[NU Sports] Football Talk

[hakirsch at aol.com]

Dennis

Do you think we need a big man ?
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-----Original Message-----
From: "Dennis W. Brandt" <tbng at comcast.net>
Sender: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com
Date: Wed, 20 Jul 2011 14:08:03 
To: <nwu-sports at tssi.com>
Reply-To: "Dennis W. Brandt" <tbng at comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [NU Sports] Football Talk

We have so many ifs that we could go 10 - 3 (or better) or 4 - 8, although 
.500 is likely.

We have a few certainties:

1. Barring injury, we should have the Big Ten's best quarterback, and I'd 
say that even if Terrell Pryor had stayed in the league, tattoos and all.
2. I believe we have the best corps of receivers in school history.  While 
we have no stud (although Ebert is quality), as a group, they are bigger and 
faster than usual for NU, and we have a bunch of them.
3. We have a stud at blocking back.  I'd like to see Duhsmore run the ball 
in short yardage.
4. We have a stud at head coach who bleeds purple and gets better every 
season.

Alas, we have a lot of uncertanties:

1. The offensive line.  They are now a mature group and have no more 
excuses.  But will they gel?  They can't play like last year.
2. The defensive line.  They stunk in last season's final four games and 
were hardly blocks of granite before that.  We have to get a MUCH better 
pass rush from the front four.  I do look for a good season from Quentin 
Williams and Vince Browne - if they remain healthy - and DiNardo might be 
another notch tougher.  We need a LOT more success from the DLs, especially 
the interior linemen.
3. Linebackers.  Honestly, I don't know what to expect.  We need outside LBs 
who can tackle wideouts in space and big running backs in the middle, and 
that's something we haven't had very often.
4. Running game.  It improved by season's end last year but never came close 
to being good.  I don't see anyone who reminds me of Damien Anderson, but if 
the offensive line steps it up by two floors, someone may emerge.  Maybe the 
pistol offense will help.
5. Secondary.  I don't think they were as bad as some believed last season, 
given that the defensive line put more pressure on their own secondary than 
opposing quarterbacks.  There is experience at cornerback but lots of youth 
elsewhere.  Are they more talented than those they replaced?  We'll see.
6. Special teams.  Kick coverage last year may have been the best in team 
history, and we should expect the same this season.  But performance 
elsewhere was spotty at best.  Someone must kick PATs and FGs with 
consistency, and punting must become a well executed job, not an adventure.

That are probably too many uncertanties to hope that they all come out on 
the good side.  If all those uncertain aspects falter, we're toast.  If they 
all soar, we're toasting.  Somewhere in between is more likely.  The keys 
are the two lines.  I believe the OL has a chance to show dramatic 
improvement, but I am less sanguine about the DL, especially if our starters 
go down.

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