[NU Sports] my two cents

[TyJLevine at aol.com]

Alan,
 
Has really summarized the season, our hopes and looking towards next year  
very well.  No one remembers that many times during the 1995 season  
Vanderlinden played man coverage with the cornerbacks because he had two veteran  
safeties in Bennett and Collier and a terror of a blitzer in Ismaeli.   We actually 
had some speed back there.  There was tremendous confidence in  our linebackers 
and decent albeit for Northwestern GOOD defensive line.
 
We had pretty good tight end, one great wide receiver, one AWESOME  
possession receiver a fantastic running back and a very tough and MOBILE  offensive 
line.  Just as important we had a quarterback who was asked only  one thing NOT 
MAKE A MISTAKE, Schnur was not asked to win, just not lose.   Finally - Barnett 
realized that there were three parts to a football game -  OFFENSE, DEFENSE, 
SPECIAL TEAMS.  Field position is as an important part of  football as 
anything else.  We have not even been decent in our special  teams for years.
 
Look at this team.  I think one might make the case that when everyone  is 
healthy our strength was our DE in Howard and Castillo.  We have one  good 
linebacker and a very weak secondary.
 
Under Walker we have basically been without a tight end and none of our  
running backs have had 4.5 speed which is just average to good in this day and  
age.
 
I was not sold on our O-line play because with their size they couldn't  
consistently blow away and open massive holes nor was their pass  protection  good 
enough to allow Baz to drop back do his reads and hit an  open 
receiver.......or you could make the argument that the line was serviceable  in that area 
and our wideouts just were not quick enough or good enough to  create separation.
 
Alan is right, pre 1995 a 500 season would have been like Nirvana.   For many 
of us we want to enter November still with a shot at a Big ten Title at  
least every four years and at least one other year we should be competing for a  
Bowl game.  We shouldn't forget, this team did finish 4th in the Big Ten  this 
year.
 
For us to be 7-4 or better next year we will need the following:
 
Baz must actually win us games, he will have to be at least a top three QB  
in the Big Ten next year.
 
Our O-Line must gel quickly and we cannot afford any injuries.
 
Our wide receivers will have to stretch the field and make opponents db's  
play honest.
 
We will have to find a defense that can take the pressure to score off of  
our offense. I'll take a bend, not break defense any day at Northwestern.
 
Finally, Our special teams must score points, not allow any points and not  
give up 70 yard or less fields for the defense to play under.
 
 
 
Talent wise we should match up with every opponent next year but Michigan  
and Ohio State.  To me that means we should enter 9 games with a realistic  
expectation of winning.
 
I cannot wait for 2005, but I do think Walker has to prove he can recruit,  
coach and win to be around in 2006.  We should have the same expectations  as 
Stanford.