[NU Sports] Kafka!!

Mon Aug 30 09:31:48 CDT 2010

 Jim.

   Well put.   Persa will need to run, just like Kafka, Baz and Bacher,   but he can't be our feature back. Persa's health is in jeopardy if he's needed to run the ball 10-15 times a game.  This in not a knock against his size, but the stark realization that by putting him in harm's way, he will suffer an injury.
   In years past, we had a capable back-up to come in.  This year, we have an untested red-shirt freshman (I'm assuming Watkins is our #2 QB).  I'm hoping Fitz can get Watkins some PT.
   If Persa can stay healthy, I see no reason we can't go 7-5 at worse to 10-2 at best.

    GO CATS!!               Eric

PS- This begs the question, if Persa goes down early in the season, are we still a bowl-caliber team?
Forgive me for being a "kill-joy" 5 days before kick-off, but if "the worst thing that could happen" happens, then what?

-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Leonard <jleonard518 at yahoo.com>
To: NU Sports List <nwu-sports at tssi.com>
Sent: Mon, Aug 30, 2010 9:59 am
Subject: Re: [NU Sports] Kafka!!

I am not worried about Dan Persa as our quarterback. It may take him a few games 

to find his stride, but between his relentless preparation and his physical 

conditioning there is little cause for concern. The team talks about him the way 

players talked about Fitz when I was in school (in terms of hours spent watching 

film, attitude, work outs, etc). 

What I am far more concerned about is the potential for Dan to lead the team in 

rushing yards. I truly hope a clear #1 RB emerges early in the season. 

Go Cats!

Jim

----- Original Message ----

From: Roy S. Lamberton <rstetson at capps-assoc.com>

To: "Beamsley, Jeff" <Jeff.Beamsley at covisint.com>; NU Sports List 

<nwu-sports at tssi.com>

Sent: Mon, August 30, 2010 7:24:06 AM

Subject: RE: [NU Sports] Kafka!!

I've held off commenting on the NU offense because nobody really knows what 

Persa and the

RB Gang will do until they get in a game situation and start to perform.

I wouldn't even make judgment on Persa until the 2nd or even 3rd game, remember 

that is

how long it took Kafka to start to perform, and I seem to remember Mike stinking 

up the

joint a few times before NU got going.

I'm more concerned about the D - will the 3 possible replacements for Corey 

actually prove

a better Pass rush combo? And who will take charge in the defensive backfield. 

We're

getting faster and faster back there - it this the year the Cats have a "clamp 

down" pass

D? 

I think the gang of 4, or however many there are of them, RB's will execute the 

two or

three running plays that we have and I'm very hopeful that the O-Line has 

relearned how to

run that "block down zone" play that Tyrell gained so many yards running. It's 

nice to

average 5 ypc, but someone once pointed out to me when I was coaching, that all 

you needed

was a 3.6 ypc average rush to win games. Sometimes, you get a string of 5-6 yard 

rushes,

then there are the 1-2 yard rushes, but the average puts you downfield 10 yards 

and you

start again.

However, I think Mr. Persa is a better passer than we've seen so far. Those who 

remember

his HS antics remember that he won games, either throwing or running the ball in 

a spread

offense. He was able to run because teams had to respect his arm and his 

team-mates. That

hasn't changed at NU - if anything, the receivers are a little better and 

faster.

All he has to do is what Kafka and Basanez and others have done for our Cats. 

Adjust to the speed of the Big 10 and he'll do just fine.

rsl

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Roy S. Lamberton - Senior Associate & Unix Guru.

Computer Applications & Support Associates

-------------------- Also ----------------------

"Commissioner" Delaware American Legion Baseball

Director Media Relations - Little League 

  Senior League Softball World Series

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  ===========

"...Then I get on my knees and pray,

WE DON'T GET FOOLED AGAIN!" -- Pete Townsend

Don't re-elect nobody, not even yo mama! - Franc White

================================================

-----Original Message-----

From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com [mailto:nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com] On Behalf 

Of

Beamsley, Jeff

Sent: Sunday, August 29, 2010 8:46 PM

To: NU Sports List

Subject: RE: [NU Sports] Kafka!!

Still gotta have someone to hand the ball off to.

Our Oline is strong, but our RB's are small with some history of injury.  Really 

hope see

one of the bunch establish themselves because this offense only works if there 

is some

threat of a run and Persa, just like Kafka, can't be that threat.

Jeff

________________________________

From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com on behalf of Tom Maycock

Sent: Sat 8/28/2010 9:22 AM

To: NU Sports List

Subject: Re: [NU Sports] Kafka!!

> Even though I  have high regard for Persa, he is no Kafka. 

Based on what evidence? Before the first game last year, not a lot of people

were very excited about Kafka either. Maybe it's because I've had a chance to

see Persa in action a bit more (spring games, fall scrimmage last year) than the

out-of-towners, or maybe my rose-colored glasses are at work here, but I think

Persa could be poised for a couple of *spectacular* seasons. At least if he can

stay healthy.

No, he's probably not tall enough to play QB in the pros. Then again, neither is

Drew Brees.

Those of you not expecting big things from Persa might be in for a surprise!

Tom

_______________________________________________

nwu-sports site list

nwu-sports at tssi.com

http://romaine.tssi.com/mailman/listinfo/nwu-sports

_______________________________________________

nwu-sports site list

nwu-sports at tssi.com

http://romaine.tssi.com/mailman/listinfo/nwu-sports

_______________________________________________

nwu-sports site list

nwu-sports at tssi.com

http://romaine.tssi.com/mailman/listinfo/nwu-sports

_______________________________________________

nwu-sports site list

nwu-sports at tssi.com

http://romaine.tssi.com/mailman/listinfo/nwu-sports