[NU Sports] Thompson and Mathews returns

[Jeff Beamsley]

 tom wrote <snip>

NU will get pounded some this year, no doubt. I think there will also be a
bunch of winnable games, but only if we cut down on mistakes.
That's a big "if" with all the changes this year, so it might not happen
until next year. But then again, it might happen a few times this year.

I say we get at least 3 conference wins, and threaten in one or two others.

=============================================

For this to happen, the defense is going to have to play a whole lot better,
particularly the secondary.

The past couple of games are pretty much a preview of what we can expect
from the offense and it isn't any surprise.  Young QB = inconsistency =
turnovers and mistakes.  The defensive game plan against NU is easy.  Stuff
the run = win the game.

In other words, my best hope for the offense is that they don't lose us any
games.  That leaves the D to play mistake free in order for the cats to get
a win.  

For the cats to get a win in the BT this year, those two things have to
happen against an opponent who is similarly challenged (young O weak D).
There just aren't any on our schedule.  Maybe Wisconsin, but they looked
pretty good in a loss to Michigan. Haven't seen Illinois on TV yet, so I
can't comment. 

So my prediction, as gloomy as it may sound, is that we are going to be
winless in the BT going in to the Illinois game.  If Kafka is able to stay
healthy through the pounding he is going to take getting to that game (big
IF), he will hopefully have gained enough experience to actually help the
offense take some load off the defense rather than put load onto it through
turnovers and frequent 3 and outs.  He could have a "coming out game"
against Illinois and we will get a peak at what might be possible next year.

Hope I'm wrong.

Jeff