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

[Joe Thiegs]

I think that's a very good point.  As much as I have cursed
bend-but-don't-break defensive schemes over the past decade (mostly because
they were employed at Minnesota most of the past decade, pre-Brewster, and
virtually always broke), if I am remembering correctly that's exactly what
Gary Barnett used at NU and did it better than anyone in the nation in '95.
I'd take that defense any day over one that surrenders very few yards on
most plays but gives up a handful of big plays that lead to lots of
opponents' points.  Who cares how many yards you give up as long as you
don't yield points?

The red zone stat is great.  Isn't it terrific to have a kicker again?

Speaking of red zone stats, I think I saw a blurb stating that Missouri has
scored on each of its last 13 possessions, including 12 touchdowns and one
field goal.  Mizzou's defense gave up a lot of points to Illinois a couple
of weeks ago, but with that offense (Daniels, Maclin, Coffman, etc.) they
could potentially do a lot of damage this year, maybe even get to the
national title game.  It's too bad they don't play Oklahoma or Texas Tech
this year--that would be a fun shootout to watch.

Anyway, here's hoping for 4-0 for the first time since I've been alive!  :)

-Joe

-----Original Message-----
From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com [mailto:nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com] On
Behalf Of Beamsley, Jeff
Sent: Monday, September 15, 2008 8:21 AM
To: NU
Subject: RE: [NU Sports] Aaah, THAT's how we should play in September!

I agree.

>From what I have seen (or more accurately heard) this year, Fitz
believes in his defense.  So he is going to play field position (which
requires good special team play), minimize mistakes, and put points on
the board every time the team is in the red zone.

No disrespect intended, but this is a lot more like GB than RW.  

Jeff


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From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com [mailto:nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com]
On Behalf Of John Labbe
Sent: Sunday, September 14, 2008 4:14 PM
To: sjtruog at yahoo.com
Cc: NU
Subject: Re: [NU Sports] Aaah, THAT's how we should play in September!

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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