be sophomore Deante Battle. On the season Battle has a total of 40 tackles and an interception.
Northwestern will call on senior Herschel Henderson to get the nod at strong safety. On the season Henderson has a total of 50 tackles, including 2 for a loss. Henderson has also picked off 3 passes, and broken up 5 other on the season. Leading the way at strong safety is senior Frederic Tarver. On the season Tarver has a total of 33 tackles and an interception.
Analysis
Northwestern is blessed with an opportunistic secondary that has given up the 2nd most yards in the big ten. Keep in mind that this secondary is rated 112th nationally. They lead the Big Ten in picks, but I would tend to think that it is because of teams throwing the ball quite a bit on them. This unit is weak, and can be exposed this week. Look for Holmes and Ginn to have some fun this weekend.
DB Rating: D
Head-to-Head: Ohio State vs Northwestern
Ohio State has the number 1 passing defense in the Big Ten, Northwestern has the number 10. If you really need any more explanation on this one you had better go back to school.
Edge: Ohio State
Overall Defensive Analysis
Not many teams can say that they give up the most yards from scrimmage nationally per contest, unfortunately for the Wildcats ... they can. This unit probably is better than a handful of others in the country, but seems to rely on their offense quite often. It seems that nearly every weekend Northwestern is locked in a shootout with some other Big Ten squad, it has pretty much become the norm for the most part. These guys really are not as bad as their stats indicate, but never will be mistaken for stellar squad. OSU will not have as much fun as most would think this week. Randy Walker has the Barry Alvarez effect going on right now vs. Jim Tressel. Ask me why I think this and I couldn’t really even tell you. My only explanation is that this Wildcat squad always seems to play the Buckeyes tough, regardless of venue. On a day where the senior’s will be honored, I think that the Buckeyes will have their hands full in Columbus. Call it a hunch, but this defense will play strong this weekend in the Shoe. The Bucks will prevail late and get the win, and move one game from a Big Ten title.
Overall Defensive Rating: D
Predictions
Bucklion's prediction: 38-21, Ohio State
BB73's prediction: 38-23, Ohio State
DaddyBigBucks's prediction: 49-17, Ohio State
daddyphatsac's prediction: 34-24, Ohio State
Jaxbuck's prediction: 35-17, Ohio State
LordJeffBuck's prediction: 34-24, Ohio State
3yardsandacloud's prediction: 35-21, Ohio State
Last Week's Results (OSU 40 - Illinois 2)
Low score wins the year long battle of prediction supremacy! (Difference of actual score versus predicted score. 10 point penalty for picking the losing team.)
(136) 3yardsandacloud's prediction: 45-10, Ohio State (5 + 8 = 13 + 123 last week)
(145) LordJeffBuck's prediction: 47-17, Ohio State (7 + 15 = 22 + 123 last week)
(147) Jaxbuck's prediction: 51-10, Ohio State (11 + 8 = 19 + 128 last week)
(153) daddyphatsac's prediction: 45-7, Ohio State (5 + 5 = 10 + 143 last week)
(157) BB73's prediction: 42-13, Ohio State (2 + 11 = 13 + 144 last week)
(187) Bucklion's prediction: 41-18, Ohio State (1 + 16 = 17 + 170 last week)
(11) DaddyBigBucks' prediction: 49-3, Ohio State (9 + 2 = 11, first week of participation)
(Lots) Hubbard's prediction: Seems that Hubbard is MIA.
BB73's prediction: 38-23, Ohio State
DaddyBigBucks's prediction: 49-17, Ohio State
daddyphatsac's prediction: 34-24, Ohio State
Jaxbuck's prediction: 35-17, Ohio State
LordJeffBuck's prediction: 34-24, Ohio State
3yardsandacloud's prediction: 35-21, Ohio State
Last Week's Results (OSU 40 - Illinois 2)
Low score wins the year long battle of prediction supremacy! (Difference of actual score versus predicted score. 10 point penalty for picking the losing team.)
(136) 3yardsandacloud's prediction: 45-10, Ohio State (5 + 8 = 13 + 123 last week)
(145) LordJeffBuck's prediction: 47-17, Ohio State (7 + 15 = 22 + 123 last week)
(147) Jaxbuck's prediction: 51-10, Ohio State (11 + 8 = 19 + 128 last week)
(153) daddyphatsac's prediction: 45-7, Ohio State (5 + 5 = 10 + 143 last week)
(157) BB73's prediction: 42-13, Ohio State (2 + 11 = 13 + 144 last week)
(187) Bucklion's prediction: 41-18, Ohio State (1 + 16 = 17 + 170 last week)
(11) DaddyBigBucks' prediction: 49-3, Ohio State (9 + 2 = 11, first week of participation)
(Lots) Hubbard's prediction: Seems that Hubbard is MIA.
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