[NU Sports] Hittin' on Colby

[Jonathan Hodges]

I would have to completely disagree with your assertion.

While NU has missed a few tackles this year and the DL has had problems
creating pressure up front, I would argue the problem IS with the scheme
(which goes right to Colby himself).  Northwestern doesn't have a complete
lack of talent on the defensive side of the ball as you seem to be
suggesting: just look at the former Wildcat defenders now on NFL squads
(some tarting, nonetheless) that were around under Colby: Castillo, Cofield,
McGarigle.  Oh and guys who were pretty solid like Roach and Durr, and
current players who have shown that they can get the job done like McManis,
Gill, and Wootton.

The fact is that NU may have a lower level of talent than the other Big Ten
schools, but it's not that much lower.  In 95-96, the 'Cats managed to field
a rather solid defense (to say the least) without a slew of 5-star guys - so
it is possible somehow.  The current NU defensive squad is actually pretty
talented - almost every one of the players on that unit have shown that they
have skills.

And there have been rumblings/rumors coming out of people formerly
associated with the program that many players are frustrated with Colby's
defensive schemes (although none of this has been confirmed).  Here are the
characeristics we typically see from Colby's defenses:

- cornerbacks playing about 7-10 yards off the line, leaving a "cushion"
between them and their receiver - meaning they almost always make the
catches on the outside.
- little pressure up front: despite having some real talent on the DL, NU
has almost never been able to get to the QB consistently - which is one
thing that would effectively counter a big time passing attack.
- soft coverage: NU goes into zone coverage quite often, leaving a lot of
guys open to make the catch - just look at games like Duke where their
unheralded QB completed 15 straight passes at one point.

Missing tackles is one thing, but consistent defensive failure (despite
having at least a decent talent level) is another - and it has to point to
the overall scheme.

I'm not advocating firing Colby this moment, but after the season Fitz needs
to take a good hard look at his staff and do something to change things up.
As such a solid defensive player, I can't imagine Fitz is happy with what he
has seen the past couple games or going all the way back to his days as the
LB coach.

Jonathan


On 10/14/07, Dennis W. Brandt <tbng at comcast.net> wrote:
>
> Yes, Greg Colby's numbers are dreadful, and no one will be sobbing if
> someone else is doing his job next season.  But remember that Casey
> Stengel
> lost 120 games with the '62 Mets because all of a sudden he had to play
> Marv
> Thronberry and Choo Choo Coleman instead of Mickey Mantle and Elston
> Howard.
> Our D did pull off a couple of athletic plays yesterday that won the game,
> but they don't have enough athletic talent by big time college football
> standards to do that enough, especially the defensive line.  I cannot
> recall
> once when Cory Wooten has stayed in a quarterback's face all game the way
> quality defensive ends often do, and our defensive tackles very seldom
> collapse the pocket.  Our defense is eminently blockable, and we miss a
> lot
> of tackles the way Fitz the player rarely did.  Yes, technique and schemes
> are in the equation, and it may be that there is a Coach Robert E. Lee out
> there who can get more out of the defense we have now.  Ultimately,
> though,
> we need more speed, strength, quickness, and athleticism.  Even if Colby
> is
> as incompetent as you say, he doesn't deserve the character assassination.
>
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-- 
Jonathan W. Hodges
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