NIU vs. Temple: The Battle for Respect
by Mike Breese on Oct 7, 2010 3:38 PM CDT
in Football
Email
PrintWhat a roller coaster ride of a season so far!
First we don't have a quarterback, now we do in Chandler Harnish.
First we didn't have an offensive gameplan, now we have a full-fledged passing attack.
First don't have an offensive line, then four different running backs are averaging 6.0 ypc.
First our linebackers can't tackle, now they're returning interceptions for touchdowns.
Saturday is the true test for the Huskies. Temple comes to town as the team to beat. Believe it or not, but Coach Jerry Kill has not beaten a team with a winning record in his two years at Northern Illinois. This can be his signature win. This can be the feather in the cap of all NIU fans saying that they beat the Temple Owls, who are coming in at 4-1.
Maybe we'll meet again in Detroit for the MAC Championship, who knows.
How will the students react? The Huskies will need a good home crowd to beat the Owls on Saturday. Will we gain an entire new fanbase by continuing to win games this season? I think so.
When the Huskies are on Defense
Almost every single player on Temple's offensive line is potentially an All-MAC player. RB Bernard Pierce was hyped up to be Heisman candidate before the year. He's out with an ankle injury, but 5'5" Matt Brown ran for 226 yds and 4 touchdowns.
Too bad they're going up to a wall that is our defensive line, led by The Corporal Jake Coffman. These guys just haven't let up since shutting down Minnesota's rushing attack (102 yds). Take out one long run by Alex Allen and we only give up less than 75 yds to the Akron Zips.
The Stud Sophomores at linebacker in Devon Butler and Tyrone Clark are finally feeling comfortable in their spots. Alex Kube is coming around and we're finally getting another veteran in Pat Schiller back to add some depth.
Tommy Davis is getting better at FS and Mike Sobol is doing a fine job spelling Tracy Wilson for the time being. CB Chris Smith is playing at an All-MAC level, even with a broken wrist.
Temple's quarterback Chester Stewart will be forced to make plays through the air. Will he be able to lead this Owl team solely with his arm? It's going to be tough, but that's what our defense is made to do.
When the Huskies are on Offense
The Owls are absolutely stacked with talent up and down the lineup. DE Adrian Robinson and DT Muhammad Wilkerson are both All-MAC candidates on the defensive line.
Elijah Joseph and Amara Kamara (best name in the MAC) lead the extremely strong linebacking corps.
FS Jaiquawn Jarrett is the best pro prospect on the team and he will be all over the field.
The Owls have been vulnerable to the running game so far this season, as they rank only 89th in the nation. They haven't even been doing a good job pressuring the quarterback this season (101st).
There's enough talent on this defense to be dangerous, but so far this season they've really underachieved for whatever reason. The key for the Huskies on offense will be to have a balanced gameplan, but to focus mainly on the bread and butter of the run game. The offense should be fine and be able to gain yards when needed, something I wasn't sure this offense could do two games ago.
Special Teams
James Nixon is the best kickoff returner in the MAC and Delano Green is the 2nd best punt returner. The Huskies cannot afford to give those players the availability to make plays. Brandon McManus is 7 of 10 in field goals, missing tries of 38 and 44 yards vs. Central Michigan.
Prediction
Temple provides a nice early-season challenge for the Huskies and I believe that the team will rise up and meet that challenge in a rabid Huskie Stadium on Saturday. Bernard Pierce's health concerns me, as he represents so much of what Temple is able to do on offense. I believe that the Huskies will shut Temple's running game ground enough, causing Chester Stewart to throw a few too many incompletions and interceptions.
The Huskies and their more balanced offense should be able to do more things against a Temple defense that has been suspect so far this season.
Home field will matter a ton, so let's pack Huskie Stadium for a win on Satuday!
Huskies 34-Temple 28
Who wins the game on Saturday? Sound-off.
12 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Plea to NIU Students
Please attend the game Saturday, a full house would motivate our team but it also shows how committed NIU is to winning. I’m an alum from 1993 who lives 300 miles from DeKalb, if I was in the Chicago area I would be there. Be out early to tailgate and get to the game!!
goin to the game
this is the biggest thing i dont understand. tickets are free and the students dont come out. I am a student and wont miss a game for anything. Hopefully the stadium is packed but im not so sure bc the game is at 11. Last year the game at 11 was half full its embarrassing when a game is televised and half the stands are empty. But this year people are talkin about the team its starting to get a little hype on campus. Also the thunderstix will be out for this game so get ready for a loud huskie stadium. LETS GO HUSKIES!!!!!
by jcsportsfan21 on Oct 7, 2010 9:46 PM CDT up reply actions
What does a ticket cost to goto a northern illinois game for the general public?
I'm all about covering the spread and moneylines. Glory favors the bold. Chance favors the prepared mind. Luck, well i have that too. University of Utah goes to the Pac-12 conference in 2011. I expect them to compete immediately for the conference CG. Brock Lesnar will defeat Cain Velasquez. The most hated and misunderstood person on the MMA blogs.. Utah and Boise take care of business in week one. Don't be surprised if they both go undefeated.
by wolfmanshowlforever on Oct 8, 2010 3:13 AM CDT up reply actions
roughly 25 bucks
I went to the North Dakota game and I’m going out for the Homecoming game next weekend. I would love to go this weekend but I’m taking my gf out of town for her birthday. Otherwise, I’d be out there.
From what I can tell, though, it doesn’t matter which side you sit on (East or West…..East is General Admission, West is reserved) because all tickets are 25 dollars + extra fees and stuff.
Honestly, it’s not too bad. I looked into going to the Illini game and tickets were 35 bucks, I think. At at Minnesota they were 40 or 45.
The real bargain though, is NIU Huskie baskteball!!! Tix cost like 3 dollars or something ridiculous.
Life is tough, but it's tougher if you're stupid.
- John Wayne
thanks
I'm all about covering the spread and moneylines. Glory favors the bold. Chance favors the prepared mind. Luck, well i have that too. University of Utah goes to the Pac-12 conference in 2011. I expect them to compete immediately for the conference CG. Brock Lesnar will defeat Cain Velasquez. The most hated and misunderstood person on the MMA blogs.. Utah and Boise take care of business in week one. Don't be surprised if they both go undefeated.
by wolfmanshowlforever on Oct 8, 2010 2:45 PM CDT up reply actions
I see a close one
give me Huskies 24 – Temple 20
I believe this one will come down to 1) time of posession 2) turnovers
Oh, and one other thing……I agree with prior post: get out their Huskie nation and support the team!!
Field Position
If you look at Temples stats they tell an interesting tale. They have lost their games in every aspect of the game; offense, defense, kicking game and turnovers. So why are they 4-1? They have been very, very lucky. The only telling stat is they’ve outscored their opponents 55-27. They’ve been given a short field all season. If we win the field position battle we’ll win this game. 35-21
55-27 in the fourth quarter
….I meant to say’ ‘They outscored their opponents 55-27 in the fourth quarter’
GAMEDAY PLEA TO NIU STUDENTS
It is going to be 80 and sunny today in DeKalb, what a day to tailgate hard, get to the game and live it up afterwards. Take down the goal posts in an old homecoming tradition if NIU beats Temple today and throw it in the lagoon, those were some great memories.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Red And Black Attack
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
