[NU Sports] Cats 2010

[Jonathan Hodges]

I concur with others and am reasonably optimistic for this season.  I think
that 8-4 is a reasonable expectation for the year if only because of the
extremely weak schedule.  I know NU always seems to falter in a game that
they should win, but this team's strong point will be the defense and that
typically helps teams win games they should.

All of the nonconference games really should be wins: Vandy has really
fallen after their one bowl appearance a couple of years back, Illinois
State is a ho-hum I-AA/FCS team, Rice is just plain bad, and Central
Michigan should be in free-fall mode after losing their program's best QB,
other key members of the offense, and, most importantly, their head coach.

And in the conference, consensus has Minnesota, Indiana, and Illinois all
below the 'Cats and Purdue around the same ballpark.

For everyone worrying about having an inexperienced QB heading into the
year, just rewind to these same conversations last summer when Kafka was the
guy "that nobody thought could throw."  Persa has looked relatively solid
throwing, and he has very good speed and isn't afraid of running (which fits
OC McCall's offense well).  I know the running game is very questionable and
I'm not too optimistic on that front, but last year showed that you don't
need a 1,000 yard runner to have a successful season.  Expect Persa to be
the leading rusher and the other guys to split up enough yards to do the
job.

Finally (for now), the D looks very solid up front and won't fall too far in
the secondary.  Many are high on the DL that will get to show off some
highly touted recruits, while the LB corps may very well be the best such
unit in the conference (read some of the previews and they'll echo that).
And in the secondary you have 4 guys who all have significant experience
under their belts - 2 who've been shuffled around just to get on the field
(Arnold and Peters) and another who seemingly lost a starting job twice
thanks to injury (Vaughn).

The ultimate goal this year is to win a bowl game, and I'm confident Fitz
will put the team in a position to do that come late December/early January.

Go 'Cats!!!
Jonathan

On Mon, Jul 12, 2010 at 7:46 PM, Clark Zahn <clzahn at mindspring.com> wrote:

> Jim Leonard wrote:
>
>> Fellow Wildcat Faithful,
>>
>> We're a month away from Camp Kenosha and less than two months from a NU
>> season. I think we're in for a tough year but I'll remain optimistic. I
>> think if we can get by Vanderbilt we have a shot at 7-5. I'd feel better if
>> we had a veteran QB and/or a top running back who wasn't playing baseball
>> this summer. Does anyone disagree?
>>
>> Victory & Honor,
>> Jim
>>
>>
>>
>
> I think the Cats will do fine if Persa doesn't get injured.  I expect 8-4
> or better in the regular season.
>
>
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