[NU Sports] Scrimmage/thoughts

[Jonathan Hodges]

It's still very hard to tell how this year's Wildcats will fare against real
live competition since Fitz is resting the upperclassmen during camp even
more this year (which has an even larger effect this season with so many
returning starters).  This was part of a concerted effort he mentioned
before the season in seeing how the team pretty much withered down the
stretch last season (especially on D).  The team seems to be in good shape
conditioning-wise and there have been no major injuries to speak of, so that
means camp is going as well as can be expected.

Fortunately we'll get a good idea of how they look for that opening game
since BC is a legitimate team and has a really solid defense.  I expect
Persa to be good to play but also expect to see a good amount of Colter, who
in addition to nice speed has apparently improved his throwing this
offseason.

In terms of the RB competition, it is pretty clear based off of quotes from
Fitz & RB coach MacPherson that Mike Trumpy and Adonis Smith are in the
proverbial doghouse for inconsistency during camp, hence naming Schmidt the
starter at this point.  I fully expect to see a continuation of RB by
committee this season and even if Schmidt is the "starter" I would expect to
see a good dose of both Trumpy and Smith.  We'll see if they get the message
before then and, if so, expect changes in the depth chart.

Jonathan

PS: I am somewhat disturbed that people immediately think Schmidt is "fumble
prone" due to his high profile fumble on the goal line against MSU - the
play in which his ankle was injured enough to keep him out for the rest of
the 2010 season.  Here are the fumble % and lost fumble % for each of NU's
primary returning ballcarriers in terms of number of touches (rushes,
receptions, returns) - in fact, he's close to even with Persa, who is not
widely considered to be a guy with a fumbling problem:

Smith 4.65/2.33 (43)
Schmidt 2.76/1.38 (145)
Persa 2.30/1.38 (217)
Trumpy 0.74/0.00 (136)

On Sat, Aug 20, 2011 at 4:39 PM, <wildelk2 at aol.com> wrote:

>
>    Maybe its me, but I haven't gotten that warm and fuzzy feeling vibrating
> from Kenosha.  First, its the announcement that Jacob Schmidt is first on
> the depth chart, and during today's scrimmage, Persa (and Schmidt) didn't
> play.  I suppose starters could have sat out the scrimmage, but who knows,
> since it was a closed scrimmage?  All I know is Schmidt was fumble-prone
> last season, Persa's status won't be known for 2 weeks, and our defense gave
> up 135 points (or more?) in their last 3 games last year.  The games at BC
> and Army will tell much.
>
>
>   Per Phil Steele 2011 preview and Phil Steele.com,  BC's offensive line
> lost 3 starters, one who was a third team All-American.  Additionally, were
> all aware that their feature back (Montel Harris) may or may not play due to
> knee problems.  If he does play, he may not be 100%.   (3) players have
> transferred/quit, including a projected 1st string WR (Shakeem Phillips).
>
>
>   I still wonder about Schmidt.  Is this to say we need a better
> blocker/pass catcher as we'll air it out 60,70 times a game like the Outback
> Bowl?  If you believe that, Persa must be in good shape.  I'm trying not to
> knock Schmidt, but I don't see the 2nd coming of DA or DA2, Wright, Herron,
> Sutton, etc.   I feel more agitated by the fact that I suggested that we'll
> run the ball the best we have since Sutton.  With Schmidt, I don't see that
> happening.  Hope I'm wrong-dead wrong.
>
>
>   So I'm staying away (for now) of playing the Cats getting 3 points.  But
> I saw a few  "early birds".  Lay 19, Kentucky vs. W. Kentucky.  Lay 6, TCU
> vs. Baylor.   Take the 10.5 Army at NIU .  I like 35 UNLV getting from
> Wisconsin, who traditionally start slow and who are breaking in a new QB/
> new offense.  Not too much money on the Rebs; no one gets rich betting
> against Wisky at Camp Randall.
>
>
>
>   The juices are starting to flow.  12 days until the early birds on Thurs.
> 9/1,  14 days until Wildcat Time.
>
>
>             GO CATS!!!    Eric
>
>
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>


-- 
Jonathan W. Hodges
Contributor, HailToPurple
Web: http://www.hailtopurple.com/jhodges/
Twitter: @hailtopurple
Email: j-hodges at alumni.northwestern.edu