Where I Come From: Expectations for the Season
by Mike Breese on Jul 12, 2010 8:49 AM CDT
in EA Sports NCAA FB 11
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PrintThis is the sixth in a week-long series sponsored by EA Sports NCAA Football 2011.
It's time to start wrapping up this campaign, but since it was so much fun all the posts leading up to today are linked below. Hope you enjoyed them. Reminder: If you have participated and want to win a copy of NCAA 2011, make sure to e-mail me (rabattack@gmail.com) your entry by today (drawing will be tonight).
- Mon: How I Became an NIU Huskies Fan
- Tue: My All-time Favorite NIU Team
- Wed: Tailgating Traditions
- Thu: My All-Time Favorite NIU Players
- Fri: Most Memorable NIU Football Moments
Expectations for the 2010 Northern Illinois Season
It was nice reviewing the past, but the time for the Huskies is now. It's been three years since the 2007 season in which the Huskies had their worst season in recent memory, suffering an injury-plagued 2-10 season. We saw a change in regime over to Coach Jerry Kill and the turnaround from that season has been remarkable. The Huskies have been to two straight bowl games the last two years with incomplete teams. Incomplete in the sense of the word that Coach Kill was still finding players to fit his system. In year three of Kill's reign, it seems as though he finally has the pieces in place that he needs to have a successful season.
The strength of the team will be on defense, specifically the deep defensive line. 5 players are returning that have at least 7 games of starting experience, headlined by All-MAC standout Jake Coffman. A lot of first year guys were thrown onto the field, but that should pay off tremendously when it comes to players like Devon Butler who will move into the starting MLB spot with virtually no dropoff. Chris Smith and Patrick George will be able to excel at their positions in just their second year of starting any games. Tracy Wilson will be a force at SS and there is great depth everywhere else on that side of the ball. The key to getting to that next level of greatness will be causing more turnovers.
On offense, NIU's staple has always been running the ball and this year will be no different. Chad Spann looks to be one of the top returning runners in the league. Behind him is a cavalry of players that include transfers Cameron Bell and Jasmin Hopkins as well as a healthy incumbent Ricky Crider. The offensive line isn't very deep, but if they manage to stay healthy and improve all season long, then there shouldn't be a dropoff from last year.
The biggest question is going to be making plays through the air. Will Chandler Harnish ever be healthy again? Will JC transfer Casey Weston have to step in? Will the receiving corps develop some playmakers that can stretch the field? Where does DeMarcus Grady stand in all of this? Teams are going to stack the box and finding answers to these questions early is absolutely vital.
I like the Huskies this year and they play a fairly easy schedule (Steele ranks it 119th). The MAC, especially the MAC West is going to have a down year with all the talent that graduated (LeFevour, Hiller, etc). I like the Huskies to take 2 out of 3 against the road games against Iowa State, Illinois and Minnesota. Then in-conference the Huskies toughest games are against Temple at home and against Western Michigan on the road. I say the Huskies go 1-1 in those games. All the other games are winnable.
My official prediction at this point in time is for the Huskies to go 10-2 with a berth in the MAC Championship game. I really can't see how they can't win at least 9 games this year. When 9 wins is a worst-case scenario you know you're going to be in for a fun ride.
Huskie Fans, what are your expectations for 2010?
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10-2 (MAC Champs)
While I agree with Mike that the schedule gods have aligned for the huskies this year. I believe going 3-1 vs. non-conference opponents is a must. I would love to imagine that we will be 4-0, but I don’t have enough confidence in QB Harnish being 100%. He wasn’t 100% at the bowl game and we stayed in it for a half but couldn’t get things done on offense.
The conference schedule is also lines up well with the most difficult match-ups being at home with Temple, Toledo, and CMU. I think we will end up going 7-1 in conference with a loss to Temple at home.
However, I believe we can right the ship and we will beat Temple in the MACC.
The offense will be fine if:
Harnish is 100% (If not then bring in Grady/Weston)
They develop a short passing attack
The RBs will continue to dominate with the help of great blocking from the O-Line and wide-outs. (I love CSpann but i hope to see a lot of CBell on those 3rd and short and goalline sets).
I hope we can go back to the days where we pickup 1st downs on 2nd & 3rd down to demoralize teams over and over. Not saying we don’t need a deep play to keep them honest, but I love it when your running and they can’t stop you from moving the chains.
The Defense will be fine. (no ifs)
As long as the defense stays healthy they will be the strength of the team. I love how our defense has been playing the last 2 years. Hopefully, we can shore up a few problem areas and be even better in 2010.
I’m hoping for 10-2 and a MAC championship, but a more likely scenario is 9-3 or 8-4 with a bowl berth. My dream is obviously 12-0 and a spot in a BCS bowl, but its hard to play perfectly the entire season, just ask ball state.
by projectmayhem011 on Jul 12, 2010 12:20 PM CDT reply actions
2010
I have high hopes for the Huskies in 2010 but, my hopes are tempered a bit. I agree, there are some real strengths (RB, def) but our biggest question mark is not where you’d want one to be. QB.
Then again, even if Harnish is healthy, I’m not entirely sure of his ability. He sure as hell can run the ball, but I really haven’t seen him develop as a passer as I’d have liked to. And outside of him, it’s inexperience followed by inexperience.
That QB position could be what derails this team.
I just hope he’s healthy and I’d decide not to worry about it.
After that, I do like our schedule. However, I do think that schedule will hurt us if we do decide to go undefeated. We don’t really have any Goliath’s on it and the BCS will look down upon that. Beating Illinois, Iowa State and Minnesota is not that impressive.
Overall though, I look for 9 wins and hopefully more. I agree that while we can (and probably should) win all 3 non-conf road games, it’s still going to be tough to pull off. I see us losing at Minnesota.
Anyway, here’s to a great season of Huskie football!!
Life is tough, but it's tougher if you're stupid.
- John Wayne
2010 Predictions
Well…this is the year that we’ve all been waiting for, right? There hasn’t been this much hype around the team since the middle of the previous decade. Looking at the schedule, anything less than a postseason appearence will be a disappointment. We should have one of the top statistical defenses in the country. Running back is always strong, the biggest questions are really quarterback and O-line. If one of our quarterbacks, whether it’s Harnish, Grady, or Weston, can put together a heck of a year, we should be dominant. I predict winning 1 of 3 of the BCS games, and ending up 9-3, with a possible trip to the MAC championship and a bowl game.
2010 questions
This could be our year. I really like our defense, but am a bit concerned about the depth. Tracy Wilson is one of the best at his position, but who backs him up? Will Sopol be ready? The Schiller injury brings another question. If we can limit any additional injuries, and our younger players develop quickly this could be a 9-3 (dare I say 10-2) season. We are not going to blow any team away, so special teams will prove to be critical.
2010 expectations
My worst case scenario is lower than Mike’s, but my best case scenario is higher. IMO worst case scenario we lose all the Big 10 games and lose 3 MAC games to finish at 6-6, and best case scenario we run the table at 12-0 and then 13-0 with a win in the MAC Championship Game. I think every game is winnable, but I will admit if it comes down to beating Temple twice in one season, that will be very tough. I suppose if I average out my worst prediction with my best then I would have to go with 9-3, but I am very excited about this team and I’m hoping for more than that.
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