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| 4:05 remaining in the 3rd | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Northern Illinois Huskies
|
0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | |
|
Iowa St. Cyclones
|
7 | 10 | 0 | 17 |
NIU @ Iowa State Game Thread
by Mike Breese on Sep 2, 2010 6:00 PM CDT
152 comments
Gametime: 7:00 PM
TV: Comcast Sporstnet/Fox Sports Net
Opposing blog: Clone Chronicles
Line: Iowa State -4, O/U 51
Northern Illinois @ Iowa State Preview
by Mike Breese on Sep 2, 2010 9:13 AM CDT
in Football
2 comments
Offensive Gameplan
Just continue what you are used to doing and run the ball. Run left, run right and throw in some screens there. Iowa State's defense isn't very experienced at all. The Cyclones front seven is almost completely new. They lost all threee of their linebackers and their top-2 players on the DL. This is all from a team that finished 111th in getting to the QB last season.
Secondary is supposed to be their strength, as Leonard Johnson (64 tkls, 2 ints LY) is going to be the best player on that side of the ball when it comes to gametime. SS David Sims is still going to be suspended for the opener. The other corner Ter'Ran Benton recovered from a broken leg to start in the Insight Bowl.
We are breaking in 3 new starters in offensive line, so this may not be so easy. Whoever the quarterback may be (I'm picking Grady) needs to step it up when need be and keep this defense honest. A WR needs to step it up and make some serious plays downfield.
Defensive Gameplan
This is supposed to be the best defensive line in history and they have to play to their maximum potential if we want to get the victory. There is just so much talent and experience headlined by Jake Coffman that I am sure they will be able to keep the Huskies in the game. RB Alexander Robinson (1,195 yds, 6 TDs) is their main weapon and I'm sure the defense can take care of him.
Linebackers need to step it up from being mediocre last year to defend the spread attack that ISU is going to throw at us. We face mobile QBs in practice every day, so defending Austen Arnaud shouldn't be a problem. The secondary needs to not give up the big play, as they did so much last year. Remember the beginning of the Wisconsin game? Yeah, that can't happen again.
History in the Making
It's not like we haven't beaten the Cyclones before. In 2003 we defeated them at home 24-16. Chad Spann, like Michael Turner needs to have a good game on the ground. Grady/Harnish needs to play like Josh Haldi, not Phil Horvath. That means keep turnovers to a minimum. Don't make the dumb play, just play to your abilities and be a game manager.
It's been a while, but we've been in this spot before. This team should be the best since that 2004 squad, maybe even better.
GO HUSKIES!!!
The Daily Diesel: GAMEDAY EDITION
by Mike Breese on Sep 2, 2010 8:04 AM CDT
in Football
0 comments
Northern Illinois vs. Iowa State: Q&A with Clone Chronicles
by Mike Breese on Sep 1, 2010 8:46 AM CDT
in Football
0 comments
What better way to find about the Iowa State Cyclones other than to interview Mark Kieffer from Clone Chronicles, SBN's own Iowa State blog.
What will the Cyclones offensive gameplan be against the Huskies?
Offensive Gameplan: Ball Control. They run a no-huddle spread with 4 Wide (sometimes 5 with the RB motioning out wide as well), but tend to run the ball and execute short passes. The strength of the offense is the O-Line and running back position with Alexander Robinson leading the way. The O-Line was one of the best in the league, and the running back position is 4 deep with talented guys.
Robinson is a smart back and has good hands out of the backfield. He's been known to wheel route it out of the backfield, and usually defense don't pick up on it, with Robinson going for 6, or at least a huge gain.
ISU runs the zone-read quite a bit, and Arnaud is not a shabby runner either.
If we are able to stop the run, how confident are you with your quarterback (Austen Arnaud) and the passing game?
If NIU can stop the run, ISU is in trouble. The big disappointment last year was Arnaud never getting a full grasp of the offense (first year running it), and the Wide Receivers underachiving big time. I am in "wait and see" mode with the passing game. I expect it to be improved, but am not sure how much it will be. In my opinion, wide receivers are overhyped. In the Big 12, guys that are 6-2 and run a 4.5-4.6 40 are a dime-a-dozen, and ISU doesn't have WRs that stand out in comparison with the league.
If ISU is going to win games this year, they will need to pass well, to avoid having opponents stacking 8-9 in the box. That's pretty much the storyline with the offense.
The key for the defense last season was to force the turnover. What will have to happen this year for that side of the ball to be successful?
Defense: This team will continue to have to be turnover minded. The front 7 are a total wildcard but weakness on the team. If they can get a pass rush without having to sell out on the blitz, they will be fine. The secondary is very good, but when the QB has all day to throw, it makes them look much worse than they are. The defensive line has been horrible for a few years, and I expect them to be the worst in the league again.
Honestly, if ISU wins games, it will be with the defense allowing 21-24, and the offense scoring 27 and up. The coaches on that side of the ball are great, but even good coaching can't make up for lack of athleticism at times, especially on the D-Line.
How are is the Cyclone fanbase feeling about the game this weekend? Where are the expectations for this year?
Fanbase's feelings for Thursday: must win. ISU fans know if they lose this one, a bowl is not happening. We've been told all summer by the local media NIU will be tough, and I think most fans know it will be a close, grind it out type of a game. They'd be disappointed with a loss, but not completly shocked.
Expectations for the year from fans: all over the map. The analytical ones point out the #1 toughest schedule ranking by Phil Steele. The gut-feel type say "come on man, Paul Rhoads did big things last year, and that will continue.", and arrive at the conclusion that the team will win 6 games somehow.
For me, I expect the team to be better, but record to be worse compared to last year 3 or 4 wins. I will say I predicted 6-6 last year and was dead on. Last year the schedule was the 71st most difficult by Sagarin. The team was mediocre and barely got in a bowl game. It's going to take a few years before we know if Rhoads can take ISU to the proverbial next level when they are competitive week in and week out in the Big 12.
Predictions?
Predictions: ISU wins 20-16 in a slugfest. NIU will force ISU into their weaker areas, but I think ISU has more depth, which will help, in a grinder like this one.
Thank you so much to Mark for answering these questions and good luck on gameday!
Notes from Kill's pre-Iowa State presser
by Mike Breese on Aug 31, 2010 8:47 AM CDT
in Football
3 comments
Excerpts from the Kill's Presser (bold emphasis added):
On the Cyclones:
On Iowa State's defensive strengths
"Well, I think their strength is, number one, is they are so well-disciplined. They're not going to give you a big play. They are very strong in the secondary...with two strong corners who are very gifted. Their coach does a great job at coaching; he's been coaching for 40 years. You don't coach 40 years and not know anything about football. I think the big thing I see in Iowa State's whole program is that they've got discipline. They're not going to make a lot of mistakes. They were number two in the red zone defense a year ago. They're just very, very solid at discipline, very aggressive, very good tacklers. I've got nothing but compliments for what I've seen from film and that's all I can go by: what I've seen on film from a year ago."
On Iowa State's quarterback and their offense
"He's a great player. They have a great running back. Seven or eight starters are returning. Offensively they will be very good. It will be a big challenge for us. It really will be. Running backs, they know how to run the football. That's really the number one goal: we have to stop the run. There isn't any question about that on defense. If we don't do that, it will be a long day."
On Position Battles:
On the number of quarterbacks that will play Thursday
"We won't see three quarterbacks. I'm not going to name the starter until game time, it's not anything against anybody in this room. It's just like anything: you try to go into game, you don't want to let a coordinator prepare anything different. Whoever it's going to be, we don't want to reveal that. We don't plan on playing three or anything to that nature."On possibly seeing two quarterbacks Thursday
"Don't know that either, probably not. We'll just have to see if the situation arises. I hate to say anything. If you interviewed me two or three years ago it wouldn't have been a problem. But when I went to University of Tennessee, I think we were on our fourth quarterback at that time, I never thought that would happen. We'll probably travel four quarterbacks because of that situation. In my career, I've never had anybody get hurt at quarterback as much as we've had here."
Newsflash: This NIU team is really young
by Mike Breese on Aug 31, 2010 8:36 AM CDT
in Football
0 comments
via the Iowa State preview on NIUHuskies.com
An introduction to new faces:
Youth is Served
Northern Illinois lists 30 freshmen and sophomores on its current depth chart on offense and defense with 19 of those on the defensive side of the ball. There are five first-year Huskies on the offensive two-deep - receivers Da'Ron Brown and Akeem Daniels, offensive linemen Matt Battaglia and Tyler Loos, and tailback Jasmin Hopkins (a junior). The NIU defensive depth chart includes seven 2010 newcomers, with four linebackers (Greg Barksdale, Jamaal Bass, Cameron Stingily, Mike Hellams), joined by defensive end Joe Windsor, and safeties Jimmie Ward and Demetrius Stone (a sophomore). In addition to the newcomers, eight redshirt freshmen - four on offense and four on defense - are set to make their NIU debuts versus Iowa State.New Look Line
The Huskies' offensive line features a new look for 2010 with 50-game starter Eddie Adamski (center) and 38-game starter Jason Onyebuagu (guard), who played in every NIU game over the last four years, lost to graduation and 2009 starter at tackle Adam Kiel currently working with the second team. Three players - center Scott Wedige, left guard Logan Pegram and right tackle Keith Otis - are expected to make their first career starts at Iowa State. They will be joined by left tackle Trevor Olson, who has started every Huskie game over the past two seasons, and Joe Pawlak, who started every game last season.
Reality is setting in that we will have 3 new starters on the offensive line when we face the Iowa State Cyclones. I'm hoping that the defensive line got this team ready for battle.
Here's to hoping that the young backup players won't have to play a significant amount of time until the home opener against North Dakota.
These guys are still around?
Experience Counts
On the other end of the spectrum are eight Huskies who have played in 30-plus games for Northern Illinois, with senior long snapper Nolan Owen leading the list with 38 games played. Cornerback Patrick George is next on the experience list with appearances in 37 games, followed by Landon Cox, Alex Kube and Chad Spann with 36 games apiece. Tailback Ricky Crider (33), fullback Kyle Skarb (32) and defensive tackle D.J. Pirkle (32) are the other 30-game guys on the 2010 roster. Another six Huskies have played in 25 or more games.
Not having George for the opener is going to hurt, as he is the most experienced player in the secondary by far.
Kill names anywhere from 7-12 captains
by Mike Breese on Aug 31, 2010 7:43 AM CDT
in Football
1 comment
Here is your leadership council per HuskieWire and Northern Star:
Offense
RB Ricky Crider, WR Landon Cox, TE Jason Schepler & LT Trevor Olson
Defense
LB Alex Kube, DE Jake Coffman, SS Tracy Wilson
But wait, there's more:
The five NIU quarterbacks - juniors DeMarcus Grady, Chandler Harnish and Casey Weston and redshirt freshmen Jordan Lynch and A.J. Hill - also were named to the Leadership Council because "every quarterback needs to be a leader," Kill said.
I'd hate to be one of the QBs getting the "token" captaincy, but hey why not. Somebody needs to put those guys through the ringer and who knows, they may come out the other side as diamond. I'm really digging the fact he's putting these signal callers under as much pressure as possible. So for now, let's just enjoy the fact we have so many "leaders" on the team. Only 4 seniors though, which is a little unusual.
Leadership seems like something that needs to be firmly established this year. Who has truly been a leader on this team in Kill's first 2 years here?
Northern Illinois and preseason hype
by Mike Breese on Aug 30, 2010 9:01 AM CDT
in Football
1 comment
The media has spoken and they like Northern Illinois to win the MAC West this year. What does that mean? Probably not a whole lot, but what other times have the Huskies been picked to win their division?
2009 prediction: 5th
Actual finish: 2nd (7-6, 5-3)
2008 prediction: 5th
Actual finish: 4th (6-7, 5-3)
2007 prediction: 5th
Actual finish: 6th (2-10, 1-6)
2006 prediction: 1st
Actual finish: 3rd (7-6, 5-3)
2005 prediction: 2nd
Actual finish: 1st (7-5, 6-2)
2004 prediction: 2nd
Actual finish: 1st (9-3, 7-1)
2003 prediction: 1st
Actual finish: 2nd (10-2, 6-2)
2002 prediction: 3rd
Actual finish: 1st (8-4, 7-1)
2003 as we all know was that year we beat a couple ranked teams, but in-conference the Huskies struggled against talented Bowling Green and Toledo teams. This was mostly due to injuries and lack of depth for a team that put NIU on the map, but couldn't capture that elusive MAC Championship. Or even make a bowl game nonetheless. To this day, even though the Huskies didn't meet all of their goals that season will always be a success. I'm damn tired of talking about something that happened 7 years ago though.
2006 was just an absolute disaster right from the start. Garrett Wolfe and Doug Free couldn't do it all for this team. They struggled right out of the gate against eventual East winners Ohio. Later on Western Michigan completely shut down our offense and Toledo came out on top in the infamous "Fog Game". Our defense under Novak was always a bit suspect when they weren't forcing a bunch of turnovers, so this season's downfall could be put on the lack of production on the offensive side of the ball.
When Phil Horvath at QB, Britt Davis and Marcus Perez at WR are your other offensive threats, you know you are going to be in trouble (hindsight 20/20). Everybody knew our offensive gameplan was going to be getting Wolfe the ball and we had no other options on offense. Check out this snippet of an ESPN preview from 2006:
NIU has won games over the years with a strong running game and good defense. That figures to be the recipe again this season, but a decent passing game will be needed to keep opponents off Wolfe's back. Nicholson appears to have more flash, and his cannon arm could really take pressure off the run, provided the young receivers can separate from defenders.
This year our defense is going to be light years ahead of what we had in 2006. On offense, we return pretty much everybody that was involved in the passing game. But the same questions remain: will our passing game be enough? Will the WR corps develop enough to take the pressure off what could be an extremely strong running game? We didn't lose a Sam Hurd or Shatone Powers, but who is going to step it up downfield? We all know what Landon Cox can do, but what about Nathan Palmer, Willie Clark or Martel Moore? Does it matter who is going to start at QB?
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Mid-American Conference Standings
(updated 3.22.2010 at 11:07 PM CDT)
| East | Conf | Overall | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | W | L | |
| Kent St. Golden Flashes | 13 | 3 | 24 | 9 |
| Akron Zips | 12 | 4 | 24 | 11 |
| Buffalo Bulls | 9 | 7 | 18 | 12 |
| Miami (Ohio) RedHawks | 9 | 7 | 14 | 18 |
| Ohio Bobcats | 7 | 9 | 22 | 15 |
| Bowling Green Falcons | 6 | 10 | 14 | 16 |
| West | Conf | Overall | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | W | L | |
| Central Michigan Chippewas | 9 | 7 | 15 | 15 |
| Western Michigan Broncos | 8 | 8 | 18 | 15 |
| Eastern Michigan Eagles | 8 | 8 | 17 | 15 |
| Ball St. Cardinals | 8 | 8 | 15 | 15 |
|
Northern Illinois Huskies
|
6 | 10 | 10 | 20 |
| Toledo Rockets | 1 | 15 | 4 | 28 |
Weather in Dekalb
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