[NU Sports] 2009 FB Depth Chart

[Jonathan Hodges]

I've been spending today pondering that issue.  Obviously on offense there
are a number of questions and there are some redshirt freshmen and other
underclassmen who may also make a splash come spring or summer camp, so this
is by no means accurate:

Offense

LT - Netter
LG - Grant (Boyle and other underclassmen may also play a factor)
C - Burkett
RG - Bartels
RT - Taylor
QB - Kafka (Mauro and Persa will also get shots)
RB - Daniel (Simmons and Schmidt may also get carries)
SB - Rooks/Dunsmore
WR - Brewer
WR - Ebert
WR - Frymire (Stewart, Brown, Coleman, Fisher, and Bayless will also be in
the mix)

Defense

DE - Browne
DT - Bryant
DT - Hahn
DE - Wootton (depends on if he goes pro; DiNardo, Joplin, Thomas, and Watt
will likely be in the rotation)
LB - N. Williams
LB - Davie
LB - McNaul (Q. Williams and ND transfer Nagel will get shots as well)
CB - McManis
CB - Mabin
S - Smith
S - Phillips (Peters will get playing time as well)

Special Teams

LS - Pace
H - unknown
P - Ison (or other, this spot will be up for grabs)
PK - Demos

On offense the biggest question mark will be RB, where there was a big drop
off this year after Sutton and Conteh went down.  Simmons may develop given
the time (remember he was a 3rd stringer until the OSU game) but other guys
will definitely be given the chance to play.  At QB, I expect Kafka will be
the guy - IMHO McCall's offense will work better with him at the helm as a
respectable rushing threat.  NU loses a lot at WR but there are plenty of
young options awaiting a chance.  And on the line, NU will return 4 starters
and have other guys with PT, a big change from this year with virtually no
returning experience.  Don't forget NU gets Dunsmore back.

On defense, not much changes except for up front (with Gill and Mims leaving
for sure) and at one LB spot.  If Hankwitz continues to play a 4-2-5 defense
the 5 secondary spots should remain constant.  Look for some competition at
LB, though, with the Williams brothers, Davie, McNaul, and ND transfer Nagel
fighting it out for PT.  The line will depend on Wootton's decision and a
speedy recovery from his injury.

Finally, don't forget special teams - Pace will take over long snapping, and
the holder will likely be the punter, whoever that ends up being.  Demos has
his eye on place kicking duties - which he excelled at in high school.  The
punting spot is up for grabs and that may very well go to an incoming
freshman - for now Ison is the only punter on the roster if Demos slides
over to PK.

-- I have to note that the game last night was a lot of fun despite the
outcome but it definitely leaves me wanting more.

Jonathan

On Tue, Dec 30, 2008 at 6:00 PM, Christopher Bailey <
christopher_bailey at yahoo.com> wrote:

> With interest still in everyone's mind before the Men's Basketball team
> makes it's first ever NCAA appearance (hey, that's why we're fans), I was
> wondering if anyone wanted to take a position-by-position shot at the depth
> chart for next season's football team.
>
> Thank you 'Cats for a wildly entertaining season and for putting everything
> you had into the game against Mizzou.
>
> Christopher Bailey
> christopher_bailey at yahoo.com
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nwu-sports site list
> nwu-sports at tssi.com
> http://romaine.tssi.com/mailman/listinfo/nwu-sports
>



-- 
Jonathan W. Hodges
1237 Emerson St Apt 2
Evanston, IL  60201-3577
(847) 736-2449
jonathanwhodges at gmail.com