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Administrator Emeritus
2006 Northern Illinois Huskies Game Preview
written by: BB73, BuckeyeRyn, Buckeyeskickbuttocks, Bucklion, daddyphatsacs, Deety, FKAGobucks877, LordJeffBuck, osugrad21, OSUsushichic, PrincessPeach, and 3yardsandacloud
Link to 2006 Northern Illinois Huskies-Additional Information
written by: BB73, BuckeyeRyn, Buckeyeskickbuttocks, Bucklion, daddyphatsacs, Deety, FKAGobucks877, LordJeffBuck, osugrad21, OSUsushichic, PrincessPeach, and 3yardsandacloud
Link to 2006 Northern Illinois Huskies-Additional Information
Welcome to another season of college football! Last season ended well for Buckeye fans, since it was the first one ever with defeats of both Michigan and Notre Dame. The Fiesta Bowl outcome made tOSU the only team with 4 BCS Bowl victories. And the offensive total of 617 yards was not only the most ever for any Fighting Irish opponent, the average of 9.64 yards per offensive play set an all-time record for any Division 1-A bowl performance.
But that was last year. The long off-season is finally over, and the Buckeyes are ready to open up against the Northern Illinois Huskies. Let's look at how tOSU has performed in opening games.
All-time record in season openers: 100-13-4 (99-8-4 since 1895)
All-time record in home openers: 103-9-4 (101-6-4 since 1895)
Note: the reason there is 1 less game in the home opener totals is because during the inaugural season of 1889, the Buckeyes' season was just 1 road game
The all-time record against teams currently in the MAC conference is 19-1, with the only blemish being a 12-6 loss to Akron in 1894. This doesn't include 2004's win over Marshall, who is now in Conference-USA.
But this year tOSU starts out at Number One! Here are the current lists of teams most often voted #1 in the AP poll, both all-time and pre-season only (which started in 1950):
Weeks at #1 in the AP poll all-time
95 - Notre Dame, Oklahoma
81 - USC
74 - Ohio State (includes 2006 preseason)
70 - Nebraska
68 - Miami, FL
59 - Florida State
42 - Texas
34 - Michigan
31 - Alabama
Most times voted pre-season AP #1
9 - Oklahoma
7 - Ohio State
6 - Nebraska
5 - Florida State, Notre Dame, and USC
3 - Miami
2 - Alabama, Florida, and Michigan
How have the Buckeyes perfromed in seasons which they started the season #1 in the AP? The team finished #8 in 1958, was not ranked in the final 10 in 1962, and ended at #4 in 1969, #5 in 1970, #15 in 1980, and #2 in 1998.
Overall, how accurate have the initial rankings been? The AP pre-season #1 team has ended up AP #1 in 10 of the 56 years since the pre-season poll began.
Turning our attention to the opponent, let's look at how Northern Illinois has performed in road openers. Since 1973, when they first joined the MAC, they have played their first game on the road 15 times. They have a record of 2-13 in those games, with the wins at Cal St.-Long Beach and Kansas. They are 1-7 in games when they start the season at the stadium of one of the 6 large BCS conferences; the lone win being in 1983 at Kansas (who later beat USC in Los Angeles that year). They lost to Wisconsin and Illinois, as well as recent openers at Northwestern in 2000 and at Michigan last year (33-17).
Northern Illinois won a small college national championship in 1963, and became a major college program in 1969. They won their only MAC title in 1983, and the MAC western division last year (Akron won the conference championship game 31-30). They are undefeated in major college bowl games, but their only appearances have been the 1983 California Bowl against Cal St.-Fullerton and a 2004 win over Troy in the Silicon Valley Classic.
The Huskies have never been ranked in the final AP football poll, but did reach #12 during the 2003 season, a year in which they won at Alabama, and also defeated BCS teams Maryland and Iowa State. They were #10 in the initial BCS rankings of 2003.
Against Big Ten opponents, the Huskies are 1-27-1, although all of those were road games for NIU. The lone win was a 19-17 decision in Madison in 1988, the year after a 16-16 tie against Northwestern.
Against 'BCS conference' teams at home, NIU is 4-3 (a 1990 win over Kansas State, a 2002 victory over Wake Forest, and the 2003 wins against Iowa State and Maryland.
Previous coaches at Northern Illinois include a man who retired with a perfect record (Dixie Fleager was 5-0 in 1904), and the less-than-perfect Lee Corso, who was 4-6-1 in 1984.
Current head coach Joe Novak has steadily built the program after they stayed with him despite a rough start. The team began 1-26 under Novak, including a 23-game losing streak from 1996 to 1998. His overall record is now 54-60, with the Huskies winning 34 games over the last 4 seasons.
But that was last year. The long off-season is finally over, and the Buckeyes are ready to open up against the Northern Illinois Huskies. Let's look at how tOSU has performed in opening games.
All-time record in season openers: 100-13-4 (99-8-4 since 1895)
All-time record in home openers: 103-9-4 (101-6-4 since 1895)
Note: the reason there is 1 less game in the home opener totals is because during the inaugural season of 1889, the Buckeyes' season was just 1 road game
The all-time record against teams currently in the MAC conference is 19-1, with the only blemish being a 12-6 loss to Akron in 1894. This doesn't include 2004's win over Marshall, who is now in Conference-USA.
But this year tOSU starts out at Number One! Here are the current lists of teams most often voted #1 in the AP poll, both all-time and pre-season only (which started in 1950):
Weeks at #1 in the AP poll all-time
95 - Notre Dame, Oklahoma
81 - USC
74 - Ohio State (includes 2006 preseason)
70 - Nebraska
68 - Miami, FL
59 - Florida State
42 - Texas
34 - Michigan
31 - Alabama
Most times voted pre-season AP #1
9 - Oklahoma
7 - Ohio State
6 - Nebraska
5 - Florida State, Notre Dame, and USC
3 - Miami
2 - Alabama, Florida, and Michigan
How have the Buckeyes perfromed in seasons which they started the season #1 in the AP? The team finished #8 in 1958, was not ranked in the final 10 in 1962, and ended at #4 in 1969, #5 in 1970, #15 in 1980, and #2 in 1998.
Overall, how accurate have the initial rankings been? The AP pre-season #1 team has ended up AP #1 in 10 of the 56 years since the pre-season poll began.
Turning our attention to the opponent, let's look at how Northern Illinois has performed in road openers. Since 1973, when they first joined the MAC, they have played their first game on the road 15 times. They have a record of 2-13 in those games, with the wins at Cal St.-Long Beach and Kansas. They are 1-7 in games when they start the season at the stadium of one of the 6 large BCS conferences; the lone win being in 1983 at Kansas (who later beat USC in Los Angeles that year). They lost to Wisconsin and Illinois, as well as recent openers at Northwestern in 2000 and at Michigan last year (33-17).
Northern Illinois won a small college national championship in 1963, and became a major college program in 1969. They won their only MAC title in 1983, and the MAC western division last year (Akron won the conference championship game 31-30). They are undefeated in major college bowl games, but their only appearances have been the 1983 California Bowl against Cal St.-Fullerton and a 2004 win over Troy in the Silicon Valley Classic.
The Huskies have never been ranked in the final AP football poll, but did reach #12 during the 2003 season, a year in which they won at Alabama, and also defeated BCS teams Maryland and Iowa State. They were #10 in the initial BCS rankings of 2003.
Against Big Ten opponents, the Huskies are 1-27-1, although all of those were road games for NIU. The lone win was a 19-17 decision in Madison in 1988, the year after a 16-16 tie against Northwestern.
Against 'BCS conference' teams at home, NIU is 4-3 (a 1990 win over Kansas State, a 2002 victory over Wake Forest, and the 2003 wins against Iowa State and Maryland.
Previous coaches at Northern Illinois include a man who retired with a perfect record (Dixie Fleager was 5-0 in 1904), and the less-than-perfect Lee Corso, who was 4-6-1 in 1984.
Current head coach Joe Novak has steadily built the program after they stayed with him despite a rough start. The team began 1-26 under Novak, including a 23-game losing streak from 1996 to 1998. His overall record is now 54-60, with the Huskies winning 34 games over the last 4 seasons.
Date and Time
Date: Saturday, August 2nd, 2006
Time: 3:30 EDT Kick-off
Location: Ohio Stadium - “The Horseshoe” (Columbus, OH)
Constructed: 1922 (Renovated in 2001)
Seating Capacity: 101,568 (Originally 66,210)
Playing Surface: Natural Grass (P.A.T.)
Broadcast Information:
TV Broacast: ABC: Mark Jones (Play-by-play), David Norrie (Analysis), Stacey Dales (Sideline)
Radio Broadcast: Ohio State Radio Network (1460TheFan in Columbus): Paul Keels (Play-by-play), Jim Lachey (Analysis), and Jim Karsatos (Sideline)
2006 Northern Illinois Huskies Offensive Preview
Returning starters: 6
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages ... it’s finally that time of year again! The Buckeyes will take the field in their home opener after a (seemingly) long, long wait since the Fiesta Bowl win over Notre Dame. As the opening opponent, enter Coach Joe Novak and the Northern Illinois Huskies, who are coming off of a fairly successful, and often times wild, 2005 campaign, a season that saw them finish strong as MAC Western Division champions, come within an eyelash of the MAC title, and unfortunately not be rewarded with an invite to a bowl game. The offense for Northern was potent throughout much of 2005, as they led the team to 7 wins, and the team scored at least 30 points in 9 of their 12 games, en route to a scoring average of 32.4 points per game, 27th nationally. The team also finished 16th nationally in total offense, gaining 443.1 yards per contest. Led by outstanding tailback Garrett Wolfe, the Huskies ground out 206.7 yards per contest, good for a national rank of 16th. The passing game was also effective, if not quite as explosive, finishing 39th nationally in yards (236.9 ypg), but tied for 5th nationally in efficiency (156.4 rating). Wolfe is back for another tour of duty this season, so the Buckeyes will need to be cognizant of his every move ... however, with Wolfe and the effectiveness of the running attack leading logically to a highly efficient passing game, it is clear that the Silver Bullets will need to be sharp in all aspects defensively if they are going to slow down the Huskies on September 2nd. This will be an immediate test for all of the new starters on the Buckeye defense.
Quarterbacks
QB #3 Phil Horvath (6-2, 193, SR, Naperville Central HS, Naperville, IL)
Coach Novak has been somewhat coy with the starting QB situation for the opener, and it is clear that both potential signal-callers have the confidence of the coach and their teammates. The veteran QB Phil Horvath returns from injury, and has been named the starter to lead the Huskies again in 2006. Last year, he was limited to the first 9 games of the season, breaking his arm against Central Michigan, but still put up some impressive efficiency numbers. At the top of the list were his completion percentage of 70.6%, and his overall rating of 159.2. In those 9 games, he threw for 1995 yards and 18 TDs to just 8 INTs. He was also only sacked a very respectable 15 times, demonstrating his quick release and ability to move around in the pocket and not take the big loss.
Looking at individual games, Horvath completed at least 60% of his passes in all 9 starts, including games against MAC powers Miami and Akron, and games against Big Ten foes Michigan and Northwestern. He had his best games against arguably the best 2 other teams in the MAC last year, Akron and Miami, whom the Huskies played back-to-back. Against Akron, he completed 75% of his throws for an astounding 486 yards and 6TDs, and he followed that up in the Miami game with an 86.4% completion percentage, for 296 yards and 2 more TDs. Clearly he has a wealth of experience and a firm grasp of the offense, knows what the coaches expect from him, and is capable of delivering on those expectations. With a strong and powerful running game, Horvath can be very dangerous to teams trying to stack the box to stop the run.
When Horvath got hurt, it’s probably safe to say there were some initial worries about how well the team could complete the game and the season, needing to close with several victories to win the division. The performance of the team was not hindered, and fans and teammates alike are looking forward to a bright future at the position with QB #19 Dan Nicholson, then a freshman out of Chicago’s famed Brother Rice HS, at the helm. He was able to complete the victory in the Central Michigan game (also without Wolfe) and win out the final 3 games of the regular season, being about as effective as Horvath was. The lack of drop-off at the position was paramount to the Huskies finishing the season on a 3-game winning streak and making the MAC Championship game, and the coaching staff could very well go with Nicholson as the starter at some point during the season. He threw for 831 yards and 6 scores last year, but was sacked 11 times and didn’t play quite as well in the MAC title game. Still, it is readily apparent that his talent level is very high, with a strong arm and good decision making, and after not playing most of the season, he took the club to within an eyelash of winning the MAC title. Whoever the coaches decide on, the Huskies have the luxury of 2 signal callers who have a grasp of the offense, and a backup who can come in and play immediately at a high level. If the offense struggles, it is conceivable that both QBs could play in the opener.
Freshman Ryan Morris (#10) from West Chicago HS rounds out the depth chart.
QB Rating: B+
Head-to-Head: Northern Illinois versus Ohio State QBs
Horvath (P/R): 168/238 (70.6%), 1995 yards, 18 TDs, 8 INTs, 159.2 rating; 34/21, 1 TD.
Smith (P/R): 149/237 (62.9%), 2282 yards, 16 TDs, 4 INTs, 162.7 rating; 136/611, 11 TDs.
Looking at Horvath’s very solid numbers, it may be hard to believe for some that Troy Smith’s efficiency rating is actually higher after the start he got off to last year, but it in fact is. Smith’s biggest advantages come in his multi-dimensional talents, and also in his penchant for playing his best when it matters the most, such as the Michigan games and the bowl games. Smith is a true big gamer, but he also excelled each and every week as the Buckeyes plowed their way to a season-ending 7 game winning streak and another BCS bowl win. Whereas Wolfe will be the focus of the Husky attack, Smith will clearly be the point man for the Buckeyes. His improved passing, explosive running ability, and big game leadership have made him a serious Heisman candidate, and it will be difficult to convince Buckeye faithful that any QB in the nation is better than Smith. Both teams also have the luxury of experienced and capable backups in case of an injury.
Edge: Ohio State
Running Backs
RB #1 Garrett Wolfe (5-7, 172, SR, River Grove Holy Cross, Chicago, IL)
How good is Garrett Wolfe? Well, one could probably get a variety of different answers to that, depending on who is asked, but one thing is very clear: and that is that he’s very good. He is not one of the 35 on the list for the Walter Camp award and a dark horse for the Heisman Trophy for nothing. He has gained 3,236 yards in only 20 career games. Last season, despite missing 3 full games, he opened plenty of eyes, and certainly will get the attention of the Buckeye defensive coaches in the film room. In only 9 games he rushed for 1580 yards and 16 TDs, averaging an impressive 6.5 yards per carry. He also chipped in 20 catches for 222 yards and another TD.
He routinely put up quality numbers against opponents, high quality and lesser quality alike. He gained nearly 150 against Michigan (148, TD), torched Northwestern for 248 yards and 3 TDs, hammered Miami for 197 and 2 TDs, put 177 up on Toledo, and absolutely embarrassed the Western Michigan defense, gaining 277 yards and scoring 5 TDs to end the regular season. In the first game against Akron, he was limited to 52 yards rushing, but as any great player can, he found another way to contribute, catching 112 yards worth of passes and catching a TD. In the championship rematch to close 2005, he torched the Zips for 270 yards and 2 TDs. Clearly, no team was able to stop him from contributing, and by the end of the year he was the best player on the field every time he stepped out there.
There isn’t much behind Wolfe, at least in terms of experience to point to, which is of concern should Wolfe need rest or get injured. Second on the chart is #32 Montell Clanton, a sophomore from Rockford IL, who gained 102 yards last year in very limited action. He is the same type of back as Wolfe, with similar size, but doesn’t have his explosiveness. Cas Prime (#22) and Justin Anderson (#21) are next in line, and could conceivable see the field. Prime had one solitary carry last year. For Northern to have a chance in this game, Wolfe needs to be there at the end.
RB Rating: A-
Head-to-Head: Northern Illinois versus Ohio State RBs
Wolfe: 242/1580 yards, 16TDs, 6.5 YPC; 20 rec/222 yards, 1 TD, 11.1 YPR
Pittman: 243/1331 yards, 7TDs, 5.5 YPC; 17 rec/161 yards, 0 TDs, 9.5 YPR
This one will certainly spark some colorful water cooler conversation, at least before the game ... the real answer will come afterwards. Pittman certainly had more modest numbers, both in terms of the season and game-to-game, but the argument can be made that the level of competition was higher week in and week out for him. Still, Wolfe gained more yards against Michigan, Northwestern, and Miami than Pittman did, and that certainly counts for something. Behind the starters, the Buckeyes have the clear advantage, with the 2 Wells, true blue chippers waiting in the wings to contribute and eventually take over when Pittman graduates. So does this mean Northern has an advantage with their Heisman candidate, or that the Buckeyes, with the law-firm-sounding Pittman, Wells, and Wells have the edge? As they say “We report ... you decide”.
Edge: Even
Wide Receivers
WR #7 Britt Davis (6-3, 187, SO, Riverside-Brookfield HS, Broadview, IL)
WR #5 Marcus Perez (5-10, 170, SO, Elkhart Central HS, Elkhart, IN)
WR #14 Jarret Carter (6-3, 202, SR, Hazelwood Central HS, Florissant, MO)
Gone to Dallas is last year’s top receiver, Sam Hurd, who caught 65 passes for over 1000 yards in 2005. However, several players with game experience return, and this corps is fairly deep and has shown some talent. Leading the way is returning sophomore Davis, who caught 42 passes for 441 yards and 3 TDs, catching at least one pass in every single game. He caught 8 passes against Ball State, and 6 each versus Akron and Central Michigan, so he was a significant contributor in games that were important in the MAC race. The 42 passes he caught were a freshman record at the school, and it looks like he will be the player the QB counts on to produce the most in the passing game.
The senior Carter has been in the program and offers some experience with the system. He was limited to 5 catches for 65 yards last season, but he is a physical receiver who can also go downfield. Perez did not play in 2005, but is a burner and will be looking to ignite a deep passing attack. He may also be involved in special teams as a return man.
Below the top 3 are several players waiting in the wings for their chance to contribute, but they do not have a great deal of experience. Sophomores Matt Simon (#2) and Greg Turner (#17) and freshman Preston Williams (#82) are in the second wave of Husky receivers. Of those players, only Turner caught a single pass last season, and will primarily be a possession-type receiver. Simon is yet another player who missed 2005 (injury) that is looking to make an impact this season. It will be interesting to see how involved they are in the opening contest.
WR Rating: C
Head-to-Head: Northern Illinois versus Ohio State WRs
Davis: 42 catches, 441 yards, 3 TDs, 10.5 YPR
Perez: No stats in 2005
Carter: 5 catches, 65 yards, 0 TDs, 13.0 YPR
Ginn Jr.: 51 catches, 803 yards, 4 TDs, 15.7 YPR
Gonzalez: 28 catches, 373 yards, 3 TDs, 13.3 YPR
Hall: 16 catches, 134 yards, 0 TDs, 8.4 YPR
Other than Ginn and Davis, there isn’t a great deal to go on numbers-wise. The real difference here is probably Gonzalez, who has made some big plays for the Buckeyes in key games, and will now get his chance to assume a prominent role with the departure of Holmes. The Huskies have a fairly deep unit in terms of talent, but return little experience, and the explosiveness of Ginn, combined with the valuable big-game experience (and contributions) from Gonzalez and Hall in the past give the Buckeyes the advantage at this position.
Edge: Ohio State
Tight Ends
TE #86 Jake Nordin (6-3, 262, SR, Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City HS, Lake Lillian, MN)
TE #87 Brandon Davis (6-5, 261, JR, Riverside-Brookfield, Broadview, IL)
The Huskies will utilize formations with both one and two TEs, and they have several good players at the position. Nordin was a significant contributor in the passing game last season, catching 26 balls for 266 yards and a TD. He has good hands and is a very good blocker, a combination that earned him 2nd team all-MAC a year ago.
Davis also chipped in with 3 catches for 48 yards and 2 scores. He is more of a blocker, but can sneak in a pass or two here and there also. These players have good size, are good blockers in the running game, and can be an effective safety valve for the QBs. Expect to see them opening holes for Wolfe, and catch an occasional pass. Their play will be important, especially if the QBs are under pressure and need an outlet, or if they stay in to pass protect.
A pair of sophomores, Brandon Beal (#88, 6-3, 227) and David Koronkiewicz (#91, 6-3, 253) return to add quality depth.
TE Rating: B+
Head-to-Head: Northern Illinois versus Ohio State TEs
Nordin: 26 catches, 266 yards, 1 TD, 10.2 YPR
Nicol: No stats in 2005
The departure of Marcel Frost might hinder the Buckeyes here, at least initially. The Huskies have multiple TEs they can count on, both in terms of blocking and being part of the passing game. The Buckeyes will certainly have talent at the position, but the experience and the depth, as well as the effectiveness of the play last year, make this a position of strength for the Huskies.
Edge: Northern Illinois
Offensive Line
LT #62 Doug Free (6-7, 302, SR, Lincoln HS, Manitowoc, WI)
LG #70 Chris Acevedo (6-5, 304, JR, Curie HS, Lyons, IL)
C #50 Eddie Adamski (6-2, 265, FR, Carmel HS, Kildeer, IL)
RG #61 Matt Rogers (6-3, 280, SR, Providence HS, Lockport, IL)
RT #60 Jon Brost (6-5, 300, SO, Maple Grove HS, Maple Grove, MN)
Ask the casual fan who the best pro prospect is on the Husky squad, and most would probably mention Garrett Wolfe. However, outstanding left tackle Doug Free is projected to be a first round draft pick, is on the Outland Trophy watch list, and is considered by many the best NFL prospect on the team. Scouts especially love his lightning-like (for a tackle) speed and athleticism, crucial for running many of the complex schemes in today’s NFL. He is an excellent college tackle, and will probably be a stalwart in the NFL for many years. Acevedo is also quick for his size, and will be an effective inside blocker after beginning his career as a backup at tackle. Rogers is back after missing 2005, and he will need to be effective with his interior blocking on the opposite side, as he is undersized but very athletic. Brost emerged as a very solid tackle with good technique and good footwork. As he adds a bit more mass and gains more experience, he will be even better. Adamski is the wild card of the group, undersized but very quick, taking over for 2x all-MAC center Brian Van Acker. If he is able to fill in without a drop-off in the middle, this will be a very good line again, and should keep the sacks down and the rushing yard totals up.
A pair of bulldozing guards (#74 Matt Biondi, 6-4, 323; #59 Kevin Skatrud, 6-6, 314) lead the backups. Tony Holmes (#66) and Jake Wertz (#64) are freshman tackles who will eagerly learn from Free and Brost, and Jon Ellison (#64) will backup the center position.
OL Rating: B+
Head-to-Head: Northern Illinois versus Ohio State OL
This is another fun one to watch, and will determine which offense functions best. The Buckeyes return their center and the right side of their line, and feature several gargantuan bulldozers both inside and outside, including potential All-American Kirk Barton at RT. The Huskies feature more quick and athletic linemen, and a potential first team All-American in Free at LT. Both sets of blockers seem to be a nice fit for what the offenses are trying to accomplish, and both should be effective in this game. The biggest matchup will probably be whether the Husky line holds up against the Buckeye front 4, particularly on the right side. Both lines are led by a superior tackle, but in terms of starting experience and depth across the line, the Buckeyes have the edge.
Edge: Ohio State
Overall Offensive Analysis
Make no mistake about it, this is a very effective offense, full of personnel at key positions (particularly up front with the line and TEs) that fit their scheme well. Stopping this offense provides a very good challenge for the Silver Bullets right out of the gate. The key for the Huskies will be the play of the line ... Free should be able to work his magic, but the interior has to aggressively open holes for Wolfe and hold up against the experienced front 4 of the Buckeyes. If they can keep the line off Horvath, he should be effective in completing a high percentage of shorter passes if he doesn’t force throws. The Buckeyes will have to be cognizant of the speed of the Husky receivers, and be ready for some attempts downfield to take some pressure off Wolfe. The TEs will also be worth watching, to see if Horvath tries to involve them early and take some heat off the wings. No doubt the Husky offense will be coming to play, and the defense had better be ready in all aspects in order to slow down this experienced unit. All of the pieces are in place for at least some success against an elite opponent on the road: an elite tackle, an explosive running back, veteran TEs to act as safety valves for an experienced and efficient QB. Whether they are able to muster success against Ohio State will be settled in less than one week.
Overall Offensive Rating: B+
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages ... it’s finally that time of year again! The Buckeyes will take the field in their home opener after a (seemingly) long, long wait since the Fiesta Bowl win over Notre Dame. As the opening opponent, enter Coach Joe Novak and the Northern Illinois Huskies, who are coming off of a fairly successful, and often times wild, 2005 campaign, a season that saw them finish strong as MAC Western Division champions, come within an eyelash of the MAC title, and unfortunately not be rewarded with an invite to a bowl game. The offense for Northern was potent throughout much of 2005, as they led the team to 7 wins, and the team scored at least 30 points in 9 of their 12 games, en route to a scoring average of 32.4 points per game, 27th nationally. The team also finished 16th nationally in total offense, gaining 443.1 yards per contest. Led by outstanding tailback Garrett Wolfe, the Huskies ground out 206.7 yards per contest, good for a national rank of 16th. The passing game was also effective, if not quite as explosive, finishing 39th nationally in yards (236.9 ypg), but tied for 5th nationally in efficiency (156.4 rating). Wolfe is back for another tour of duty this season, so the Buckeyes will need to be cognizant of his every move ... however, with Wolfe and the effectiveness of the running attack leading logically to a highly efficient passing game, it is clear that the Silver Bullets will need to be sharp in all aspects defensively if they are going to slow down the Huskies on September 2nd. This will be an immediate test for all of the new starters on the Buckeye defense.
Quarterbacks
QB #3 Phil Horvath (6-2, 193, SR, Naperville Central HS, Naperville, IL)
Coach Novak has been somewhat coy with the starting QB situation for the opener, and it is clear that both potential signal-callers have the confidence of the coach and their teammates. The veteran QB Phil Horvath returns from injury, and has been named the starter to lead the Huskies again in 2006. Last year, he was limited to the first 9 games of the season, breaking his arm against Central Michigan, but still put up some impressive efficiency numbers. At the top of the list were his completion percentage of 70.6%, and his overall rating of 159.2. In those 9 games, he threw for 1995 yards and 18 TDs to just 8 INTs. He was also only sacked a very respectable 15 times, demonstrating his quick release and ability to move around in the pocket and not take the big loss.
Looking at individual games, Horvath completed at least 60% of his passes in all 9 starts, including games against MAC powers Miami and Akron, and games against Big Ten foes Michigan and Northwestern. He had his best games against arguably the best 2 other teams in the MAC last year, Akron and Miami, whom the Huskies played back-to-back. Against Akron, he completed 75% of his throws for an astounding 486 yards and 6TDs, and he followed that up in the Miami game with an 86.4% completion percentage, for 296 yards and 2 more TDs. Clearly he has a wealth of experience and a firm grasp of the offense, knows what the coaches expect from him, and is capable of delivering on those expectations. With a strong and powerful running game, Horvath can be very dangerous to teams trying to stack the box to stop the run.
When Horvath got hurt, it’s probably safe to say there were some initial worries about how well the team could complete the game and the season, needing to close with several victories to win the division. The performance of the team was not hindered, and fans and teammates alike are looking forward to a bright future at the position with QB #19 Dan Nicholson, then a freshman out of Chicago’s famed Brother Rice HS, at the helm. He was able to complete the victory in the Central Michigan game (also without Wolfe) and win out the final 3 games of the regular season, being about as effective as Horvath was. The lack of drop-off at the position was paramount to the Huskies finishing the season on a 3-game winning streak and making the MAC Championship game, and the coaching staff could very well go with Nicholson as the starter at some point during the season. He threw for 831 yards and 6 scores last year, but was sacked 11 times and didn’t play quite as well in the MAC title game. Still, it is readily apparent that his talent level is very high, with a strong arm and good decision making, and after not playing most of the season, he took the club to within an eyelash of winning the MAC title. Whoever the coaches decide on, the Huskies have the luxury of 2 signal callers who have a grasp of the offense, and a backup who can come in and play immediately at a high level. If the offense struggles, it is conceivable that both QBs could play in the opener.
Freshman Ryan Morris (#10) from West Chicago HS rounds out the depth chart.
QB Rating: B+
Head-to-Head: Northern Illinois versus Ohio State QBs
Horvath (P/R): 168/238 (70.6%), 1995 yards, 18 TDs, 8 INTs, 159.2 rating; 34/21, 1 TD.
Smith (P/R): 149/237 (62.9%), 2282 yards, 16 TDs, 4 INTs, 162.7 rating; 136/611, 11 TDs.
Looking at Horvath’s very solid numbers, it may be hard to believe for some that Troy Smith’s efficiency rating is actually higher after the start he got off to last year, but it in fact is. Smith’s biggest advantages come in his multi-dimensional talents, and also in his penchant for playing his best when it matters the most, such as the Michigan games and the bowl games. Smith is a true big gamer, but he also excelled each and every week as the Buckeyes plowed their way to a season-ending 7 game winning streak and another BCS bowl win. Whereas Wolfe will be the focus of the Husky attack, Smith will clearly be the point man for the Buckeyes. His improved passing, explosive running ability, and big game leadership have made him a serious Heisman candidate, and it will be difficult to convince Buckeye faithful that any QB in the nation is better than Smith. Both teams also have the luxury of experienced and capable backups in case of an injury.
Edge: Ohio State
Running Backs
RB #1 Garrett Wolfe (5-7, 172, SR, River Grove Holy Cross, Chicago, IL)
How good is Garrett Wolfe? Well, one could probably get a variety of different answers to that, depending on who is asked, but one thing is very clear: and that is that he’s very good. He is not one of the 35 on the list for the Walter Camp award and a dark horse for the Heisman Trophy for nothing. He has gained 3,236 yards in only 20 career games. Last season, despite missing 3 full games, he opened plenty of eyes, and certainly will get the attention of the Buckeye defensive coaches in the film room. In only 9 games he rushed for 1580 yards and 16 TDs, averaging an impressive 6.5 yards per carry. He also chipped in 20 catches for 222 yards and another TD.
He routinely put up quality numbers against opponents, high quality and lesser quality alike. He gained nearly 150 against Michigan (148, TD), torched Northwestern for 248 yards and 3 TDs, hammered Miami for 197 and 2 TDs, put 177 up on Toledo, and absolutely embarrassed the Western Michigan defense, gaining 277 yards and scoring 5 TDs to end the regular season. In the first game against Akron, he was limited to 52 yards rushing, but as any great player can, he found another way to contribute, catching 112 yards worth of passes and catching a TD. In the championship rematch to close 2005, he torched the Zips for 270 yards and 2 TDs. Clearly, no team was able to stop him from contributing, and by the end of the year he was the best player on the field every time he stepped out there.
There isn’t much behind Wolfe, at least in terms of experience to point to, which is of concern should Wolfe need rest or get injured. Second on the chart is #32 Montell Clanton, a sophomore from Rockford IL, who gained 102 yards last year in very limited action. He is the same type of back as Wolfe, with similar size, but doesn’t have his explosiveness. Cas Prime (#22) and Justin Anderson (#21) are next in line, and could conceivable see the field. Prime had one solitary carry last year. For Northern to have a chance in this game, Wolfe needs to be there at the end.
RB Rating: A-
Head-to-Head: Northern Illinois versus Ohio State RBs
Wolfe: 242/1580 yards, 16TDs, 6.5 YPC; 20 rec/222 yards, 1 TD, 11.1 YPR
Pittman: 243/1331 yards, 7TDs, 5.5 YPC; 17 rec/161 yards, 0 TDs, 9.5 YPR
This one will certainly spark some colorful water cooler conversation, at least before the game ... the real answer will come afterwards. Pittman certainly had more modest numbers, both in terms of the season and game-to-game, but the argument can be made that the level of competition was higher week in and week out for him. Still, Wolfe gained more yards against Michigan, Northwestern, and Miami than Pittman did, and that certainly counts for something. Behind the starters, the Buckeyes have the clear advantage, with the 2 Wells, true blue chippers waiting in the wings to contribute and eventually take over when Pittman graduates. So does this mean Northern has an advantage with their Heisman candidate, or that the Buckeyes, with the law-firm-sounding Pittman, Wells, and Wells have the edge? As they say “We report ... you decide”.
Edge: Even
Wide Receivers
WR #7 Britt Davis (6-3, 187, SO, Riverside-Brookfield HS, Broadview, IL)
WR #5 Marcus Perez (5-10, 170, SO, Elkhart Central HS, Elkhart, IN)
WR #14 Jarret Carter (6-3, 202, SR, Hazelwood Central HS, Florissant, MO)
Gone to Dallas is last year’s top receiver, Sam Hurd, who caught 65 passes for over 1000 yards in 2005. However, several players with game experience return, and this corps is fairly deep and has shown some talent. Leading the way is returning sophomore Davis, who caught 42 passes for 441 yards and 3 TDs, catching at least one pass in every single game. He caught 8 passes against Ball State, and 6 each versus Akron and Central Michigan, so he was a significant contributor in games that were important in the MAC race. The 42 passes he caught were a freshman record at the school, and it looks like he will be the player the QB counts on to produce the most in the passing game.
The senior Carter has been in the program and offers some experience with the system. He was limited to 5 catches for 65 yards last season, but he is a physical receiver who can also go downfield. Perez did not play in 2005, but is a burner and will be looking to ignite a deep passing attack. He may also be involved in special teams as a return man.
Below the top 3 are several players waiting in the wings for their chance to contribute, but they do not have a great deal of experience. Sophomores Matt Simon (#2) and Greg Turner (#17) and freshman Preston Williams (#82) are in the second wave of Husky receivers. Of those players, only Turner caught a single pass last season, and will primarily be a possession-type receiver. Simon is yet another player who missed 2005 (injury) that is looking to make an impact this season. It will be interesting to see how involved they are in the opening contest.
WR Rating: C
Head-to-Head: Northern Illinois versus Ohio State WRs
Davis: 42 catches, 441 yards, 3 TDs, 10.5 YPR
Perez: No stats in 2005
Carter: 5 catches, 65 yards, 0 TDs, 13.0 YPR
Ginn Jr.: 51 catches, 803 yards, 4 TDs, 15.7 YPR
Gonzalez: 28 catches, 373 yards, 3 TDs, 13.3 YPR
Hall: 16 catches, 134 yards, 0 TDs, 8.4 YPR
Other than Ginn and Davis, there isn’t a great deal to go on numbers-wise. The real difference here is probably Gonzalez, who has made some big plays for the Buckeyes in key games, and will now get his chance to assume a prominent role with the departure of Holmes. The Huskies have a fairly deep unit in terms of talent, but return little experience, and the explosiveness of Ginn, combined with the valuable big-game experience (and contributions) from Gonzalez and Hall in the past give the Buckeyes the advantage at this position.
Edge: Ohio State
Tight Ends
TE #86 Jake Nordin (6-3, 262, SR, Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City HS, Lake Lillian, MN)
TE #87 Brandon Davis (6-5, 261, JR, Riverside-Brookfield, Broadview, IL)
The Huskies will utilize formations with both one and two TEs, and they have several good players at the position. Nordin was a significant contributor in the passing game last season, catching 26 balls for 266 yards and a TD. He has good hands and is a very good blocker, a combination that earned him 2nd team all-MAC a year ago.
Davis also chipped in with 3 catches for 48 yards and 2 scores. He is more of a blocker, but can sneak in a pass or two here and there also. These players have good size, are good blockers in the running game, and can be an effective safety valve for the QBs. Expect to see them opening holes for Wolfe, and catch an occasional pass. Their play will be important, especially if the QBs are under pressure and need an outlet, or if they stay in to pass protect.
A pair of sophomores, Brandon Beal (#88, 6-3, 227) and David Koronkiewicz (#91, 6-3, 253) return to add quality depth.
TE Rating: B+
Head-to-Head: Northern Illinois versus Ohio State TEs
Nordin: 26 catches, 266 yards, 1 TD, 10.2 YPR
Nicol: No stats in 2005
The departure of Marcel Frost might hinder the Buckeyes here, at least initially. The Huskies have multiple TEs they can count on, both in terms of blocking and being part of the passing game. The Buckeyes will certainly have talent at the position, but the experience and the depth, as well as the effectiveness of the play last year, make this a position of strength for the Huskies.
Edge: Northern Illinois
Offensive Line
LT #62 Doug Free (6-7, 302, SR, Lincoln HS, Manitowoc, WI)
LG #70 Chris Acevedo (6-5, 304, JR, Curie HS, Lyons, IL)
C #50 Eddie Adamski (6-2, 265, FR, Carmel HS, Kildeer, IL)
RG #61 Matt Rogers (6-3, 280, SR, Providence HS, Lockport, IL)
RT #60 Jon Brost (6-5, 300, SO, Maple Grove HS, Maple Grove, MN)
Ask the casual fan who the best pro prospect is on the Husky squad, and most would probably mention Garrett Wolfe. However, outstanding left tackle Doug Free is projected to be a first round draft pick, is on the Outland Trophy watch list, and is considered by many the best NFL prospect on the team. Scouts especially love his lightning-like (for a tackle) speed and athleticism, crucial for running many of the complex schemes in today’s NFL. He is an excellent college tackle, and will probably be a stalwart in the NFL for many years. Acevedo is also quick for his size, and will be an effective inside blocker after beginning his career as a backup at tackle. Rogers is back after missing 2005, and he will need to be effective with his interior blocking on the opposite side, as he is undersized but very athletic. Brost emerged as a very solid tackle with good technique and good footwork. As he adds a bit more mass and gains more experience, he will be even better. Adamski is the wild card of the group, undersized but very quick, taking over for 2x all-MAC center Brian Van Acker. If he is able to fill in without a drop-off in the middle, this will be a very good line again, and should keep the sacks down and the rushing yard totals up.
A pair of bulldozing guards (#74 Matt Biondi, 6-4, 323; #59 Kevin Skatrud, 6-6, 314) lead the backups. Tony Holmes (#66) and Jake Wertz (#64) are freshman tackles who will eagerly learn from Free and Brost, and Jon Ellison (#64) will backup the center position.
OL Rating: B+
Head-to-Head: Northern Illinois versus Ohio State OL
This is another fun one to watch, and will determine which offense functions best. The Buckeyes return their center and the right side of their line, and feature several gargantuan bulldozers both inside and outside, including potential All-American Kirk Barton at RT. The Huskies feature more quick and athletic linemen, and a potential first team All-American in Free at LT. Both sets of blockers seem to be a nice fit for what the offenses are trying to accomplish, and both should be effective in this game. The biggest matchup will probably be whether the Husky line holds up against the Buckeye front 4, particularly on the right side. Both lines are led by a superior tackle, but in terms of starting experience and depth across the line, the Buckeyes have the edge.
Edge: Ohio State
Overall Offensive Analysis
Make no mistake about it, this is a very effective offense, full of personnel at key positions (particularly up front with the line and TEs) that fit their scheme well. Stopping this offense provides a very good challenge for the Silver Bullets right out of the gate. The key for the Huskies will be the play of the line ... Free should be able to work his magic, but the interior has to aggressively open holes for Wolfe and hold up against the experienced front 4 of the Buckeyes. If they can keep the line off Horvath, he should be effective in completing a high percentage of shorter passes if he doesn’t force throws. The Buckeyes will have to be cognizant of the speed of the Husky receivers, and be ready for some attempts downfield to take some pressure off Wolfe. The TEs will also be worth watching, to see if Horvath tries to involve them early and take some heat off the wings. No doubt the Husky offense will be coming to play, and the defense had better be ready in all aspects in order to slow down this experienced unit. All of the pieces are in place for at least some success against an elite opponent on the road: an elite tackle, an explosive running back, veteran TEs to act as safety valves for an experienced and efficient QB. Whether they are able to muster success against Ohio State will be settled in less than one week.
Overall Offensive Rating: B+
2006 Northern Illinois Huskies Defensive Preview
Returning Starters: 7
Northern Illinois comes to Columbus this week featuring a defense that lost a couple of 1st team all MAC performers (DE Quince Holman, FS Ray Smith), from a squad that was middle of the pack nationally in most major defensive categories a year ago. They will look to improve their futile pass rush (ranked 97th in country in total sacks) from a year ago featuring a pair of talented defensive ends. Their secondary was also a weak link a year ago. They ranked 70th nationally in passes intercepted, and gave up 222 yards per game. A few have been mentioned, but below is a list of a handful of defensive categories, and where they ranked nationally.
• Points per contest in: 22.8 (34th in the nation)
• Total yards surrendered: 370 Yards Per Game (52nd nationally)
• Total Passing yards surrendered: 222 YPG (65th nationally)
• Total Rushing yards surrendered: 148 YPG (58th nationally)
• Defensive sacks: 19 total, 1.58 per game average (97th nationally)
• Interceptions: 11 (70th nationally)
Defensive Line
DE #34 Ken West (6-1 238 SR.)
DT #99 Craig Rusch (6-4 252 SO.)
DT #63 Zack Holycross (6-7 284 JR.)
DE #51 Larry English (6-3 236 SO.)
Northern Illinois will be led up front by emerging star Larry English. English will look to build upon a stellar freshman campaign where he really made his presence known from his defensive end position. English recorded 78 tackles, including 7 tackles for a loss, and a sack. In addition he was also credited for 13 QB pressures and 2 blocked kicks. English has a nice combination of size and speed, and has the ability to be a very disruptive force against the Buckeyes. OSU will need to keep him in check, and not allow him to get into the backfield. Opposite English at the other end position will be senior Ken West. After a big 2004 season (8 sacks), West saw a bit of a drop off in 2005. West tallied 55 tackles, including 4 tackles for a loss, and 3 sacks last season. In addition, he was credited with 6 QB hurries. West brings experience to the line (19 career starts), along with enough athleticism to be disruptive.
Leading the way at one of the tackle spots for NIU will be sophomore Craig Rusch. Rusch is coming off a very solid freshman season where he was tied for the team high with 5 sacks. He also had 39 tackles, and 6 tackles for a loss. While being disruptive against the pass, Rusch’s small stature (252 pounds) makes him very vulnerable in the trenches against bigger lineman. Look for OSU to really pound the ball inside at him, so he’ll need to dig in if they are going to have a chance at slowing down the Buckeye run game. Northern Illinois will call upon junior Zack Holycross to man down the other tackle spot. Holycross had 20 tackles, including 3 for a loss, and 2 sacks in 2005. He was also credited with 3 QB hurries. Holycross may be the key peg to this NIU defensive line. He’s got good size (284 LBS), and has pretty decent quickness for a tackle. He’s going to need to eat up some blockers for the Huskie linebackers if they want to have a chance at slowing down the Buckeyes.
Overall Defensive Line Analysis
All in all, this unit is vastly undersized, and a bit of a liability for the Huskie defense. English has the potential to be a star against the pass, and he finds a way to make plays in the backfield. If he has a quiet game, chances are that the rest of his lineman teammates won’t fare much better. They do have quite a bit of quickness along the front four, but that won’t matter much if the big OSU lineman can get a body on them. This unit is built to live and die on their speed, odds are they will be exposed against a very good Buckeye offensive line.
DL Rating: C
Head-to-Head: Northern Illinois DL versus Ohio State DL
The defensive line should be an area where the Buckeyes are very strong this season. They’ve got potential All-American Quinn Pitcock primed for a big season, along with All Big Ten candidate David Patterson on the middle. On the outside the Buckeyes have some very athletic ends, who lack experience. Northern Illinois has a couple of talented ends, but they are a bit undersized. The major difference between the two squads is up the middle. OSU should have one of the stronger sets of tackles in the country, NIU will be on the other side of the spectrum. Overall, Ohio State has a much more talented, and deep unit when compared to the Huskies.
Edge: Ohio State
Linebackers
OLB #33 Keenan Blalark (5-10 228 SR.)
MLB #53 Tim McCarthy (6-0 226 SO.)
OLB #38 David Bryant (5-10 193 FR.)
Northern Illinois head coach Joe Novak was quoted as saying that they plan on using a six man rotation this season from a linebacker standpoint. The unit will be lead by senior Keenan Blalark, who is the only upper classman out of the six. Blalark was 3rd on the team in 2005 with a total of 95 tackles, including 4 for a loss. In addition, he also was solid against the pass with 4 breakups. Blalark isn’t the biggest guy in town, but he makes up for that with his range. Look for Northern Illinois to utilize his speed with a few blitzes from the outside. Sophomore Tim McCarthy will get the nod in the middle. McCarthy was 2nd on the team in 2005 with 101 tackles, including 3 for a loss, and a sack. He’s got very good nose for the ball, and brings a blue collar approach to this unit. Redshirt freshman David Bryant will get the nod at the other outside linebacker slot. Bryant, who initially signed on at NIU as a corner back, is a bit of a tweener. He is listed at 5-10 193, which is the size of your average Big Ten safety. Bryant has had a very good fall camp, and will be seeing his first career action at NIU. Look for OSU to really test him on the weak side.
True freshman John Tranchitella (6-2 200) will also see some playing time this week. Tranchitella is another one of those tweener types that NIU will feature. He’s got good speed, but lacks size and experience. Look for redshirt freshman Cory Hanson (6-1 196) to get action backing up the strong side LB spot. Josh Allen (5-11 217) will also see some action in the middle. Allen is the only returning backup with game experience. He started 4 games in 2005, and played in all 12 contests. He tallied 37 tackles, including 3 for a loss.
Overall Linebacker Analysis
I’m sure that by now it’s become apparent that this Northern Illinois LB squad is undersized, and inexperienced. They do have quite a bit of speed, but that doesn’t mean much if you can’t fight off blocks. Blalark will be counted on heavily to provide leadership, and settle down the young guys if (when) OSU hits NIU for big plays this week. He’ll also need to make some big plays to help slow down a potent Buckeye offense. McCarthy will be faced with the task of fighting off the blocks of a very big OSU line. If he gets caught up in traffic, OSU will absolutely eat up Northern Illinois in the middle. When you factor in the inexperience with the fact that this is an opener on the road, in one of the largest stadiums in the country, you envision the trouble that is brewing for this unit. OSU should be able to wear them down, and really chew them up with the run. Look for Pittman to have a big game, and also expect to see both of the Wells boys by games end.
LB Rating: C
Head-to-Head: Northern Illinois LB versus Ohio State LB
Both teams will have very raw linebacker units to start out the season. NIU has a very small unit that is trying to get around that with speed. Ohio State has a much bigger unit that is still very fast, in fact that are probably much faster than the NIU bunch as a whole. Freeman is a budding star, who is one of the more athletically gifted players on the Buckeye roster. Kerr was the leading tackler at Indiana as a true freshman. Laurinaitis is rapidly emerging as the next stud MLB at OSU. It’s kind of sad to say this, but the rotation of six Huskie linebackers who will see the field against OSU, would probably have a hard time cracking the two deep if they were Buckeyes.
Edge: Ohio State
Secondary
CB #11 Alvah Hansboro (5-10 170 SR.)
FS #35 Dustin Utschig (5-10 189 SR.)
SS #8 Mark Reiter (6-1 191 JR.)
CB #12 Adriel Hansboro (5-10 176 SR.)
Northern Illinois will be led in the secondary by senior Dustin Utschig. Utschig is coming off a very solid 2005 campaign where he totaled 121 tackles, and forced 2 fumbles. In addition, he picked off 3 passes, and broke up 4 others. Utschig is the leader of the secondary. He’s entering his second year as a starter, so his experience will pay dividends when crunch time comes. He’s a sure tackler, and someone who NIU needs to perform at a high level if they expect to slow down a potent OSU passing attack. The other safety spot will be held down by junior Mark Reiter. Reiter has big shoes to fill this season following the departure of all conference performer, Ray Smith. In limited duty, Reiter managed 35 tackles, including 1 for a loss in 2005. In addition, he picked off a pass, and broke up 2 others.
The cornerback position will be filled by a pair of seniors, who also happen to be twin brothers. One of the spots will feature Adriel Hansboro. Hansboro had a total of 55 tackles, including 1 for a loss in 2005. He also picked off a pass, and broke up 3 others. Of the two brothers, Adriel is the most talented. He’s very good in pass coverage, and isn’t afraid to come up aggressively in run support. The other cornerback spot will be filled by Alvah Hansboro. Alvah is coming off a 2005 campaign where he tallied 68 tackles, including 3 for a loss. In addition, he picked off 2 passes, and broke up 7 others. While Alvah doesn’t have the overall talent that Adriel possesses, he does have quite a bit of experience. He has been featured at the weak side CB spot for the last couple of years. He has faced somewhat of a challenge to his job this pre-season though, and has emerging sophomore Melvin Rice nipping at his heels ready to take his job.
Overall Secondary Analysis
There is nothing flashy about this unit to say the least. They gave up a lot of big plays in 2005, and will look to turn around that pattern this season. Utschig is very solid against the run, and will be someone who will probably have his name called quite a bit this week. The Hansboro brothers have a good deal of experience, but are not what would be considered lock down corners. Don’t be surprised if you see a lot of sophomores Melvin Rice, and Bradley Pruitt as this game unfolds, especially if OSU hits them for big plays early on in this contest. Overall, this unit is comparable to something that you would see out of a Northwestern squad, which doesn’t say a whole hell of a lot. The window is there for the Buckeyes to air it out, time will tell if they turn Troy, Teddy, and Gonzo loose.
DB Rating: C+
Head-to-Head: Northern Illinois DB versus Ohio State DB
It’s either a good thing or a bad thing when you have a couple of sophomores nipping at the heels of a couple of senior cornerbacks. That indicates that either the young talent has finally realized it’s potential, or that the senior’s have been a let down. Northern Illinois is faced with this reality, which means that they will be faced with uncertainty to start this season. They are not all that impressive at the safety spot either, although Utschig was very consistent a year ago. As for the Buckeyes, talent is aplenty, experience is not. Jenkins is a potential All Big Ten pick with enough raw talent to take on about any wide receiver in the country this year. If he continues to improve from his impressive appearances late last season, he’s going to be gold this season. Antonio Smith, a walk on 5th year senior, will provide stability at the other corner spot until another young corner can emerge (probably Andre Amos). At safety you have 2 sophomores (Patterson, O’Neal), a redshirt freshman (Russell), and a senior (Mitchell) all fighting for playing time this season. We should see all 4 this week. Overall, Ohio State just has much more depth and talent than a more veteran NIU squad. I’m still a firm believer that talent eventually unseats experience, OSU will make it evident this week.
Edge: Ohio State
Overall Defensive Analysis
Northern Illinois has begun to make a transition to a faster, more athletic defense this season. This effort is apparent with the significant amount of smaller, and younger players who are making pushes at major playing time. This strategy may pay off for the Huskies come time that they get into their MAC schedule, but they are going to have problems against a very high octane OSU offense, which features 2 heisman candidates, and stable of stud tailbacks. More importantly, OSU is very stout on the offensive line, and has a considerable size advantage over the Huskies front 7. Look for the Buckeyes to wear down the front 7, and rely on a steady diet of Pittman as this game wears on. For those who are wanting fireworks, you’ll get them early on this week. If you demand a heavy dose, you’d probably be best advised to stop off and buy some snap pop’s over at Kroger.
By the 2nd half, Tressel will begin to shut his playbook against this inferior defense. This is known as the “we’re still focused on this week’s game” lie, when we all know that Texas will be on the mind once this thing gets out of reach. At worst, this one will stay close for a while. At best, the starters will be out by early in the 2nd half. The Buckeyes should have their way against this Huskie defensive unit in the opener.
Overall Defensive Rating: C
Northern Illinois comes to Columbus this week featuring a defense that lost a couple of 1st team all MAC performers (DE Quince Holman, FS Ray Smith), from a squad that was middle of the pack nationally in most major defensive categories a year ago. They will look to improve their futile pass rush (ranked 97th in country in total sacks) from a year ago featuring a pair of talented defensive ends. Their secondary was also a weak link a year ago. They ranked 70th nationally in passes intercepted, and gave up 222 yards per game. A few have been mentioned, but below is a list of a handful of defensive categories, and where they ranked nationally.
• Points per contest in: 22.8 (34th in the nation)
• Total yards surrendered: 370 Yards Per Game (52nd nationally)
• Total Passing yards surrendered: 222 YPG (65th nationally)
• Total Rushing yards surrendered: 148 YPG (58th nationally)
• Defensive sacks: 19 total, 1.58 per game average (97th nationally)
• Interceptions: 11 (70th nationally)
Defensive Line
DE #34 Ken West (6-1 238 SR.)
DT #99 Craig Rusch (6-4 252 SO.)
DT #63 Zack Holycross (6-7 284 JR.)
DE #51 Larry English (6-3 236 SO.)
Northern Illinois will be led up front by emerging star Larry English. English will look to build upon a stellar freshman campaign where he really made his presence known from his defensive end position. English recorded 78 tackles, including 7 tackles for a loss, and a sack. In addition he was also credited for 13 QB pressures and 2 blocked kicks. English has a nice combination of size and speed, and has the ability to be a very disruptive force against the Buckeyes. OSU will need to keep him in check, and not allow him to get into the backfield. Opposite English at the other end position will be senior Ken West. After a big 2004 season (8 sacks), West saw a bit of a drop off in 2005. West tallied 55 tackles, including 4 tackles for a loss, and 3 sacks last season. In addition, he was credited with 6 QB hurries. West brings experience to the line (19 career starts), along with enough athleticism to be disruptive.
Leading the way at one of the tackle spots for NIU will be sophomore Craig Rusch. Rusch is coming off a very solid freshman season where he was tied for the team high with 5 sacks. He also had 39 tackles, and 6 tackles for a loss. While being disruptive against the pass, Rusch’s small stature (252 pounds) makes him very vulnerable in the trenches against bigger lineman. Look for OSU to really pound the ball inside at him, so he’ll need to dig in if they are going to have a chance at slowing down the Buckeye run game. Northern Illinois will call upon junior Zack Holycross to man down the other tackle spot. Holycross had 20 tackles, including 3 for a loss, and 2 sacks in 2005. He was also credited with 3 QB hurries. Holycross may be the key peg to this NIU defensive line. He’s got good size (284 LBS), and has pretty decent quickness for a tackle. He’s going to need to eat up some blockers for the Huskie linebackers if they want to have a chance at slowing down the Buckeyes.
Overall Defensive Line Analysis
All in all, this unit is vastly undersized, and a bit of a liability for the Huskie defense. English has the potential to be a star against the pass, and he finds a way to make plays in the backfield. If he has a quiet game, chances are that the rest of his lineman teammates won’t fare much better. They do have quite a bit of quickness along the front four, but that won’t matter much if the big OSU lineman can get a body on them. This unit is built to live and die on their speed, odds are they will be exposed against a very good Buckeye offensive line.
DL Rating: C
Head-to-Head: Northern Illinois DL versus Ohio State DL
The defensive line should be an area where the Buckeyes are very strong this season. They’ve got potential All-American Quinn Pitcock primed for a big season, along with All Big Ten candidate David Patterson on the middle. On the outside the Buckeyes have some very athletic ends, who lack experience. Northern Illinois has a couple of talented ends, but they are a bit undersized. The major difference between the two squads is up the middle. OSU should have one of the stronger sets of tackles in the country, NIU will be on the other side of the spectrum. Overall, Ohio State has a much more talented, and deep unit when compared to the Huskies.
Edge: Ohio State
Linebackers
OLB #33 Keenan Blalark (5-10 228 SR.)
MLB #53 Tim McCarthy (6-0 226 SO.)
OLB #38 David Bryant (5-10 193 FR.)
Northern Illinois head coach Joe Novak was quoted as saying that they plan on using a six man rotation this season from a linebacker standpoint. The unit will be lead by senior Keenan Blalark, who is the only upper classman out of the six. Blalark was 3rd on the team in 2005 with a total of 95 tackles, including 4 for a loss. In addition, he also was solid against the pass with 4 breakups. Blalark isn’t the biggest guy in town, but he makes up for that with his range. Look for Northern Illinois to utilize his speed with a few blitzes from the outside. Sophomore Tim McCarthy will get the nod in the middle. McCarthy was 2nd on the team in 2005 with 101 tackles, including 3 for a loss, and a sack. He’s got very good nose for the ball, and brings a blue collar approach to this unit. Redshirt freshman David Bryant will get the nod at the other outside linebacker slot. Bryant, who initially signed on at NIU as a corner back, is a bit of a tweener. He is listed at 5-10 193, which is the size of your average Big Ten safety. Bryant has had a very good fall camp, and will be seeing his first career action at NIU. Look for OSU to really test him on the weak side.
True freshman John Tranchitella (6-2 200) will also see some playing time this week. Tranchitella is another one of those tweener types that NIU will feature. He’s got good speed, but lacks size and experience. Look for redshirt freshman Cory Hanson (6-1 196) to get action backing up the strong side LB spot. Josh Allen (5-11 217) will also see some action in the middle. Allen is the only returning backup with game experience. He started 4 games in 2005, and played in all 12 contests. He tallied 37 tackles, including 3 for a loss.
Overall Linebacker Analysis
I’m sure that by now it’s become apparent that this Northern Illinois LB squad is undersized, and inexperienced. They do have quite a bit of speed, but that doesn’t mean much if you can’t fight off blocks. Blalark will be counted on heavily to provide leadership, and settle down the young guys if (when) OSU hits NIU for big plays this week. He’ll also need to make some big plays to help slow down a potent Buckeye offense. McCarthy will be faced with the task of fighting off the blocks of a very big OSU line. If he gets caught up in traffic, OSU will absolutely eat up Northern Illinois in the middle. When you factor in the inexperience with the fact that this is an opener on the road, in one of the largest stadiums in the country, you envision the trouble that is brewing for this unit. OSU should be able to wear them down, and really chew them up with the run. Look for Pittman to have a big game, and also expect to see both of the Wells boys by games end.
LB Rating: C
Head-to-Head: Northern Illinois LB versus Ohio State LB
Both teams will have very raw linebacker units to start out the season. NIU has a very small unit that is trying to get around that with speed. Ohio State has a much bigger unit that is still very fast, in fact that are probably much faster than the NIU bunch as a whole. Freeman is a budding star, who is one of the more athletically gifted players on the Buckeye roster. Kerr was the leading tackler at Indiana as a true freshman. Laurinaitis is rapidly emerging as the next stud MLB at OSU. It’s kind of sad to say this, but the rotation of six Huskie linebackers who will see the field against OSU, would probably have a hard time cracking the two deep if they were Buckeyes.
Edge: Ohio State
Secondary
CB #11 Alvah Hansboro (5-10 170 SR.)
FS #35 Dustin Utschig (5-10 189 SR.)
SS #8 Mark Reiter (6-1 191 JR.)
CB #12 Adriel Hansboro (5-10 176 SR.)
Northern Illinois will be led in the secondary by senior Dustin Utschig. Utschig is coming off a very solid 2005 campaign where he totaled 121 tackles, and forced 2 fumbles. In addition, he picked off 3 passes, and broke up 4 others. Utschig is the leader of the secondary. He’s entering his second year as a starter, so his experience will pay dividends when crunch time comes. He’s a sure tackler, and someone who NIU needs to perform at a high level if they expect to slow down a potent OSU passing attack. The other safety spot will be held down by junior Mark Reiter. Reiter has big shoes to fill this season following the departure of all conference performer, Ray Smith. In limited duty, Reiter managed 35 tackles, including 1 for a loss in 2005. In addition, he picked off a pass, and broke up 2 others.
The cornerback position will be filled by a pair of seniors, who also happen to be twin brothers. One of the spots will feature Adriel Hansboro. Hansboro had a total of 55 tackles, including 1 for a loss in 2005. He also picked off a pass, and broke up 3 others. Of the two brothers, Adriel is the most talented. He’s very good in pass coverage, and isn’t afraid to come up aggressively in run support. The other cornerback spot will be filled by Alvah Hansboro. Alvah is coming off a 2005 campaign where he tallied 68 tackles, including 3 for a loss. In addition, he picked off 2 passes, and broke up 7 others. While Alvah doesn’t have the overall talent that Adriel possesses, he does have quite a bit of experience. He has been featured at the weak side CB spot for the last couple of years. He has faced somewhat of a challenge to his job this pre-season though, and has emerging sophomore Melvin Rice nipping at his heels ready to take his job.
Overall Secondary Analysis
There is nothing flashy about this unit to say the least. They gave up a lot of big plays in 2005, and will look to turn around that pattern this season. Utschig is very solid against the run, and will be someone who will probably have his name called quite a bit this week. The Hansboro brothers have a good deal of experience, but are not what would be considered lock down corners. Don’t be surprised if you see a lot of sophomores Melvin Rice, and Bradley Pruitt as this game unfolds, especially if OSU hits them for big plays early on in this contest. Overall, this unit is comparable to something that you would see out of a Northwestern squad, which doesn’t say a whole hell of a lot. The window is there for the Buckeyes to air it out, time will tell if they turn Troy, Teddy, and Gonzo loose.
DB Rating: C+
Head-to-Head: Northern Illinois DB versus Ohio State DB
It’s either a good thing or a bad thing when you have a couple of sophomores nipping at the heels of a couple of senior cornerbacks. That indicates that either the young talent has finally realized it’s potential, or that the senior’s have been a let down. Northern Illinois is faced with this reality, which means that they will be faced with uncertainty to start this season. They are not all that impressive at the safety spot either, although Utschig was very consistent a year ago. As for the Buckeyes, talent is aplenty, experience is not. Jenkins is a potential All Big Ten pick with enough raw talent to take on about any wide receiver in the country this year. If he continues to improve from his impressive appearances late last season, he’s going to be gold this season. Antonio Smith, a walk on 5th year senior, will provide stability at the other corner spot until another young corner can emerge (probably Andre Amos). At safety you have 2 sophomores (Patterson, O’Neal), a redshirt freshman (Russell), and a senior (Mitchell) all fighting for playing time this season. We should see all 4 this week. Overall, Ohio State just has much more depth and talent than a more veteran NIU squad. I’m still a firm believer that talent eventually unseats experience, OSU will make it evident this week.
Edge: Ohio State
Overall Defensive Analysis
Northern Illinois has begun to make a transition to a faster, more athletic defense this season. This effort is apparent with the significant amount of smaller, and younger players who are making pushes at major playing time. This strategy may pay off for the Huskies come time that they get into their MAC schedule, but they are going to have problems against a very high octane OSU offense, which features 2 heisman candidates, and stable of stud tailbacks. More importantly, OSU is very stout on the offensive line, and has a considerable size advantage over the Huskies front 7. Look for the Buckeyes to wear down the front 7, and rely on a steady diet of Pittman as this game wears on. For those who are wanting fireworks, you’ll get them early on this week. If you demand a heavy dose, you’d probably be best advised to stop off and buy some snap pop’s over at Kroger.
By the 2nd half, Tressel will begin to shut his playbook against this inferior defense. This is known as the “we’re still focused on this week’s game” lie, when we all know that Texas will be on the mind once this thing gets out of reach. At worst, this one will stay close for a while. At best, the starters will be out by early in the 2nd half. The Buckeyes should have their way against this Huskie defensive unit in the opener. Overall Defensive Rating: C
2006 Northern Illinois Huskies Special Teams Preview
Returning Starters: 2
If special teams consisted solely of PAT's, NIU would have a leg up on just about everyone in college football. Unfortunately for them, there are a lot of other facets to special team play, and the Huskies have a lot of questions that won't be answered until at least September 2nd.
Special Teams
P #18 Andy Dittbenner (6-1 192 SO)
PK#25 Chris Nendick (5-11 168 JR)
KR/PR #5 Marcus Perez (5-10 170 SO)
LS #48 Tommy O'Brien (6-2 235 FR)
Kickers
PK Chris Nendick has made quite a splash at NIU. He has not missed a PAT in over two years, and holds the Husky single season record for consecutive PAT's made (50) and single season PAT percentage (1.000), along with the record for longest FG (52 yards) and consecutive PAT's (94). He is pre-season second team all-conference for the MAC, and carries his streak of 94 consecutive PAT's into the Horseshoe. His field goal kicking, while good, is not nearly as good as his PAT streak. In 2005, Nendrick went nine for thirteen, with all of his misses coming from greater than 30 yards. He has only attempted one 50+ FG attempt in his career, but it game in the MAC championship game, and he hit it (52). He was more inconsistent his freshman year, hitting about 68% of his FGA, but has really turned heads in fall camp this year, and has the potential to be one of the nation's best.
Unfortunately, every other special team position is a question mark for the Huskies. Their punter, Andy Dittbenner, was very inconsistent last year. It is said he is having a spectacular camp, but his stat's from last year do not exactly inspire confidence. Out of 54 punts, his long was 56, and he only averaged 38.6 ypp. He did manage to drop 16 of his punts inside the twenty, but he had more bad punts than good.
K Rating: B
Returners
The returners are also questionable. The man most likely to handle almost all of the return work, Marcus Perez, sat out the entire 2005 campaign. He is still projected to carry the return load, even after missing spring ball (broken hand, concussion), and he has the speed to succeed (10.8 100 M), but little experience. He was projected as a pre-season second team all-conference returner in 2005, but did not play, so his only experience comes from less than 10 returns as a true freshman. Perez will return both kickoffs and punts.
Returner Rating: C-
Head-to-Head: Northern Illinois ST vs Ohio State ST
Nendick would appear to give NIU the edge here, but the Husky return game is so questionable, and the Buckeye returners so talented (not to mention fast), that overall the Buckeyes should have a definitive edge. We all know what Ginn can do, and there are plenty of other talented speedsters should the Huskies decide to kick away from Teddy. Ohio State has a big question mark at K right now, but clearly has more talent than NIU in the punting and return departments. Additionally, the Huskies will have to be able to move the ball offensively in order to get into Nendick's range, and, at this point, that is a question as well.
Edge: Buckeyes
Overall Special Teams Analysis
Without Nendick, the NIU special-teamers would be grossly overmatched. Dittbenner has been very inconsistent, and their returners have little to no experience. Their long-snapper, Tommy O'Brien, also is a freshman, and has no collegiate experience. Fortunately for them, NIU has been well-coached, and has always ranked among the conference leaders in kickoff and punt return coverage. While they cannot realistically expect anything of their return game, they can hope to limit what the Buckeyes can do ... but with Ted Ginn, Jr. awaiting those kicks, "limiting" him may just mean keeping him out of the endzone.
Overall Special Teams Rating: C
If special teams consisted solely of PAT's, NIU would have a leg up on just about everyone in college football. Unfortunately for them, there are a lot of other facets to special team play, and the Huskies have a lot of questions that won't be answered until at least September 2nd.
Special Teams
P #18 Andy Dittbenner (6-1 192 SO)
PK#25 Chris Nendick (5-11 168 JR)
KR/PR #5 Marcus Perez (5-10 170 SO)
LS #48 Tommy O'Brien (6-2 235 FR)
Kickers
PK Chris Nendick has made quite a splash at NIU. He has not missed a PAT in over two years, and holds the Husky single season record for consecutive PAT's made (50) and single season PAT percentage (1.000), along with the record for longest FG (52 yards) and consecutive PAT's (94). He is pre-season second team all-conference for the MAC, and carries his streak of 94 consecutive PAT's into the Horseshoe. His field goal kicking, while good, is not nearly as good as his PAT streak. In 2005, Nendrick went nine for thirteen, with all of his misses coming from greater than 30 yards. He has only attempted one 50+ FG attempt in his career, but it game in the MAC championship game, and he hit it (52). He was more inconsistent his freshman year, hitting about 68% of his FGA, but has really turned heads in fall camp this year, and has the potential to be one of the nation's best.
Unfortunately, every other special team position is a question mark for the Huskies. Their punter, Andy Dittbenner, was very inconsistent last year. It is said he is having a spectacular camp, but his stat's from last year do not exactly inspire confidence. Out of 54 punts, his long was 56, and he only averaged 38.6 ypp. He did manage to drop 16 of his punts inside the twenty, but he had more bad punts than good.
K Rating: B
Returners
The returners are also questionable. The man most likely to handle almost all of the return work, Marcus Perez, sat out the entire 2005 campaign. He is still projected to carry the return load, even after missing spring ball (broken hand, concussion), and he has the speed to succeed (10.8 100 M), but little experience. He was projected as a pre-season second team all-conference returner in 2005, but did not play, so his only experience comes from less than 10 returns as a true freshman. Perez will return both kickoffs and punts.
Returner Rating: C-
Head-to-Head: Northern Illinois ST vs Ohio State ST
Nendick would appear to give NIU the edge here, but the Husky return game is so questionable, and the Buckeye returners so talented (not to mention fast), that overall the Buckeyes should have a definitive edge. We all know what Ginn can do, and there are plenty of other talented speedsters should the Huskies decide to kick away from Teddy. Ohio State has a big question mark at K right now, but clearly has more talent than NIU in the punting and return departments. Additionally, the Huskies will have to be able to move the ball offensively in order to get into Nendick's range, and, at this point, that is a question as well.
Edge: Buckeyes
Overall Special Teams Analysis
Without Nendick, the NIU special-teamers would be grossly overmatched. Dittbenner has been very inconsistent, and their returners have little to no experience. Their long-snapper, Tommy O'Brien, also is a freshman, and has no collegiate experience. Fortunately for them, NIU has been well-coached, and has always ranked among the conference leaders in kickoff and punt return coverage. While they cannot realistically expect anything of their return game, they can hope to limit what the Buckeyes can do ... but with Ted Ginn, Jr. awaiting those kicks, "limiting" him may just mean keeping him out of the endzone.
Overall Special Teams Rating: C
Predictions
BB73's prediction: 37-17, Ohio State
BuckeyeRyn's prediction: 27-10, Ohio State
Buckeyeskickbuttocks’ prediction: 38-10, Ohio State
Bucklion's prediction: 31-16, Ohio State
daddyphatsac's prediction: 41-17, Ohio State
Deety's prediction: 31-13, Ohio State
FKAGobucks877's prediction: 45-13, Ohio State
LordJeffBuck's prediction: 44-24, Ohio State
osugrad21's prediction: 34-16, Ohio State
OSUsushichic's prediction: 37-17, Ohio State
PrincessPeach's prediction: 37-21, Ohio State
3yardsandacloud's prediction: 38-20, Ohio State
BuckeyeRyn's prediction: 27-10, Ohio State
Buckeyeskickbuttocks’ prediction: 38-10, Ohio State
Bucklion's prediction: 31-16, Ohio State
daddyphatsac's prediction: 41-17, Ohio State
Deety's prediction: 31-13, Ohio State
FKAGobucks877's prediction: 45-13, Ohio State
LordJeffBuck's prediction: 44-24, Ohio State
osugrad21's prediction: 34-16, Ohio State
OSUsushichic's prediction: 37-17, Ohio State
PrincessPeach's prediction: 37-21, Ohio State
3yardsandacloud's prediction: 38-20, Ohio State
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