3yardsandacloud
Administrator Emeritus
Game One: Northern Illinois 9/2/06
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- Thread starter 3yardsandacloud
- Start date
Northern Illinois finished the 2005 season in second place in the MAC West Division, behind Toledo with a 7-5 (6-3 record). They have a good offense, with their quarterback throwing for about 2000 yards last year and a good 6-4 WR named Hurd but were suspect on defense. Two losses came to Big Ten teams in away games, with a loss to Northwestern by just one point.
Their strategy appears to be to improve their speed on defense and their athleticism throughout the team.
Preview from CBSSportline http://www.sportsline.com/collegefoo...ams/report/NIL:
Throughout his tenure at Northern Illinois, coach Joe Novak has been careful not to label any of his recruiting classes as the best ever, or even one of the best.
But when Novak stepped to the podium to discuss his 2006 class with the media, he made no bones about how he felt about the players coming in.
"As a whole, this class is the best athletically we've brought in here," Novak said of the 17 signees. "Consciously, our staff made that decision early in the recruiting process. With all the teams spreading the field on offense now, we have more ground to cover. We may have been slightly deficient on a skill level with our back seven defenders. This is a strong, physical group that can run and pursue. Numbers-wise, we have more athletes in this group.
"We have some defensive backs, taller and in the 200-pound range, and outside linebackers who can run and who can make plays. I like this class. We're happy. It's a good group. I thought our coaching staff did a great job identifying our needs, selling our program and filling those same needs."
The Huskies will have their quarterback, Phil Horvath, and star running back, Garrett Wolfe, back in 2006, but there are definitely places that the fresh faces can help fill the gaps.
TOP RECRUITS
QB Billy Lowe, Lakeland, Fla. -- Joe Novak was raving about Lowe, who led Lakeland to an undefeated season and the USA Today national championship as a senior. The 6-3, 214-pounder threw for 14 touchdowns through the air and ran for eight other scores.
RB Ricky Crider, Evansville, Ind. -- The Huskies always like to have a fresh ball carrier in the game, so Crider will have a shot at getting some carries in his first season. As a senior, Crider Rushed for a school-record 2,478 yards and 33 touchdowns.
OG Jason Onyebuagu, Indianapolis -- Novak compares the 6-2, 305-pounder to former NIU All-American Todd Peat in that both have great footwork. Onyebuagu can play almost anywhere on the line, but he'll likely start off at guard.
Copyright (C) 2006 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved
<!-- / message -->
Their strategy appears to be to improve their speed on defense and their athleticism throughout the team.
Preview from CBSSportline http://www.sportsline.com/collegefoo...ams/report/NIL:
Throughout his tenure at Northern Illinois, coach Joe Novak has been careful not to label any of his recruiting classes as the best ever, or even one of the best.
But when Novak stepped to the podium to discuss his 2006 class with the media, he made no bones about how he felt about the players coming in.
"As a whole, this class is the best athletically we've brought in here," Novak said of the 17 signees. "Consciously, our staff made that decision early in the recruiting process. With all the teams spreading the field on offense now, we have more ground to cover. We may have been slightly deficient on a skill level with our back seven defenders. This is a strong, physical group that can run and pursue. Numbers-wise, we have more athletes in this group.
"We have some defensive backs, taller and in the 200-pound range, and outside linebackers who can run and who can make plays. I like this class. We're happy. It's a good group. I thought our coaching staff did a great job identifying our needs, selling our program and filling those same needs."
The Huskies will have their quarterback, Phil Horvath, and star running back, Garrett Wolfe, back in 2006, but there are definitely places that the fresh faces can help fill the gaps.
TOP RECRUITS
QB Billy Lowe, Lakeland, Fla. -- Joe Novak was raving about Lowe, who led Lakeland to an undefeated season and the USA Today national championship as a senior. The 6-3, 214-pounder threw for 14 touchdowns through the air and ran for eight other scores.
RB Ricky Crider, Evansville, Ind. -- The Huskies always like to have a fresh ball carrier in the game, so Crider will have a shot at getting some carries in his first season. As a senior, Crider Rushed for a school-record 2,478 yards and 33 touchdowns.
OG Jason Onyebuagu, Indianapolis -- Novak compares the 6-2, 305-pounder to former NIU All-American Todd Peat in that both have great footwork. Onyebuagu can play almost anywhere on the line, but he'll likely start off at guard.
Copyright (C) 2006 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved
<!-- / message -->
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barlow1802
Troy Has Legs
Who do you guys expect to start at tailback now that the injury to pittmans hamstring is confirmed? I still think on the first play Pittman is out there.
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cantonsouth24
Sophmore
Im confident that we will win this game. But we still can't take them lightly. Garrett Wolfe in my opinion is one of the top 10 running backs in the ncaa next year. He averaged 175 yds per game last year. It will be good for our linebackers to face him to get better and mold against a great running back before that running back group in texas.
edit: our post was about the same time. I dont think that the injury will still be bothering him come fall and if it is later in the game it will be a good chance to get Chris Wells some carries.
edit: our post was about the same time. I dont think that the injury will still be bothering him come fall and if it is later in the game it will be a good chance to get Chris Wells some carries.
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scarletngrey11
All right, all right, all right.
Pittmans injury isnt that serious, in all likelyhood he will still be the starter for the first game.
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Oneshot
Goes For Three
NIU's got that slasher Wolfe, though, right?
I've seen him play a couple times, and he's a baller. Should be a good test for our new set of starting LBs. But we have a great D-Line coming to help break them in.
Still, I think this game won't be a waste; I think it'll be an excellent early season test for our defense.
Should be an exhibition for our offense, though. :)
I've seen him play a couple times, and he's a baller. Should be a good test for our new set of starting LBs. But we have a great D-Line coming to help break them in.
Still, I think this game won't be a waste; I think it'll be an excellent early season test for our defense.
Should be an exhibition for our offense, though. :)
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daddyphatsacs
Let the cards fall...
Ah yes, it's just around the corner fellas.
I'm going to say that my blind prediction is.......
OSU 38
N Ill. 17
I'm going to say that my blind prediction is.......
OSU 38
N Ill. 17
Upvote
0
