[NU Sports] IMHO - NU vs. Ill-noise

[Jim Bendat]

Good points, except for the very last one. Wisconsin has a lot to prove: a win, and they're most likely going to the Rose Bowl.

-----Original Message-----
>From: "Roy S. Lamberton" <rstetson at capps-assoc.com>
>Sent: Nov 20, 2010 4:51 PM
>To: 'Northwestern Wildcats' <nwu-sports at tssi.com>
>Subject: [NU Sports] IMHO - NU vs. Ill-noise
>
>Just a few notes cast:
>
>1. Everyone expected Ill-noise to run up the middle on the traditional zone block spread
>running play. ILL came out and ran wide the first couple of downs. Our DE's were shading
>inside, ILL ran right by us.
>
>2. Evan W came out to throw long on the first offensive play. The Illini came out to
>blitz. Had we had the ball on the opening kickoff, that probably would have put us up 7-0,
>but the Zookers had the ball first, and ran around the edges for a TD.
>
>3. Once adjusted for the outside rush, ILL's OL blew massive holes up the middle (which we
>originally were expecting) and the guessing game began, which way do they run, inside with
>a FB or outside with the spread. Either way it didn't matter.
>
>4. Down 14-0, NU was scrambling on offense, just couldn't get the ball to our playmakers -
>Ebert and Dunsmore disappeared in the first half, and really the backup guys seemed to get
>more looks by Evan until later in the game.
>
>5. By the 4th quarter, the front 7 were gassed. The ILL-noise guys just kept bringing it
>and wore us out. Game, set, match.
>
>Zooker had that smirk on his face that said, I beat you today in your big game... Ha, Ha,
>Ha. Wait 'til next year.
>
>One comment I kept hearing from the TV guys was about how big the ILL linemen were. All
>over 6-6, etc. That was Gary B's system too, 5 giants, 6-7 at tackles 6-4 at guard and
>anyone smaller got a look at FB. You pound the defensive line until they break, then you
>run wild.
>
>The Ravens did it last year in the NFL, the Cowboys did it before then.
>
>Wisconsin might be different. We still have something to prove, they don't. Go Cats.
>
>rsl
>