[NU Sports] stats

[Jonathan Hodges]

1. NU did not have a 1,000 yard rusher in 2001 when Damien Anderson went
down mid-season with a shoulder injury.  Kustok and Torri Stuckey picked up
the remainder of the carries.  Actually, in 1999 NU DID have a 1,000 yard
rusher in Damien Anderson (with 1,128).  1998 would be the previous instance
NU went without a 1,000 yard rusher.

1A. I don't believe NU not having a 1,000 yard rusher this year means
anything in particular, especially if the 3 combined guys reach that number
- just having one guy with amazing stats doesn't do anything in the long run
except help that guy win some post-season awards.

The fact is that Northwestern's offense this season is pass-first and NU
runs once in a while on plays set up by the pass.  It isn't the traditional
"spread" or "spread option" offense, but if it's working, then why insist on
running the ball?  NU is 11th nationally in time of possession, so holding
onto the ball isn't a problem for the 'Cats.  The only issue I see is
finishing off drives - and most of those issues came against Duke and
Michigan (the fact that NU put up a ton of yards and only 14 and 16 points,
respectively).  A lot of that had to do with play calling which I think has
been fixed during NU's current 3 game winning streak.

2. Kafka: When NU needs to win a game and there's still time on the clock,
put in the starter.  NU doesn't need to throw Kafka in there just to get him
playing time as a backup.  I think he would fare much better than last year
for a number of reasons - probably reason number one is that McGee won't
have him run the ball the majority of the time in some weird offensive
scheme, but instead throw it most of the time.  In any case you can never
plan for injuries and I would hope they save him for emergency situations or
blowout games (of which there haven't been many this year).

This is a complete hunch, but I suspect Kafka may be switching positions
following this year.  Next year, NU will have Bacher/Mauro/Persa at the QB
3-deep, and more than 3 QBs is a waste.  I could easily see him following
Brewer to WR, or even moving over to defensive back, following the way of
Smith and Phillips (both former QBs) - although I am not getting this from
anything specific, so it may be way off base.

Jonathan

On 10/23/07, WildElk2 at aol.com <WildElk2 at aol.com> wrote:
>
> I'm not consulting my media guide, but isn't this the first  season since
> 1999 that we may not have a 1,000 yard rusher?   Still, I  bet we'll have
> (3)
> RB's over 500 yards.  To reach 1,000 yards, Sutton would  have to avg. a
> buck 90,
> and that assumes we make a bowl. (122 yards this  season)  Conteh has
> rushed
> for 437, and Roberson 337.  Also, as we've  passed more than 50% of our
> plays,
> it prohibits any of our guys reaching 1,000,  along with "shared
> distribution" among the three.
>    I'm slightly worried that Kafka hasn't played much. I was  hoping PF
> would
> give him some quality snaps in the 2nd or 3rd quarter of some  games; if
> nothing else it would add an extra wrinkle to our offense, as Kafka  loves
> to run.
> I guess it's one of those things we'll worry about when it  happens, but
> remember when Basanez went down vs. Minnesota in 2003 (I think!) ,  and
> Malleo
> looked like a fish out of water.  Speaking of which, Kafka  looked like a
> fish
> out of water last year, so if he's our back-up, why not get  him some
> meaningful
> reps?
>    Looking forward to Sutton's return.   GO  CATS!!!            Eric
>
>
>
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-- 
Jonathan W. Hodges
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