[NU Sports] El Painful El Paso

[John A. DeGroat]

The problem is probably less with the players that get recruited and 
more with ineffective defensive coaching other than for Fitzgerald.  The 
kicking game reflects Walker's admitted limited knowledge about that 
part of the game.  No changes in the coaching staff equals no likely 
improved success.  Being satisfied with a 7-4 season that included a lot 
of luck equals 4-7 seasons in the future.  Will Murphy and Bienen make 
some changes?  probably not .

John DeGroat

Roy Lamberton wrote:

>Its just possible that RW has already addressed the kicking game with the commit
>from Demos out in Phoenix. I also thought Villareal showed a lot of poise
>kicking at the end of the game.
>
>[FWIW - David played on a college team that missed just about every kick one
>year. The next year their kicker made all conference.]
>
>Defense is another matter - in the past we'd always find 9 or 10 good defenders
>but we had little or no depth. Folks point to the 95-96 defense as if that was
>something we always had. But if you dig out your media guide and check our NFL
>draftees, the older teams produced a lot of offensive draftees. Up until
>recently, NU hasn't produced NFL defenders the way we've produced offensive
>folks.
>
>The Big 10 also didn't have to produce the cornerbacks and safeties back in the
>"3 yards and a cloud of dust" days. 
>
>Right now, we may be a victim of our own success at coaching younger players - a
>highly ranked DT would look at NU's D-Line and figure we're loaded with young
>guys who will start for 2 or 4 years. Same thing with the linebackers, altho
>they seem to want to come in and play for Fitz. 
>
>But lets face it. NU is not the school of choice for most top HS defensive
>players.
>
>Besides, I suspect that even with Barry and McG [and Hershell] gone, the D has
>the "hosses" to continue to improve.
>
>Our defenses seem to be able to come up with a scheme at the half that stop the
>opposition. 
>
>Even in the Sun Bowl, we saw the defense make the shifts that stopped the UCLA
>run.  We started the game set up to shut down a passing attack, and we did - 22
>points worth. They changed to a running game, over our freshman tackle. During
>the season we had the depth to pull one guy, talk it over, and make the
>adjustments. In the Sun Bowl, we had to leave our 2 top guys in because of
>depth. 
>
>I'm working on an analysis of our recruiting so far, and possibly what the team
>will look like in 2006. From my preliminary look at the recruiting chart, its
>not that bad on both sides of the ball.
>
>rsl
>
> 
>
>
>++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>Roy S. Lamberton - Senior Associate
>Computer Applications & Support Associates
>and Publisher of Purple Reign, 
>The Scout.com Northwestern University Site
>(http://www.purplewildcats.com)
>AIM Handle: CoachRoy74
>======== Go Cats -  Beat 'em All ===========
>Every time I think I've got this Computer 
>Biz handled 
>            -- There's another upgrade.
>============================================
>
>, but the curse of the Walker era --  pathetic 
>  
>
>>kicking game and 
>>defense -- just continue to haunt  us.  We need help in those 
>>areas or we'll 
>>never go beyond the 7-5  plateau. Period.  
>>
>>
>>    
>>
>
>
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