[NU Sports] Aaah, THAT's how we should play in September!

[John Labbe]

A few people have mentioned concern about red zone offense.  Not to  
completely dismiss that concern---especially after a few missed  
opportunities to score TDs yesterday---but I would point out that  
we've scored 100% of the time we've reached the red zone this year  
(13-13) and we've scored touchdowns 8 of 13 times.  Also on the bright  
side, we haven't missed a field goal (5-5) yet this year.  In the  
glory years of 95-96, we won several big games thanks to field goals.   
Yesterday we scored on every single drive until we pulled Bacher in  
the fourth quarter.


On Sep 13, 2008, at 2:48 PM, SjT (Stephen J. Truog) wrote:

> Yes, it coulda and shoulda been a bigger margin ... but a 33-7  
> trouncing of SIU is how Northwestern SHOULD be winning in September  
> against our nonconference slate!
>
> A couple things stand out from our first two TV games (missed Duke -  
> thankfully) ...
>
> * I think we got a steal with our new DC! Syracuse and SIU moved and  
> scored early on us, but then Hankwitz did what no NU DC seems to  
> have done since Vandy ... he made adjustments! We're still not a  
> great defense and need to get a lot more talent recruited, but  
> Hankwitz is doing a heck of a lot with the hand he was dealt and  
> seems to have a sharp eye to adjust and take away what worked those  
> first few drives. Keep it up!
>
> * I like our focus on special teams this year. Yes, the coverage was  
> weak today, but overall we've won the special teams game against  
> Cuse and the Salukis and that's an aspect of the game we've  
> neglected in recent years.
>
> * It's good to have Peterman and Tyrell back! Peterman bailed out CJ  
> a couple times today (one thanks to a quick snap and no replay:) )  
> and it was nice to see Sutton rip a few up the middle.
>
> We definitely need to work on red-zone capitalization and a few  
> other things, but it was nice to see NU come out strong today and  
> put someone away. Ohio will be tough next week, but if we play like  
> we did today and score seven instead of three in the red zone, I  
> like our chances.
>
> Around the league ...
>
> Not too much to be impressed about in the early games:
>
> * ILLINOIS struggled big-time with Louisiana ... I'm still not sold  
> on the Illini as a top 25 team and if their offense struggles,  
> they're gonna be in trouble this year.
>
> * IOWA also came back to earth a bit after a nice first two games.  
> Their D's tough, but their O was MIA today. Hopefully that lack of O  
> hangs around for a couple more weeks.
>
> * MINNESOTA is also 3-0 and quietly building some momentum, but they  
> had to sweat it out a bit.
>
> * MSU not only looked so-so, but their loss at Cal looked worse  
> after the Bears got waxed at an ACC school.
>
> But, of course, that's not what matters in Big Ten land today. The  
> midday games should be fun (Purdue just ripped a big play off and  
> despite Oregon's power, I like our chances of an upset here) and PSU  
> should roll Syracuse. As for Michigan-ND, someone's gotta win, right?
>
> And then the evening ... from the talk yesterday and today, you  
> wonder why OSU is even bothering to show up tonight. Hopefully their  
> D finds some heart and represents the Big Ten well. And Wisky has a  
> deathtrap in Fresno, but again, with so many picking the Badgers to  
> fall, hopefully they get fired up and get some Big Ten love.
>
> 3-0 ... it's a nice start and lots to like about our pressure on D  
> today - but Ohio's QB looked awfully tough to stop against OSU, so  
> we have our work cut out for us next week.
>
> GO CATS!!!
> -SjT
>
> * * * * * * * * *
> STEPHEN J. TRUOG
> sjtruog at yahoo.com
> GO CATS!!!
>
>
>
>
>
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