[NU Sports] A big test for Fitz this week

[Jonathan Hodges]

I agree that this will be a tough test for the Wildcats (note that the line
has dropped to NU -3 today); Syracuse is improved from last year and looks
to be a fundamentally sound team than NU saw last year, plus they have
playmaking WR Mike Williams back on the team, who has next-level talent.
They'll be fired up to win one for their new coach, and NU obviously did not
play well in the 2nd half last week.

We'll learn a lot about NU though, as the offense will finally open up the
playbook; through 2 weeks NU has run over twice the number of times that it
has attempted passes (and is 7th in FBS/I-A in number of rushing attempts
now) - don't expect that to continue.  The D will have to show up in this
game too, especially against the run.

In any case it will be interesting, and I'm thankful its available on
ESPN360.com.

Jonathan

On Wed, Sep 16, 2009 at 2:49 PM, Joe Thiegs <thiegs at umn.edu> wrote:

> I have a theory--well, several of them, I suppose.  One of them, though, is
> that Syracuse is better than anyone outside of upstate New York--and
> probably most anyone in upstate New York--believes.  I'm not saying they're
> necessarily good, just significantly better than almost everyone assumes in
> light of their record the past couple of years, new coach, new starting QB,
> etc.
>
> Consider exhibit 1:  Opening game vs. Minnesota.  After Minnesota scored
> quickly and easily to start the game, the Orange really stiffened up, took
> a
> lead, and took the Gophers to overtime before falling.  Minnesota, despite
> a
> brutal schedule this season, by most accounts looks significantly improved
> over last year's 7-6 team.  In Week 2, even with worries about distraction
> with all the hubbub of the grand opening celebration for the new stadium,
> the Gophers beat triple-option threat Air Force 20-13, holding the Falcons
> to just three first half-points a week after AFA won 72-0 (sure, it was
> against Nicholls State, but scoring over 70 against anyone not in D-II or
> -III is still impressive in my book).
>
> Consider exhibit 2:  Second game @ Penn State.  While the Orange only
> scored
> seven points in a 28-7 loss, they had other opportunities to score (dropped
> pass in the end zone) and held PSU to no more than a touchdown in any
> quarter.  I read that at one point they kept PSU out of the end zone on
> four
> straight plays when the Nittany Lions had 1st-and-goal at the Syracuse
> 2-yard line.  Against a top-10 team on the road, it could have been a lot
> worse.
>
> I fully expect the 'Cats to win, but I believe it will be a significantly
> tougher test for NU than Towson and EMU (and considering we have had a hard
> time putting opponents away, things could get interesting).
>
> -Joe
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com [mailto:nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com] On
> Behalf Of Mike Nolan
> Sent: Wednesday, September 16, 2009 1:49 PM
> To: Jim Leonard
> Cc: Northwestern Wildcats
> Subject: Re: [NU Sports] A big test for Fitz this week
>
> > Fitz has better all-around talent than Syracuse and his players aren't
> distracted with classes yet. I am hoping and expecting that Fitz can coach
> his way to a victory this Saturday.
>
> I'm not so convinced that NU has noticeably more talent on its roster
> than Syracuse does.   How many 2, 3 and 4 star recruits are on both squads?
>
> Classes not having started is not always a positive.  I know there is a
> limit
> to the number of players who can practice before the first day of classes,
> but maybe that limit goes away after the first game as well?
>
> Having said that I agree that this is a big game for Fitz and the Cats,
> in a stadium that has often been a hard place to earn a road victory.
>
> There's a theory that a team improves the most between the first and
> second games.  I can't say that I noticed any improvement based on the
> radio play-by-play call, if anything the second game was a bit shakier
> than the first one, though at least the team now knows it has a field
> goal kicker that can come through in the clutch.
> --
> Mike Nolan
>
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