[NU Sports] A big test for Fitz this week

Thu Sep 17 07:06:29 CDT 2009

Even if he were the next coming of Joe Montana, you've only got him for a year.  Wouldn't most established programs defer to the younger guy with more eligibility?

I think it says a lot about how bare the cupboard was at Syracuse and how much the football program needed the PR boost of this move.

Don't get me wrong. I think it is great that Paulus has an opportunity to live out a dream and sell a few tickets for Syracuse.

I'm much more comfortable with the strategy we're seeing play out at NU.  We've got a "one year" QB too, but he's been in the program, earned the right to start, and his replacement is getting an opportunity to gain some experience without the pressure of having to win a game.

Jeff 

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From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com [mailto:nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com] On Behalf Of Roy Lamberton
Sent: Wednesday, September 16, 2009 11:37 PM
To: 'Joe Thiegs'; 'Northwestern Wildcats'
Subject: RE: [NU Sports] A big test for Fitz this week

I think that Paulus is a better QB than anyone expected, and as Minny found out, its hard to defense a guy you've never seen play anywhere before.

Fitz & Hank have the advantage here - they at least have seen him play twice, and should have a decent idea of how to defend against his base offense. Of course 'cuse's OC will also have a few new tricks up his sleeve
- and so the chess game continues.

The big question for Saturday about Syracuse is: "Who is the better judge of QB talent, the Duke guys or the Syracuse guys?"

rsl

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Roy S. Lamberton - Senior Associate & Unix Guru.
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-------------------- Also ---------------------- Commissioner Delaware American Legion Baseball Retired Senior Chief Cryptologic Technician [R] Northwestern University - Speech 1974 - Chi Phi: Pi 1974, KD 1968 Publisher Emeritus: Purple Reign (Fox Sports) ==========  Go Cats -  Beat 'em All  =========== So...
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-----Original Message-----
From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com [mailto:nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com] On Behalf Of Joe Thiegs
Sent: Wednesday, September 16, 2009 3:50 PM
To: 'Northwestern Wildcats'
Subject: RE: [NU Sports] A big test for Fitz this week

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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