[NU Sports] optimism!

[Brad Wilson]

SJT is spot-on: the offense needed to be ahead 35-7 at
the half, not 23-7. Once again, the spread offense has
trouble punching in TDs -- the slant, which used to be
deadly from the 10 or so. seems to have disappeared.

But here's the thing about all those field goals:
after 2004, it was nice to see an  NU kicker make five
field goals and two PATs in a game, wasn't it? We seem
to have found a kicker who can make clutch kicks, and
that is excellent news, given the kind of games NU
tends to get in -- ie, not 20-0 wins. Howells may not
be Ira Adler or Brian Gowins yet, but he seems to be
heading in their direction, a huge plus.

Also I don't think we have made enough of Sutton. He
is tremendous. He gets tough yards. He battles. He
makes people miss. There are BT teams that would love
to have a back like this -- just ask Lloyd Carr.
Sutton may turn out to be the best RB in recent NU
history. 

Finally, another reason for optimism: the offensive
line, ravaged by graduation, academcs, etc., seems to
be coming together. Sure, it makes mistakes, but it's
much better than I thought it would be.

It may be that the only way NU wins games this year is
48-40 shootouts. I think NU has the offense to do so
-- thanks in part to Howells, Sutton and the line.
Sure, the TD vs. FG percentage needs to increase.
Sure, more big plays would be nice -- but  Bas just
isn't a big-armed bomber. Sure, a  few different plays
-- I want Sutton to catch some passes -- would be
good.

If the defense can improve by just a smidge -- which
may not be possible -- the offense has enough to win 
a few games and play exciting football. That be all we
can expect from 2005, I fear, but sometimes you have
to take what you can get. Right now,. I'd take a win
over Bucky Badger. Go Cats!

Brad Wilson 


"Entertainment is what which you receive without effort. Art is something where you must make some kind of effort, and you get more than you had before." -- Charles Wuorinen

"Quis ipsos custodes custodiet?" -- Juvenal

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