[NU Sports] El Painful El Paso

Tue Jan 3 10:05:27 CST 2006

Saw the first half and then last minute.  Had a neighbor's wedding to attend
during the second half, so I can't comment on the adjustments that were
made, but looking at the box score, it appears that I saw almost all of the
scoring.

As Roy pointed out, the UCLA line discovered, when the couldn't pass that
they could run right over Gill and take advantage of McGarrigle's
aggressiveness.  On D, UCLA appeared to have success when they switched to
three down linemen and added a fourth LB.  But we also made it easy for them
because of special team ineptness.  We couldn't run the ball, our offense
became predictable, and Baz took a beating.  Can't comment about his
decision-making in the second half.

As others have pointed out, this was a special teams implosion (who is the
special teams coach again?).  What particularly bothered me is Walker's
quote in the paper explaining why he went for the touchdown on the last play
of the first half.  He said that he had already made the decision to switch
kickers, but the new kicker hadn't had a chance to warm up.  I figure that
he should have made that decision when Howells' last FG got blocked (ugly
kick) and that there was plenty of time for the new kicker to warm up.  What
would have happened if we scored?  Would he have sent Howells out there
again for the extra point?  

Talked to someone at church who had no particular axe to grind.  He's an NU
alum too but probably class of '48.  He felt Walker was clearly out coached.
Hard to disagree when you opponent spots you 22 points and you let them back
into the game.  I feel bad for these kids who fought there hearts out and
never gave up, but didn't come away with the win they deserved.  

Jeff

-----Original Message-----
From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com [mailto:nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com] On
Behalf Of John A. DeGroat
Sent: Monday, January 02, 2006 11:00 AM
To: rstetson at capps-assoc.com
Cc: nwu-sports at romaine.tssi.com
Subject: Re: [NU Sports] El Painful El Paso

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.
>>
>>
>>    
>>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>nwu-sports site list
>nwu-sports at tssi.com
>http://romaine.tssi.com/mailman/listinfo/nwu-sports
>
>  
>
_______________________________________________
nwu-sports site list
nwu-sports at tssi.com
http://romaine.tssi.com/mailman/listinfo/nwu-sports