[NU Sports] Home opener

[Jonathan Hodges]

I agree with most of your assessment of the spring game (which was really a
controlled practice session with live tackling).  Some further comments:

1. I agree that WRs will be solid, and deep too.  Cameron Dickerson looks
solid as well.  NU will be set even if Prater doesn't get the NCAA waiver.
2. Siemian does indeed look good passing, particularly on the deeper
throws.  He may not move as well, but he did throw the ball well on the run
a couple times and had a nice designed run thrown in.
3. DL looked good, but not sure if that was just due to the constraints of
the game (can't hit QB and therefore fewer QB/option runs).

1. Colter did not look good on the longer throws, basically replicating
what we saw out of him last year (particularly vs Army).  Some of this
likely due to aforementioned constraints of the game (he couldn't establish
himself on the ground) but it's also becoming clear that if NU wants to
continue to throw the ball at a good clip (all indications are that they'll
keep doing so) Siemian will be in the mix as the main passer.
2. It's because you mostly saw third string RBs out there.  Trumpy will be
the primary RB and he's still coming back from his ACL tear (he just
started running again this week).  The lower strings, including freshmen &
converts from other positions got a lot of carries in the spring game.
Though there aren't any all-conference caliber guys on the roster right
now, it's not as bad as it looked in the spring game.
3. I agree that the OL looked overmatched despite yet again having some
highly touted and physically large guys.  Like I called for at the end of
the season, I think they need a better OL coach, as the unit has failed
pretty consistently since Cushing took over for Ingalls (looking at
opponent pressure and sack numbers along with rushing average).  I think
this is an often overlooked component of the lacking run game.
4. Kicking: the misses were by Flaherty (backup) and third string walk-on,
I wouldn't read too much into this.  But they need to build more confidence
in Budzien who had very few FG attempts last season and hasn't been able to
get in a groove (note that he hasn't missed an XP in his NU career).

Also, no injuries in the spring game - probably most important thing.

Jonathan

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



On Tue, Apr 24, 2012 at 3:26 PM, Dennis W. Brandt <tbng at comcast.net> wrote:

> I recorded the spring practice game and only recently got around to
> watching it.
>
> THINGS THAT SHOULD MAKE US HAPPY
>
> 1. The wide receivers, especially if Prater can play.  That unit could
> keep defensive coordinators up at night.  Watch out for Pierre
> Youngblood-Ary.
> 2. Our 2nd and 3rd string quarterbacks both threw the ball very well.  I
> like Trevor Siemian.
> 3. The defensive line.  Brian Arnfelt must have worked summers at IHop
> because he was pancaking offensive linemen.  Tyler Scott was making a
> nuisance of himself in the offensive backfield.
>
> THINGS THAT SHOULD CONCERN US
> 1. Kain Colter played like he was third on the depth chart and it
> obviously frustrated him.  He has the best legs among our quarterbacks but
> the weakest arm.
> 2. Our running backs played like they're all third on the depth chart.
>  (But see number 3 below.)
> 3. Our offensive line were overmatched.  Was that because the defensive
> line has greatly improved, or is the offensive line that bad?
> 4. Kicking game.  We missed two chipshot field goals.
>
> Long way to go until Syracuse but lots of work to do in the meantime.
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