3yardsandacloud
Administrator Emeritus
2006 Northwestern Wildcats Game Preview
written by: BB73, BuckeyeRyn, Buckeyeskickbuttocks, Bucklion, DaddyBigBucks, daddyphatsacs, Deety, FKAGobucks877, jwinslow, LordJeffBuck, osugrad21, OSUsushichic, PrincessPeach, and 3yardsandacloud
Link to 2006 Northwestern Wildcats - Additional Information
written by: BB73, BuckeyeRyn, Buckeyeskickbuttocks, Bucklion, DaddyBigBucks, daddyphatsacs, Deety, FKAGobucks877, jwinslow, LordJeffBuck, osugrad21, OSUsushichic, PrincessPeach, and 3yardsandacloud
Link to 2006 Northwestern Wildcats - Additional Information
The Buckeyes garnered every first place vote in the AP poll this week, and have now been ranked #1 in the AP poll for 11 straight weeks, which sets the mark for the most times an Ohio State football team has been ranked #1 in a season.
Most times tOSU football was AP #1 in a season
2006 - 11 weeks (including pre-season AP poll)
1969 - 10 weeks (including pre-season AP poll)
1998 - 10 weeks (including pre-season AP poll)
1975 - 09 weeks
1973 - 08 weeks
1970 - 07 weeks (including pre-season AP poll)
1974 - 07 weeks
1942 - 04 weeks (including final AP poll)
1954 - 04 weeks (including final AP poll)
1968 - 03 weeks (including final AP poll)
1958 - 02 weeks (including pre-season AP poll)
1962 - 02 weeks (including pre-season AP poll)
1964 - 02 weeks
1980 - 02 weeks (including pre-season AP poll)
1950 - 01 week
1979 - 01 week (just prior to Rose bowl loss)
2002 - 01 week (only the final AP poll after the Fiesta Bowl)
Total - 84 weeks (behind only Notre Dame and Oklahoma, both wth 95)
This week the Buckeyes will play their second straight game in Illinois, taking on the Northwestern Wildcats. After the untimely death of Randy Walker during the summer, Northwestern has had to regroup under Pat Fitzgerald, who at age 31 is by far the youngest head coach in major college football. They are coming off of their initial conference win, a surprising 21-7 triumph in Iowa City.
Randy Walker's career ended with him owning the second most wins as a Wildcat head coach, with 37. Pappy Waldorf holds that record with 49 wins between 1935 and 1946; and Ara Parseghian's 36-35-1 mark (just before leaving for Notre Dame) is the only winning record for anyone since Waldorf.
Since 1971, the last year that Northwestern won in Columbus, the Wildcats have only outscored their opponents over the course of a season on 3 occasions. Each time they claimed a Big 10 title, and in none of those years did they play Ohio State: 1995, 1996, and 2000.
Since this opponent is a program that has only won 1 bowl game in its entire history, and has only had one 10-win season in the last 100 years, is it possible that tOSU will be looking ahead to the last game of the regular season, against That School Up North? After the lackluster performance in the second half of last week's game, that will hopefully not be the case.
Many of these players had to walk off Ryan Field in 2004, knowing that they suffered the first Northwestern win over the Buckeyes since 1971. So they can't be expecting a team like the 0-11 Wildcat squad coached by Dennis Green in 1981, a team of players that simply were "who we thought they were".
The Wildcats only have a winning record against one Big-10 team (Indiana). As recently as 1997 they shut out Oklahoma 24-0. They actually have a 3-1 all-time record against the Sooners, a 1-0 slate against Texas, and a 21-10 overall mark against current Big-12 teams.
This game should be all about just getting a win, and then heading home for what figures to be the the biggest game in the 85-year history of Ohio Stadium. With a win the team heads home to play for a chance at all the marbles; the fact that a victory will avenge the last trip to Evanston is just icing on the cake.
Most times tOSU football was AP #1 in a season
2006 - 11 weeks (including pre-season AP poll)
1969 - 10 weeks (including pre-season AP poll)
1998 - 10 weeks (including pre-season AP poll)
1975 - 09 weeks
1973 - 08 weeks
1970 - 07 weeks (including pre-season AP poll)
1974 - 07 weeks
1942 - 04 weeks (including final AP poll)
1954 - 04 weeks (including final AP poll)
1968 - 03 weeks (including final AP poll)
1958 - 02 weeks (including pre-season AP poll)
1962 - 02 weeks (including pre-season AP poll)
1964 - 02 weeks
1980 - 02 weeks (including pre-season AP poll)
1950 - 01 week
1979 - 01 week (just prior to Rose bowl loss)
2002 - 01 week (only the final AP poll after the Fiesta Bowl)
Total - 84 weeks (behind only Notre Dame and Oklahoma, both wth 95)
This week the Buckeyes will play their second straight game in Illinois, taking on the Northwestern Wildcats. After the untimely death of Randy Walker during the summer, Northwestern has had to regroup under Pat Fitzgerald, who at age 31 is by far the youngest head coach in major college football. They are coming off of their initial conference win, a surprising 21-7 triumph in Iowa City.
Randy Walker's career ended with him owning the second most wins as a Wildcat head coach, with 37. Pappy Waldorf holds that record with 49 wins between 1935 and 1946; and Ara Parseghian's 36-35-1 mark (just before leaving for Notre Dame) is the only winning record for anyone since Waldorf.
Since 1971, the last year that Northwestern won in Columbus, the Wildcats have only outscored their opponents over the course of a season on 3 occasions. Each time they claimed a Big 10 title, and in none of those years did they play Ohio State: 1995, 1996, and 2000.
Since this opponent is a program that has only won 1 bowl game in its entire history, and has only had one 10-win season in the last 100 years, is it possible that tOSU will be looking ahead to the last game of the regular season, against That School Up North? After the lackluster performance in the second half of last week's game, that will hopefully not be the case.
Many of these players had to walk off Ryan Field in 2004, knowing that they suffered the first Northwestern win over the Buckeyes since 1971. So they can't be expecting a team like the 0-11 Wildcat squad coached by Dennis Green in 1981, a team of players that simply were "who we thought they were".
The Wildcats only have a winning record against one Big-10 team (Indiana). As recently as 1997 they shut out Oklahoma 24-0. They actually have a 3-1 all-time record against the Sooners, a 1-0 slate against Texas, and a 21-10 overall mark against current Big-12 teams.
This game should be all about just getting a win, and then heading home for what figures to be the the biggest game in the 85-year history of Ohio Stadium. With a win the team heads home to play for a chance at all the marbles; the fact that a victory will avenge the last trip to Evanston is just icing on the cake.
Date and Time
Date: Saturday, November 11th, 2006
Time: 3:30 EDT Kick-off
Location: Ryan Field-Originally Dyche Stadium, renovated 1997 (Evanston, IL)
Constructed: 1926 (Renovated 1997)
Seating Capacity: 49,256
Playing Surface: Natural Grass
Northwestern to Honor Randy Walker Again vs. Ohio State
After naming the driveway that runs parallel with Ryan Field and the Nicolet Football Center "Walker Way" in September, Northwestern is set to honor its former head coach again this week, fittingly, at halftime of the Ohio State game. Northwestern officials are renaming "Touchdown Terrace" (the building that sits next to the north end zone) as the "Randy Walker Terrace."
Several ceremonies and events honoring Walker were centered around Northwestern's first two games' the road opener at Miami (Ohio), Walker's alma mater, and the home opener vs. New Hampshire.
Throughout the season, the Wildcats have been remembering their former head mentor by wearing a rectangular patch on their jersey that is positioned over the heart. The patch is white with a black border, and has the word "WALK" inscribed in black.
Northwestern's coaches and staff also have "WALK" printed on their game-day gear. Two "WALK" logos have been painted on Ryan Field for Northwestern's six home games.
When the Wildcats arrive approximately two-and-a-half hours before each home game, fans are invited to line "Walker Way" and "Walk with Us." Northwestern also has endowed a scholarship in Walker's name.
Broadcast Information:
TV Broacast: ABC: Regional (split national audience): Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Bob Griese (analyst), Paul Maguire (analyst) and Bonnie Bernstein (sideline)
Local Radio Broadcast: Ohio State Radio Network (1460TheFan in Columbus): Paul Keels (Play-by-play), Jim Lachey (Analysis), and Marty Bannister (Sideline)
Northwestern Radio Broadcast: WGN will carry the game live on 720 AM. The broadcast also can be heard live via the internet at wgnradio.com. The pregame show begins at 2 p.m (CST). Dave Eanet (play-by-play) and Ted Albrecht (analyst) call the action. WNUR (89.3 FM) also will carry the contest live.
National Radio Broadcast: The game is available on the XM Satellite Radio network. (Channels 197-199).
Time: 3:30 EDT Kick-off
Location: Ryan Field-Originally Dyche Stadium, renovated 1997 (Evanston, IL)
Constructed: 1926 (Renovated 1997)
Seating Capacity: 49,256
Playing Surface: Natural Grass
Northwestern to Honor Randy Walker Again vs. Ohio State
After naming the driveway that runs parallel with Ryan Field and the Nicolet Football Center "Walker Way" in September, Northwestern is set to honor its former head coach again this week, fittingly, at halftime of the Ohio State game. Northwestern officials are renaming "Touchdown Terrace" (the building that sits next to the north end zone) as the "Randy Walker Terrace."
Several ceremonies and events honoring Walker were centered around Northwestern's first two games' the road opener at Miami (Ohio), Walker's alma mater, and the home opener vs. New Hampshire.
Throughout the season, the Wildcats have been remembering their former head mentor by wearing a rectangular patch on their jersey that is positioned over the heart. The patch is white with a black border, and has the word "WALK" inscribed in black.
Northwestern's coaches and staff also have "WALK" printed on their game-day gear. Two "WALK" logos have been painted on Ryan Field for Northwestern's six home games.
When the Wildcats arrive approximately two-and-a-half hours before each home game, fans are invited to line "Walker Way" and "Walk with Us." Northwestern also has endowed a scholarship in Walker's name.
Broadcast Information:
TV Broacast: ABC: Regional (split national audience): Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Bob Griese (analyst), Paul Maguire (analyst) and Bonnie Bernstein (sideline)
Local Radio Broadcast: Ohio State Radio Network (1460TheFan in Columbus): Paul Keels (Play-by-play), Jim Lachey (Analysis), and Marty Bannister (Sideline)
Northwestern Radio Broadcast: WGN will carry the game live on 720 AM. The broadcast also can be heard live via the internet at wgnradio.com. The pregame show begins at 2 p.m (CST). Dave Eanet (play-by-play) and Ted Albrecht (analyst) call the action. WNUR (89.3 FM) also will carry the contest live.
National Radio Broadcast: The game is available on the XM Satellite Radio network. (Channels 197-199).
2006 Northwestern Wildcats Offensive Preview
Returning starters: 8
Wow, what a difference a year makes. Last season the NW defense was awful, but the offense piled up yards at will. They finished 4th nationally, reaching the 500 yard per game mark for the 2005 season. That included 306.8 yards passing (7th) and 193.6 yards rushing (26th). Their point total of 32.3 points per game was 28th nationally, and they scored at least 28 points 9 times. Their turnover margin of +9 was also 16th in the country. One of the only defenses to shut them down was...Ohio State, who held them to 7 points in a rout. Despite this, the offense was dominant as a whole, and was a nightmare for defensive coordinators throughout the Big Ten.
So what happened? The tragic loss of the head coach in the offseason, along with QB Brett Basanez and tackle Zach Strief has spelled disaster for 2006. This year's offensive output (319.7 ypg, 91st nationally) is almost lower than last season's passing output alone (306.8). The rushing game has been adequate, but not dominant (154.2 ypg, 38th), but the passing game has been abysmal (153.0, 104th), as the Wildcats have dropped 96 spots in the rankings from last year. They're also scoring only half the points (16.1 ppg, 105th nationally) they were last year. Growing pains at the QB position, an inconsistent ground game, and injuries have made the first season for Pat Fitzgerald a difficult one. Still, he presses on, the team reflects his toughness, and there are signs that things are improving?even if slowly and incrementally.
Quarterbacks
QB #18 C. J. Bacher (6-2, 200, SO, Jesuit HS, Sacramento, CA)
There's a saying in baseball about relief pitchers that if you are left-handed, breathing and can throw strikes, there's a job for you somewhere. This season, due to injuries and growing pains, it seems if you can breathe, follow the offense, and complete a pass, you can play QB at Northwestern. There are 3 players who have seen significant and about equal time at QB, which is almost unheard of at major schools these days. Emerging from that list is Bacher, the only sophomore of the group who has played well the last month, after being slowed by injury early in the year. He has a significantly higher rating than his 2 counterparts (111.9), has thrown for 691 yards, and is seemingly more apt to use his weapons at his disposal instead of running himself (15 carries, -10 yards) which might be why the offense is showing some signs of life while he's been in there. After playing briefly in the Purdue game, he has been the main guy the previous 3 games, throwing for 245 yards and 3 TDs in the collapse against Michigan State, throwing for 204 yards against Michigan, and leading last week's stunning victory at Iowa, throwing for 218 yards and a TD. On the downside, he has thrown 2 INTs in each of the last 3 games, so the occasional bad throw seems to be part of what the coaches will have to live with. Still he completed 65.5% of his passes last week, and the running game has been a bit more effective recently as teams begin to have to respect the pass a bit more. He's been sacked 6 times thus far, not a great number, but not overwhelming either.
The top backup listed for this week is freshman Mike Kafka (#13), who has thrown for 477 yards, but just 1 TD to go with 5 INTs. In contrast to Bacher, he played the first 4 games of the season, leading to wins over Miami and Eastern Michigan. Still, he never threw for many yards (just 76 against EMU), and his 9/21 for 122 yards and 3 INTs against Nevada got him a place squarely on the bench. On the plus side he is a very good athlete, who is still second on the team in rushing with 275 yards, including 89 against Miami and 111 against Nevada. As his passing game develops, he could have the most upside because of his versatility, but for now, he appears to be a liability in the passing game.
Fellow freshman Andrew Brewer is 3rd on the chart. He has thrown for 344 yards, seeing significant time in 2 games and playing in a total of 7 games. He threw for 157 yards against Penn State and 94 against Wisconsin, but was really unable to get the passing game going. Like Kafka, he is also a good athlete, rushing for a total of 189 yards and 2 TDs, including 80 yards and a score against the Badgers. Also like Kafka, he appears to be a good scrambler who is a liability in the passing game until he can improve his accuracy.
QB Rating: C-
Head-to-Head: Northwestern vs Ohio State QB
Bacher (P/R): 56/103 (54.4%), 691 yards, 4 TDs, 6 INTs, 111.9 rating; 15/-10, 1 TDs.
Smith (P/R): 158/237 (66.7%), 2006 yards, 22 TDs, 3 INTs, 165.9 rating; 53/206, 1 TD.
Smith didn't have his best game last week, but he has proven to be one of college football's biggest weapons all season. The Wildcat QBs are young and learning, and they will improve with age, experience, and playing time. For now, Coach Fitzgerald appears to be settled on Bacher, and he seems to be the guy to get the rest of the offense going, as evidence by last week's win. The Wildcats will come in with some newfound confidence, but Smith has been through this many times, and will be looking to fine-tune himself for the showdown of the century a week later.
Edge: Ohio State
Running Backs
RB #19 Tyrell Sutton (5-9, 190, SO, Archbishop Hoban HS, Akron, OH)
Sutton had a monster 2005, ripping off 1474 yards and 16 TDs on the ground, while adding almost 400 yards and 2 more scores out of the backfield in a monster freshman campaign. Things have been a bit slower going for him this year as the offense has sputtered and the passing game has struggled, but as the offense has begun to click 2 of the past 3 weeks, Sutton has been able to do some serious damage, and perhaps he has found his stride again. He has been too streaky, however, to be considered a truly elite back at this point in the season, but he is definitely one of the better players out there.
He started out pretty well, gaining 63, 99, 91, and 94 yards the first month, scoring 2 TDs. But then he had just 58 yards total against Penn State and Wisconsin. Persistence pays off however, as evidenced by his bounceback 82 yards against Purdue, 172 against Michigan State, and last week's impressive 168 yards with a TD against Iowa. Michigan completely shut him down (7 carries, 6 yards) however. Out of the backfield, he's still a receiving threat, catching 11 passes the previous 2 weeks as Bacher gets more comfortable. Basically, for the Wildcats to have any chance of winning any of their remaining games, Sutton has to dominate on the ground, open up the passing game, and keep the NW defense off the field.
The backup is senior Terrell Jordan (#26), who has gained 210 yards and scored 4 TDs. He played quite a bit early in the year, gaining a total of 92 yards and scoring twice in the first 2 games, but has contributed sparingly until last week, when he chipped in 57 yards and a TD against Iowa. He's a player who has been around the system a while, and knows where he is supposed to be and what his role is, and he performs in competently.
RB Rating: B
Head-to-Head: Northwestern vs Ohio State RBs
Sutton: 143/833 yards, 4 TDs, 5.8 YPC; 28 rec/180 yards, 1 TD, 6.4 YPR
Jordan: 58/210 yards, 4 TDs, 3.6 YPC; 6 rec/40 yards, 0 TDs, 6.7 YPR
Pittman: 195/952 yards, 11 TDs, 4.9 YPC; 11 rec/111 yards, 0 TDs, 10.1 YPR
C Wells: 86/412, 5 TDs, 4.8 YPC; 2 rec/16 yards, 0 TDs, 8.0 YPR
Sutton is a good player, and when he is on he can be very dangerous. Expect him to be especially motivated to play against Ohio State, as he is from Ohio himself. Jordan is a competent backup. Pittman has been very good and very consistent for most of the 2006 campaign. Wells has had a couple of fumbles recently, but continues to be an option on short yardage situations in particular. Expect both to play well, but Pittman gets the nod based on his consistency.
Edge: Ohio State
Wide Receivers
WR #3 Shaun Herbert (6-1, 200, SR, Bishop McNamara HS, Oxon Hill, MD)
WR #9 Ross Lane (6-3, 190, SO, Bishop Verot HS, Ft. Myers, FL)
WR #10 Eric Peterman (6-1, 200, SO, Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin HS, Sherman, IL)
This is a pretty solid corps with weapons that can get open downfield. Herbert, a team captain, leads the group with 39 catches for 360 yards and 2 scores. He has been consistently involved during the season, not cracking the 100 yard barrier but catching at least 3 passes in 8 games. He scored both of his TDs against Michigan State. Lane has also been consistently a part of the attack, catching 24 for 336 yards and 2 TDs (also both against the Spartans), and catching at least 2 passes in 7 games. Peterman has just 19 catches, but for 302 yards and a score. He has been a bigger weapon recently, gaining 99 yards against Michigan State and adding a TD last week against Iowa. None of these players are particularly dazzling, but they can get open and make tough catches. Peterman is probably the biggest downfield threat.
Amongst the backups Rasheed Ward (#8) has the biggest numbers (14 catches, 124 yards), but he's caught just 2 passes in Big Ten play. No one else has caught more than 5 passes, so expect the 3 at the top of the list to get the work.
WR Rating: C
Head-to-Head: Northwestern vs Ohio State WRs
Herbert: 39 catches, 360 yards, 2 TDs, 9.2 YPR
Lane: 24 catches, 336 yards, 2 TDs, 14.0 YPR
Peterman: 19 catches, 302 yards, 1 TDs, 15.9 YPR
Ginn Jr.: 49 catches, 637 yards, 7 TDs, 13.0 YPR
Gonzalez: 43 catches, 639 yards, 6 TDs, 14.9 YPR
Robiskie: 21 catches, 288 yards, 4 TDs, 13.7 YPR
None of the Wildcat players are in the same league as Ginn or Gonzalez, but they can make some nice plays and keep some drives alive. It will be interesting to see if they can put any downfield pressure on the Buckeye secondary, or if the short routes will be all the more difficult to complete for the young QB.
Edge: Ohio State
Tight Ends
TE/FB #44 Erryn Cobb (6-1, 250, SR, Downers Grove North HS, Woodridge, IL)
Cobb is a bulldozer who has absolutely no role in the passing game (1 catch). He will be in there to help protect the QB and also open up some holes for Sutton, so he will still be important Saturday. He is also a special teams standout who can block punts, and is one of 4 team captains.
TE Rating: C
Head-to-Head: Northwestern vs Ohio State TE
Cobb: 1 catch, 0 yards, 0 TDs, 0.0 YPR
Nicol: 9 catches, 116 yards, 3 TDs, 12.9 YPR
Not really a comparison, as the NW attack doesn't really incorporate a TE of any kind. Nicol is adequate, as is Cobb, for what they are asked to do, but Nicol is out there more, so he could play the bigger role as a TE. Cobb is more valuable for his leadership and special teams play
Edge: Even
Offensive Line
LT #74 Dylan Thiry (6-8, 320, JR, Trinity HS, Louisville, KY)
LG #51 Joe Tripodi (6-3, 305, SR, Chelsea, MI)
C #50 Trevor Rees (6-2, 295, JR, Pearland HS, Pearland, TX)
RG #77 Adam Crum (6-1, 300, JR, Homer HS, Anchor Point, AK)
RT #56 Ryan Keenan (6-5, 295, SR, St. Edwards HS, Westlake, OH)
This is one of the more veteran units on the squad. Thiry, who played HS football with Louisville QB Brian Brohm, is in his second year as a starter. Tripodi has also started over 20 games, so the left side is in great shape experience-wise. After missing 2005, Rees returned this season and is vying for all-Big Ten honors. Keenan is a very strong player who has played tackle after being a guard. Crum made his first collegiate start against Michigan and was named the offensive team MVP for that game, so he appears to have a good deal of upside. This unit has a lot of experience, but has struggled at times with young QBs and inconsistent run play. However, they have played better in recent weeks, and looked pretty good as a whole against Iowa last week.
OL Rating: B
Head-to-Head: Northwestern vs Ohio State OL
Ohio State has a wealth of experience, and their offense has been firing on all cylinders most of the season. The Wildcats are a solid and veteran group, but have not been able to dominate as the Buckeyes have in spurts this season.
Edge: Ohio State
Overall Offensive Analysis
This offense is a far cry from Northwestern offenses of the recent past, led by Basanez. The running game hasn't been as good, and the passing game has been virtually non-existent for stretches this year. Still, Coach Fitzgerald has been staying with his gameplan, and after last week, it is possible that his hard work and persistence are starting to pay off. This has been a tough season for the Wildcats, and some struggles were expected. It seems as though the offense is starting to come together somewhat now, and with the young players they have, things are looking promising for the future as the QB position gets solidified. As goes the QB, so will go NW Sunday, as Sutton will hold his own and the line will do its best to stand up to the challenge of the Buckeye front 7. Expect a game effort from a hard-nosed team that reflects its coach. The overall grade is harsh, but based on the entire season. This week's offense, with some confidence, may look a good deal better than that.
Overall Offensive Rating: C-
Wow, what a difference a year makes. Last season the NW defense was awful, but the offense piled up yards at will. They finished 4th nationally, reaching the 500 yard per game mark for the 2005 season. That included 306.8 yards passing (7th) and 193.6 yards rushing (26th). Their point total of 32.3 points per game was 28th nationally, and they scored at least 28 points 9 times. Their turnover margin of +9 was also 16th in the country. One of the only defenses to shut them down was...Ohio State, who held them to 7 points in a rout. Despite this, the offense was dominant as a whole, and was a nightmare for defensive coordinators throughout the Big Ten.
So what happened? The tragic loss of the head coach in the offseason, along with QB Brett Basanez and tackle Zach Strief has spelled disaster for 2006. This year's offensive output (319.7 ypg, 91st nationally) is almost lower than last season's passing output alone (306.8). The rushing game has been adequate, but not dominant (154.2 ypg, 38th), but the passing game has been abysmal (153.0, 104th), as the Wildcats have dropped 96 spots in the rankings from last year. They're also scoring only half the points (16.1 ppg, 105th nationally) they were last year. Growing pains at the QB position, an inconsistent ground game, and injuries have made the first season for Pat Fitzgerald a difficult one. Still, he presses on, the team reflects his toughness, and there are signs that things are improving?even if slowly and incrementally.
Quarterbacks
QB #18 C. J. Bacher (6-2, 200, SO, Jesuit HS, Sacramento, CA)
There's a saying in baseball about relief pitchers that if you are left-handed, breathing and can throw strikes, there's a job for you somewhere. This season, due to injuries and growing pains, it seems if you can breathe, follow the offense, and complete a pass, you can play QB at Northwestern. There are 3 players who have seen significant and about equal time at QB, which is almost unheard of at major schools these days. Emerging from that list is Bacher, the only sophomore of the group who has played well the last month, after being slowed by injury early in the year. He has a significantly higher rating than his 2 counterparts (111.9), has thrown for 691 yards, and is seemingly more apt to use his weapons at his disposal instead of running himself (15 carries, -10 yards) which might be why the offense is showing some signs of life while he's been in there. After playing briefly in the Purdue game, he has been the main guy the previous 3 games, throwing for 245 yards and 3 TDs in the collapse against Michigan State, throwing for 204 yards against Michigan, and leading last week's stunning victory at Iowa, throwing for 218 yards and a TD. On the downside, he has thrown 2 INTs in each of the last 3 games, so the occasional bad throw seems to be part of what the coaches will have to live with. Still he completed 65.5% of his passes last week, and the running game has been a bit more effective recently as teams begin to have to respect the pass a bit more. He's been sacked 6 times thus far, not a great number, but not overwhelming either.
The top backup listed for this week is freshman Mike Kafka (#13), who has thrown for 477 yards, but just 1 TD to go with 5 INTs. In contrast to Bacher, he played the first 4 games of the season, leading to wins over Miami and Eastern Michigan. Still, he never threw for many yards (just 76 against EMU), and his 9/21 for 122 yards and 3 INTs against Nevada got him a place squarely on the bench. On the plus side he is a very good athlete, who is still second on the team in rushing with 275 yards, including 89 against Miami and 111 against Nevada. As his passing game develops, he could have the most upside because of his versatility, but for now, he appears to be a liability in the passing game.
Fellow freshman Andrew Brewer is 3rd on the chart. He has thrown for 344 yards, seeing significant time in 2 games and playing in a total of 7 games. He threw for 157 yards against Penn State and 94 against Wisconsin, but was really unable to get the passing game going. Like Kafka, he is also a good athlete, rushing for a total of 189 yards and 2 TDs, including 80 yards and a score against the Badgers. Also like Kafka, he appears to be a good scrambler who is a liability in the passing game until he can improve his accuracy.
QB Rating: C-
Head-to-Head: Northwestern vs Ohio State QB
Bacher (P/R): 56/103 (54.4%), 691 yards, 4 TDs, 6 INTs, 111.9 rating; 15/-10, 1 TDs.
Smith (P/R): 158/237 (66.7%), 2006 yards, 22 TDs, 3 INTs, 165.9 rating; 53/206, 1 TD.
Smith didn't have his best game last week, but he has proven to be one of college football's biggest weapons all season. The Wildcat QBs are young and learning, and they will improve with age, experience, and playing time. For now, Coach Fitzgerald appears to be settled on Bacher, and he seems to be the guy to get the rest of the offense going, as evidence by last week's win. The Wildcats will come in with some newfound confidence, but Smith has been through this many times, and will be looking to fine-tune himself for the showdown of the century a week later.
Edge: Ohio State
Running Backs
RB #19 Tyrell Sutton (5-9, 190, SO, Archbishop Hoban HS, Akron, OH)
Sutton had a monster 2005, ripping off 1474 yards and 16 TDs on the ground, while adding almost 400 yards and 2 more scores out of the backfield in a monster freshman campaign. Things have been a bit slower going for him this year as the offense has sputtered and the passing game has struggled, but as the offense has begun to click 2 of the past 3 weeks, Sutton has been able to do some serious damage, and perhaps he has found his stride again. He has been too streaky, however, to be considered a truly elite back at this point in the season, but he is definitely one of the better players out there.
He started out pretty well, gaining 63, 99, 91, and 94 yards the first month, scoring 2 TDs. But then he had just 58 yards total against Penn State and Wisconsin. Persistence pays off however, as evidenced by his bounceback 82 yards against Purdue, 172 against Michigan State, and last week's impressive 168 yards with a TD against Iowa. Michigan completely shut him down (7 carries, 6 yards) however. Out of the backfield, he's still a receiving threat, catching 11 passes the previous 2 weeks as Bacher gets more comfortable. Basically, for the Wildcats to have any chance of winning any of their remaining games, Sutton has to dominate on the ground, open up the passing game, and keep the NW defense off the field.
The backup is senior Terrell Jordan (#26), who has gained 210 yards and scored 4 TDs. He played quite a bit early in the year, gaining a total of 92 yards and scoring twice in the first 2 games, but has contributed sparingly until last week, when he chipped in 57 yards and a TD against Iowa. He's a player who has been around the system a while, and knows where he is supposed to be and what his role is, and he performs in competently.
RB Rating: B
Head-to-Head: Northwestern vs Ohio State RBs
Sutton: 143/833 yards, 4 TDs, 5.8 YPC; 28 rec/180 yards, 1 TD, 6.4 YPR
Jordan: 58/210 yards, 4 TDs, 3.6 YPC; 6 rec/40 yards, 0 TDs, 6.7 YPR
Pittman: 195/952 yards, 11 TDs, 4.9 YPC; 11 rec/111 yards, 0 TDs, 10.1 YPR
C Wells: 86/412, 5 TDs, 4.8 YPC; 2 rec/16 yards, 0 TDs, 8.0 YPR
Sutton is a good player, and when he is on he can be very dangerous. Expect him to be especially motivated to play against Ohio State, as he is from Ohio himself. Jordan is a competent backup. Pittman has been very good and very consistent for most of the 2006 campaign. Wells has had a couple of fumbles recently, but continues to be an option on short yardage situations in particular. Expect both to play well, but Pittman gets the nod based on his consistency.
Edge: Ohio State
Wide Receivers
WR #3 Shaun Herbert (6-1, 200, SR, Bishop McNamara HS, Oxon Hill, MD)
WR #9 Ross Lane (6-3, 190, SO, Bishop Verot HS, Ft. Myers, FL)
WR #10 Eric Peterman (6-1, 200, SO, Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin HS, Sherman, IL)
This is a pretty solid corps with weapons that can get open downfield. Herbert, a team captain, leads the group with 39 catches for 360 yards and 2 scores. He has been consistently involved during the season, not cracking the 100 yard barrier but catching at least 3 passes in 8 games. He scored both of his TDs against Michigan State. Lane has also been consistently a part of the attack, catching 24 for 336 yards and 2 TDs (also both against the Spartans), and catching at least 2 passes in 7 games. Peterman has just 19 catches, but for 302 yards and a score. He has been a bigger weapon recently, gaining 99 yards against Michigan State and adding a TD last week against Iowa. None of these players are particularly dazzling, but they can get open and make tough catches. Peterman is probably the biggest downfield threat.
Amongst the backups Rasheed Ward (#8) has the biggest numbers (14 catches, 124 yards), but he's caught just 2 passes in Big Ten play. No one else has caught more than 5 passes, so expect the 3 at the top of the list to get the work.
WR Rating: C
Head-to-Head: Northwestern vs Ohio State WRs
Herbert: 39 catches, 360 yards, 2 TDs, 9.2 YPR
Lane: 24 catches, 336 yards, 2 TDs, 14.0 YPR
Peterman: 19 catches, 302 yards, 1 TDs, 15.9 YPR
Ginn Jr.: 49 catches, 637 yards, 7 TDs, 13.0 YPR
Gonzalez: 43 catches, 639 yards, 6 TDs, 14.9 YPR
Robiskie: 21 catches, 288 yards, 4 TDs, 13.7 YPR
None of the Wildcat players are in the same league as Ginn or Gonzalez, but they can make some nice plays and keep some drives alive. It will be interesting to see if they can put any downfield pressure on the Buckeye secondary, or if the short routes will be all the more difficult to complete for the young QB.
Edge: Ohio State
Tight Ends
TE/FB #44 Erryn Cobb (6-1, 250, SR, Downers Grove North HS, Woodridge, IL)
Cobb is a bulldozer who has absolutely no role in the passing game (1 catch). He will be in there to help protect the QB and also open up some holes for Sutton, so he will still be important Saturday. He is also a special teams standout who can block punts, and is one of 4 team captains.
TE Rating: C
Head-to-Head: Northwestern vs Ohio State TE
Cobb: 1 catch, 0 yards, 0 TDs, 0.0 YPR
Nicol: 9 catches, 116 yards, 3 TDs, 12.9 YPR
Not really a comparison, as the NW attack doesn't really incorporate a TE of any kind. Nicol is adequate, as is Cobb, for what they are asked to do, but Nicol is out there more, so he could play the bigger role as a TE. Cobb is more valuable for his leadership and special teams play
Edge: Even
Offensive Line
LT #74 Dylan Thiry (6-8, 320, JR, Trinity HS, Louisville, KY)
LG #51 Joe Tripodi (6-3, 305, SR, Chelsea, MI)
C #50 Trevor Rees (6-2, 295, JR, Pearland HS, Pearland, TX)
RG #77 Adam Crum (6-1, 300, JR, Homer HS, Anchor Point, AK)
RT #56 Ryan Keenan (6-5, 295, SR, St. Edwards HS, Westlake, OH)
This is one of the more veteran units on the squad. Thiry, who played HS football with Louisville QB Brian Brohm, is in his second year as a starter. Tripodi has also started over 20 games, so the left side is in great shape experience-wise. After missing 2005, Rees returned this season and is vying for all-Big Ten honors. Keenan is a very strong player who has played tackle after being a guard. Crum made his first collegiate start against Michigan and was named the offensive team MVP for that game, so he appears to have a good deal of upside. This unit has a lot of experience, but has struggled at times with young QBs and inconsistent run play. However, they have played better in recent weeks, and looked pretty good as a whole against Iowa last week.
OL Rating: B
Head-to-Head: Northwestern vs Ohio State OL
Ohio State has a wealth of experience, and their offense has been firing on all cylinders most of the season. The Wildcats are a solid and veteran group, but have not been able to dominate as the Buckeyes have in spurts this season.
Edge: Ohio State
Overall Offensive Analysis
This offense is a far cry from Northwestern offenses of the recent past, led by Basanez. The running game hasn't been as good, and the passing game has been virtually non-existent for stretches this year. Still, Coach Fitzgerald has been staying with his gameplan, and after last week, it is possible that his hard work and persistence are starting to pay off. This has been a tough season for the Wildcats, and some struggles were expected. It seems as though the offense is starting to come together somewhat now, and with the young players they have, things are looking promising for the future as the QB position gets solidified. As goes the QB, so will go NW Sunday, as Sutton will hold his own and the line will do its best to stand up to the challenge of the Buckeye front 7. Expect a game effort from a hard-nosed team that reflects its coach. The overall grade is harsh, but based on the entire season. This week's offense, with some confidence, may look a good deal better than that.
Overall Offensive Rating: C-
2006 Northwestern Wildcats Defensive Preview
Returning Starters: 8
The Bucks make a trip up to Evanston this weekend to play a Northwestern team who is riding on cloud nine after an upset of the Iowa Hawkeyes. Their defense has performed much better as of late. In their last two contests they have given up a total of 24 points, including 17 to Michigan and 7 to Iowa. Their passing defense was very solid over those two games. They held Michigan to 116 yards passing (keep in mind that the conditions were bad in that game), and held Iowa to 147 yards. Michigan did manage to go over 200 yards on the ground in that game, but Iowa only managed 117 in their loss last weekend. This is a sign that this Northwestern defense is rapidly improving under first year coach Pat Fitzgerald. Below is where they stand in most major defensive categories in the Big Ten.
Points per contest: 24.4 PPG (6th in Big Ten)
Total yards surrendered: 364.6 Yards Per Game (7th in Big Ten)
Total Passing yards surrendered: 219.1 YPG (7th in Big Ten)
Total Rushing yards surrendered: 145.5 YPG (8th in Big Ten)
Defensive sacks: 19 (T-6th in Big Ten)
Interceptions: 10 (T-5th in Big Ten)
Red Zone Defense: Opponents have come away with points 81% (34 of 42) of the time that they have gotten the ball inside the 20 yard line against the Wildcats. 22 of those scores were touchdowns, with the other 12 being field goals. They are ranked 7th in the Big Ten in this category.
Defensive Line
DE #95 Kevin Mims (6-3, 280, SO)
DT #79 Adam Hahn (6-4, 295, R-FR)
DT #70 John Gill (6-3, 300, SO)
DE #99 Corey Wootton (6-7, 275, R-FR)
Northwestern is led along the defensive line by freshman end Corey Wootton. On the season Wootton leads the Wildcats with 4 sacks and 8.5 tackles for a loss. In addition he has also recorded 46 tackles, intercepted 2 passes, and forced a fumble. Wootton is really coming into his own in his redshirt freshman campaign. He is a gifted athlete, who has excellent size. Expect to see him in the OSU backfield this weekend. He's a potential all Big-Ten performer in a year or two. The other end for Northwestern will be sophomore Kevin Mims. On the season, Mims has a total of 37 tackles, including 2 for a loss.
Getting the start at one of the interior defensive tackle spots for the Wildcats will be sophomore John Gill. Gill has a total of 35 tackles, including 4 for a loss, and 2 sacks so far this season. He also has a forced fumble, as well as a recovery so far this season. Gill has good size, and is another guy who has a fair amount of up side for the Wildcats. He's pretty solid in the middle, and plays a nice brand of assignment football. The other tackle spot will be held down by freshman Adam Hahn. On the season, Hahn has a total of 22 tackles, including 3.5 for a loss. He has also blocked a kick and broke up a pass this season.
DL Rating: C
Overall DL Analysis
Overall this is a very young defensive line. They have improved quite a bit as the season has progressed, and have the potential to be pretty good in a year or two. Wootton is budding with potential, and would have to be considered the best player along the front 4. Gill is another one who would have to be mentioned when you talk about the strong points up front for Northwestern. If you don't hear either of these two mentioned much on Saturday, it's going to be a long day up front for the Wildcats.
Head-to-Head: Northwestern vs Ohio State DL
Ohio State features a defensive line that rotates upwards of 9 guys in. Probably every one of them could start at Northwestern right now. The Buckeyes have a total of 30 sacks on the season, which is 11 more than what the Wildcats have to this point. The Buckeyes get the clear edge here.
Edge: Ohio State
Linebackers
OLB #40 Eddie Simpson (6-1, 230, JR)
MLB #43 Adam Kadela (6-3, 245, JR)
OLB #42 Demetrius Eaton (6-2, 250, SR)
Leading the way for the Northwestern linebacker crew is junior Adam Kadela. Kadela leads with Wildcats with 66 tackles. He also has a tackle for a loss, 2 fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, and 2 QB hurries this season. With the loss of Nick Roach, Kadela has really become the go to guy for this unit. He seems to always be around the ball, and plays fundamentally sound football. All in all he's a very solid middle linebacker, but he lacks big play potential. Getting the start at one of the outside linebacker slots will be senior Demetrius Eaton. On the season Eaton has 44 tackles, including 3 for a loss, as well as 2 sacks. Eaton has also broken up 2 passes this season. Eaton is a very physical player, he has a decent amount of quickness, and can be disruptive in blitzing situations. The final outside linebacker spot will be occupied by junior Eddie Simpson. On the season, Simpson has a total of 26 tackles, including 3 for a loss, along with 2 sacks. Eaton has also broken up a couple of passes so far this season.
LB Rating: C-
Overall LB Analysis
This linebacker crew is really hurt by the loss of captain Nick Roach, especially from a leadership standpoint. He was also arguably the best player on the Northwestern defense. Kadela has done pretty well filling in the leadership void that was left when Roach left. What they haven't replaced is Roachs' versatility, along with his big play ability. This linebacker unit has had problems this year when it comes to making big plays outside Roach. In fact, the 3 starters have no interceptions this season, and only have combined for 4 sacks. Someone will need to step up this week if the Cat's want to stop the Buckeye offense.
Head-to-Head: Northwestern vs Ohio State LBs
This one isn't even close. Laurinaitis has as many sacks (4) as the whole Northwestern starting unit. His 5 interceptions are 5 more than this unit has. Keep in mind that I didn't mention the rapidly improving Marcus Freeman, or emerging freshman Curtis Terry. Ohio State takes this category easily.
Edge: Ohio State
Secondary
CB #22 Deante Battle (5-10, 180, JR)
FS #27 Reggie McPherson (6-1, 195, JR)
SS #39 Brendan Smith (6-0, 210, SO)
CB #24 Sherrick McManis (6-0, 180, FR)
OR #20 Marquice Cole (5-10, 195, SR)
Leading the way for the Wildcats in the secondary will be sophomore strong safety Brenden Smith. Smith leads Northwestern with 3 interceptions, and is tied for 2nd on the team with 63 tackles. In addition, he also has 4 pass breakups, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, along with a tackle for a loss. Smith the future of this Northwestern secondary. He was a freshman All-American last year, and continues to improve as he gets more reps. The free safety for the Wildcats will be junior Reggie McPherson. On the season McPherson has 48 tackles, 2 qb hurries, an interception, and leads the Wildcats with 7 pass breakups. Of the two safeties, McPherson is better in coverage. Expect to see him help out overtop in the likely event that the Buckeyes try a few deep passes.
Getting the nod at one of the cornerback spots will be junior Deante Battle. On the season Battle has a total of 61 tackles, including 5 for a loss, along with 2 sacks. He has also picked off a pass, forced 2 fumbles, and recorded 4 pass breakups. Battle isn't the biggest guy, but packs quite a punch from his cornerback spot. It would be a fair assessment to call him a poor mans Antoine Winfield. He is very good when blitzed off the corner, and is a good tackler. Expect to see him come off the corner a couple of times this week in an attempt to pressure Smith. The other corner spot will feature freshman Sherrick McManis. On the season McManis has a total of 19 tackles, 3 pass breakups, and a forced fumble. McManis has been filling in for highly talented Marquice Cole over past few weeks due to an hamstring injury. Cole may be able to play some in this contest, which would be a huge boost for the Cats. He is a likely first day draft pick this April, and is the unquestioned leader of the Northwestern secondary.
DB Rating: C-
Overall DB Analysis
It's pretty obvious that this unit is seriously hurt by the loss of Cole. Amazingly, they have performed very well over past couple of weeks without him. At some point it's going to catch up to them, and I think this week may just be that. Smith is turning into a very fine safety, and could possibly be an all league performer down the road. The problem for the Cat's is that they lack the speedy, big play type corner (with the exception of Cole, who's got a bum wheel) that is needed to slow down the Buckeye receiver corps. This secondary had better start praying for rain, or wind, because they'll need all the help they can get against the pass this week.
Head-to-Head: Northwestern vs Ohio State DBs
Ohio State is featuring 4 surefire NFL prospects in their secondary. Jenkins and possibly O'Neal are probably going to go pretty early in the draft. The loss of Cole really hurts the Wildcats, he is probably one of the best cornerbacks in the Big Ten. With him out of the equation, Ohio State takes this category in a California landslide.
Edge: Ohio State
Overall Defensive Analysis
As I stated earlier, this defense is trending in the right direction. They played very well against Iowa, and played Michigan very tight for the most part. With that being said, Marquice Cole's injury really hurts this bunch against the Buckeyes. Cole is the type of guy that can play toe to toe with Ginn or Gonzo. With him being out, this secondary is really going to have their hands full. Don't think for a minute that Troy Smith isn't thinking about his average performance last week. I expect that Buckeyes to move the ball quite a bit this week, and really chew up this Northwestern secondary. The monumental battle is only one week away, look for the Buckeyes to do their part in getting there undefeated.
Overall Defensive Rating: C
The Bucks make a trip up to Evanston this weekend to play a Northwestern team who is riding on cloud nine after an upset of the Iowa Hawkeyes. Their defense has performed much better as of late. In their last two contests they have given up a total of 24 points, including 17 to Michigan and 7 to Iowa. Their passing defense was very solid over those two games. They held Michigan to 116 yards passing (keep in mind that the conditions were bad in that game), and held Iowa to 147 yards. Michigan did manage to go over 200 yards on the ground in that game, but Iowa only managed 117 in their loss last weekend. This is a sign that this Northwestern defense is rapidly improving under first year coach Pat Fitzgerald. Below is where they stand in most major defensive categories in the Big Ten.
Points per contest: 24.4 PPG (6th in Big Ten)
Total yards surrendered: 364.6 Yards Per Game (7th in Big Ten)
Total Passing yards surrendered: 219.1 YPG (7th in Big Ten)
Total Rushing yards surrendered: 145.5 YPG (8th in Big Ten)
Defensive sacks: 19 (T-6th in Big Ten)
Interceptions: 10 (T-5th in Big Ten)
Red Zone Defense: Opponents have come away with points 81% (34 of 42) of the time that they have gotten the ball inside the 20 yard line against the Wildcats. 22 of those scores were touchdowns, with the other 12 being field goals. They are ranked 7th in the Big Ten in this category.
Defensive Line
DE #95 Kevin Mims (6-3, 280, SO)
DT #79 Adam Hahn (6-4, 295, R-FR)
DT #70 John Gill (6-3, 300, SO)
DE #99 Corey Wootton (6-7, 275, R-FR)
Northwestern is led along the defensive line by freshman end Corey Wootton. On the season Wootton leads the Wildcats with 4 sacks and 8.5 tackles for a loss. In addition he has also recorded 46 tackles, intercepted 2 passes, and forced a fumble. Wootton is really coming into his own in his redshirt freshman campaign. He is a gifted athlete, who has excellent size. Expect to see him in the OSU backfield this weekend. He's a potential all Big-Ten performer in a year or two. The other end for Northwestern will be sophomore Kevin Mims. On the season, Mims has a total of 37 tackles, including 2 for a loss.
Getting the start at one of the interior defensive tackle spots for the Wildcats will be sophomore John Gill. Gill has a total of 35 tackles, including 4 for a loss, and 2 sacks so far this season. He also has a forced fumble, as well as a recovery so far this season. Gill has good size, and is another guy who has a fair amount of up side for the Wildcats. He's pretty solid in the middle, and plays a nice brand of assignment football. The other tackle spot will be held down by freshman Adam Hahn. On the season, Hahn has a total of 22 tackles, including 3.5 for a loss. He has also blocked a kick and broke up a pass this season.
DL Rating: C
Overall DL Analysis
Overall this is a very young defensive line. They have improved quite a bit as the season has progressed, and have the potential to be pretty good in a year or two. Wootton is budding with potential, and would have to be considered the best player along the front 4. Gill is another one who would have to be mentioned when you talk about the strong points up front for Northwestern. If you don't hear either of these two mentioned much on Saturday, it's going to be a long day up front for the Wildcats.
Head-to-Head: Northwestern vs Ohio State DL
Ohio State features a defensive line that rotates upwards of 9 guys in. Probably every one of them could start at Northwestern right now. The Buckeyes have a total of 30 sacks on the season, which is 11 more than what the Wildcats have to this point. The Buckeyes get the clear edge here.
Edge: Ohio State
Linebackers
OLB #40 Eddie Simpson (6-1, 230, JR)
MLB #43 Adam Kadela (6-3, 245, JR)
OLB #42 Demetrius Eaton (6-2, 250, SR)
Leading the way for the Northwestern linebacker crew is junior Adam Kadela. Kadela leads with Wildcats with 66 tackles. He also has a tackle for a loss, 2 fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, and 2 QB hurries this season. With the loss of Nick Roach, Kadela has really become the go to guy for this unit. He seems to always be around the ball, and plays fundamentally sound football. All in all he's a very solid middle linebacker, but he lacks big play potential. Getting the start at one of the outside linebacker slots will be senior Demetrius Eaton. On the season Eaton has 44 tackles, including 3 for a loss, as well as 2 sacks. Eaton has also broken up 2 passes this season. Eaton is a very physical player, he has a decent amount of quickness, and can be disruptive in blitzing situations. The final outside linebacker spot will be occupied by junior Eddie Simpson. On the season, Simpson has a total of 26 tackles, including 3 for a loss, along with 2 sacks. Eaton has also broken up a couple of passes so far this season.
LB Rating: C-
Overall LB Analysis
This linebacker crew is really hurt by the loss of captain Nick Roach, especially from a leadership standpoint. He was also arguably the best player on the Northwestern defense. Kadela has done pretty well filling in the leadership void that was left when Roach left. What they haven't replaced is Roachs' versatility, along with his big play ability. This linebacker unit has had problems this year when it comes to making big plays outside Roach. In fact, the 3 starters have no interceptions this season, and only have combined for 4 sacks. Someone will need to step up this week if the Cat's want to stop the Buckeye offense.
Head-to-Head: Northwestern vs Ohio State LBs
This one isn't even close. Laurinaitis has as many sacks (4) as the whole Northwestern starting unit. His 5 interceptions are 5 more than this unit has. Keep in mind that I didn't mention the rapidly improving Marcus Freeman, or emerging freshman Curtis Terry. Ohio State takes this category easily.
Edge: Ohio State
Secondary
CB #22 Deante Battle (5-10, 180, JR)
FS #27 Reggie McPherson (6-1, 195, JR)
SS #39 Brendan Smith (6-0, 210, SO)
CB #24 Sherrick McManis (6-0, 180, FR)
OR #20 Marquice Cole (5-10, 195, SR)
Leading the way for the Wildcats in the secondary will be sophomore strong safety Brenden Smith. Smith leads Northwestern with 3 interceptions, and is tied for 2nd on the team with 63 tackles. In addition, he also has 4 pass breakups, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, along with a tackle for a loss. Smith the future of this Northwestern secondary. He was a freshman All-American last year, and continues to improve as he gets more reps. The free safety for the Wildcats will be junior Reggie McPherson. On the season McPherson has 48 tackles, 2 qb hurries, an interception, and leads the Wildcats with 7 pass breakups. Of the two safeties, McPherson is better in coverage. Expect to see him help out overtop in the likely event that the Buckeyes try a few deep passes.
Getting the nod at one of the cornerback spots will be junior Deante Battle. On the season Battle has a total of 61 tackles, including 5 for a loss, along with 2 sacks. He has also picked off a pass, forced 2 fumbles, and recorded 4 pass breakups. Battle isn't the biggest guy, but packs quite a punch from his cornerback spot. It would be a fair assessment to call him a poor mans Antoine Winfield. He is very good when blitzed off the corner, and is a good tackler. Expect to see him come off the corner a couple of times this week in an attempt to pressure Smith. The other corner spot will feature freshman Sherrick McManis. On the season McManis has a total of 19 tackles, 3 pass breakups, and a forced fumble. McManis has been filling in for highly talented Marquice Cole over past few weeks due to an hamstring injury. Cole may be able to play some in this contest, which would be a huge boost for the Cats. He is a likely first day draft pick this April, and is the unquestioned leader of the Northwestern secondary.
DB Rating: C-
Overall DB Analysis
It's pretty obvious that this unit is seriously hurt by the loss of Cole. Amazingly, they have performed very well over past couple of weeks without him. At some point it's going to catch up to them, and I think this week may just be that. Smith is turning into a very fine safety, and could possibly be an all league performer down the road. The problem for the Cat's is that they lack the speedy, big play type corner (with the exception of Cole, who's got a bum wheel) that is needed to slow down the Buckeye receiver corps. This secondary had better start praying for rain, or wind, because they'll need all the help they can get against the pass this week.
Head-to-Head: Northwestern vs Ohio State DBs
Ohio State is featuring 4 surefire NFL prospects in their secondary. Jenkins and possibly O'Neal are probably going to go pretty early in the draft. The loss of Cole really hurts the Wildcats, he is probably one of the best cornerbacks in the Big Ten. With him out of the equation, Ohio State takes this category in a California landslide.
Edge: Ohio State
Overall Defensive Analysis
As I stated earlier, this defense is trending in the right direction. They played very well against Iowa, and played Michigan very tight for the most part. With that being said, Marquice Cole's injury really hurts this bunch against the Buckeyes. Cole is the type of guy that can play toe to toe with Ginn or Gonzo. With him being out, this secondary is really going to have their hands full. Don't think for a minute that Troy Smith isn't thinking about his average performance last week. I expect that Buckeyes to move the ball quite a bit this week, and really chew up this Northwestern secondary. The monumental battle is only one week away, look for the Buckeyes to do their part in getting there undefeated.
Overall Defensive Rating: C
2006 Northwestern Wildcats Special Teams Preview
Returning Starters: 3
Northwestern, much like the Illini of last week, do not boast exceptional numbers on Special Teams. Statistically, they have had excellent coverage on both punt and kickoff coverage, but that constitutes the entirety of the "good news". The bad news...well, their punt return game is virtually non-existent, and their kicking game is average (at best). The Wildcats are slightly better at returning kicks, however, with a freshman leading the charge.
Special Teams
P #15 Slade Larscheid (6-1 210 SR)*
PK#93 Joel Howells (6-4 225 SR)*
PR#20 Marquice Cole (5-10 195 SR)*
KR #24 Sherrick McManus (6-0 180 FR)
LS #86 Phil Brunner (6-2 225 SO)
Return Game:
Cole has handled almost all of the punt return duties to date, returning 8 punts for a total of 28 yards (3.5 avg.). Northwestern's defense hasn't forced too many punts, so that could be the reason for the low statistics. Cole's career numbers are somewhat better, where he averages nearly 12 yards per return, but so far in 2006 he has been severely limited. McManus is doing better returning kicks, where he has returned 24 kicks for 535 yards (22.3 avg.). His numbers aren't at the top of the NCAA, but he is a youngster with the speed to be at least all-conference in a couple of years. His longest return thus far is a 47 yarder.
Returner Rating: C-
Head-to-Head: Northwestern Returners versus Ohio State Returners
As usual, there just isn't a contest here. Northwestern will likely avoid kicking to 7-11, but both Ginn and Gonzo have proven that attempting to kick away from them isn't the same as actually doing it.
Edge: Ohio State
Kicking Game:
Larscheid has been solid, but hasn't demonstrated as strong of a leg as his coaches would have liked. He is averaging 38 yards per punt, and has punted a whopping 57 times (total of 2166 yards). He's only managed to pin 11 of those inside the twenty (but only 4 touchbacks), but that is more due to the Wildcat's offense failing to move the ball than anything he has done. Howells has also been solid. He has 36 kickoffs so far (2168 yards), and is averaging 60.2 yards per kick. He has only had 14 touchbacks, however, and his net average is only 44 yards per kick. Northwestern's opponents average a starting drive on their own 20, so their coverage team is playing quite well. Brunner's name hasn't been called this year, which is always a plus for the long snapper, but both a field goal and a punt have been blocked so far in 2006.
In the field goal department, Howells has definitely struggled. He has only made 5 of 9 attempts (55.6%), and all four of his misses have come from less than 39 yards. He did make his only 40+ yarder, connecting from 43, but the inconsistency has hurt the struggling Wildcats.
Kicking Rating: C-
Head-to-Head: Northwestern kicking game versus Ohio State kicking game
Trapasso has shown a stronger leg than Larscheid, and Petrey has been remarkably consistent over the last couple of games. The wild card that is Howells makes this decision easy.
Edge: Ohio State
Overall Special Teams Analysis
If Northwestern kicks to Ginn and Gonzo, look for one or both to have a remarkably good day. While the Wildcat's coverage has been good, they have not seen talent and speed like what Ohio State boasts. Conversely, they do not put a serious "home run" threat on the field for special teams. Additionally, after the poor display last week, it wouldn't surprise me if the Ohio State offense decided to keep Trapasso off the field completely.
Overall Special Teams Rating: C-
Northwestern, much like the Illini of last week, do not boast exceptional numbers on Special Teams. Statistically, they have had excellent coverage on both punt and kickoff coverage, but that constitutes the entirety of the "good news". The bad news...well, their punt return game is virtually non-existent, and their kicking game is average (at best). The Wildcats are slightly better at returning kicks, however, with a freshman leading the charge.
Special Teams
P #15 Slade Larscheid (6-1 210 SR)*
PK#93 Joel Howells (6-4 225 SR)*
PR#20 Marquice Cole (5-10 195 SR)*
KR #24 Sherrick McManus (6-0 180 FR)
LS #86 Phil Brunner (6-2 225 SO)
Return Game:
Cole has handled almost all of the punt return duties to date, returning 8 punts for a total of 28 yards (3.5 avg.). Northwestern's defense hasn't forced too many punts, so that could be the reason for the low statistics. Cole's career numbers are somewhat better, where he averages nearly 12 yards per return, but so far in 2006 he has been severely limited. McManus is doing better returning kicks, where he has returned 24 kicks for 535 yards (22.3 avg.). His numbers aren't at the top of the NCAA, but he is a youngster with the speed to be at least all-conference in a couple of years. His longest return thus far is a 47 yarder.
Returner Rating: C-
Head-to-Head: Northwestern Returners versus Ohio State Returners
As usual, there just isn't a contest here. Northwestern will likely avoid kicking to 7-11, but both Ginn and Gonzo have proven that attempting to kick away from them isn't the same as actually doing it.
Edge: Ohio State
Kicking Game:
Larscheid has been solid, but hasn't demonstrated as strong of a leg as his coaches would have liked. He is averaging 38 yards per punt, and has punted a whopping 57 times (total of 2166 yards). He's only managed to pin 11 of those inside the twenty (but only 4 touchbacks), but that is more due to the Wildcat's offense failing to move the ball than anything he has done. Howells has also been solid. He has 36 kickoffs so far (2168 yards), and is averaging 60.2 yards per kick. He has only had 14 touchbacks, however, and his net average is only 44 yards per kick. Northwestern's opponents average a starting drive on their own 20, so their coverage team is playing quite well. Brunner's name hasn't been called this year, which is always a plus for the long snapper, but both a field goal and a punt have been blocked so far in 2006.
In the field goal department, Howells has definitely struggled. He has only made 5 of 9 attempts (55.6%), and all four of his misses have come from less than 39 yards. He did make his only 40+ yarder, connecting from 43, but the inconsistency has hurt the struggling Wildcats.
Kicking Rating: C-
Head-to-Head: Northwestern kicking game versus Ohio State kicking game
Trapasso has shown a stronger leg than Larscheid, and Petrey has been remarkably consistent over the last couple of games. The wild card that is Howells makes this decision easy.
Edge: Ohio State
Overall Special Teams Analysis
If Northwestern kicks to Ginn and Gonzo, look for one or both to have a remarkably good day. While the Wildcat's coverage has been good, they have not seen talent and speed like what Ohio State boasts. Conversely, they do not put a serious "home run" threat on the field for special teams. Additionally, after the poor display last week, it wouldn't surprise me if the Ohio State offense decided to keep Trapasso off the field completely.
Overall Special Teams Rating: C-
Predictions
BB73's prediction: 34-10, Ohio State
BuckeyeRyn's prediction: 34-10, Ohio State
Buckeyeskickbuttocks' prediction: 38-10, Ohio State
Bucklion's prediction: 31-10, Ohio State
DaddyBigBucks's prediction: 42-0, Ohio State
daddyphatsac's prediction: 38-6, Ohio State
Deety's prediction: 35-9, Ohio State
FKAGobucks877's prediction: 45-6, Ohio State
jwinslow's prediction: 34-6, Ohio State
LordJeffBuck's prediction: 33-13, Ohio State
osugrad21's prediction: 31-6, Ohio State
OSUsushichic's prediction: 31-10, Ohio State
PrincessPeach's prediction: 38-13, Ohio State
3yardsandacloud's prediction: 42-9, Ohio State
Last Week's Results (OSU 17 - Illinois 10)
Low score wins the year long battle of prediction supremacy! (Difference of actual score versus predicted score. 10 point penalty for picking the losing team.)
(109) Buckeyeskickbuttocks' prediction: 45-6, Ohio State (28 + 4 = 32 + 77 last week)
(131) BB73's prediction: 34-13, Ohio State (17 + 3 = 20 + 111 last week)
(133) PrincessPeach's prediction: 38-13, Ohio State (21 + 3 = 24 + 109 last week)
(145) (125) Deety's prediction: 42-7, Ohio State (25 + 3 = 28 + 97 last week) DNP 1 week (MSU 20)
(148) daddyphatsac's prediction: 34-10, Ohio State (17 + 0 = 17 + 131 last week)
(149) BuckeyeRyn's prediction: 45-10, Ohio State (28 + 0 = 28 + 121 last week)
(149) Bucklion's prediction: 34-12, Ohio State (17 + 2 = 19 + 130 last week)
(153) OSUsushichic's prediction: 41-7, Ohio State (24 + 3 = 27 + 126 last week)
(156) 3yardsandacloud's prediction: 35-7, Ohio State (18 + 3 = 21 + 135 last week)
(157) (95) FKAGobucks877's prediction: 41-6, Ohio State (24 + 4 = 28 + 67 last week) DNP 3 weeks (BGSU 23, MSU 20, Minny 19)
(159) osugrad21's prediction: 42-10, Ohio State (25 + 0 = 25 + 134 last week)
(166) LordJeffBuck's prediction: 41-0, Ohio State (24 + 10 = 34 + 132 last week)
(167) (146) jwinslow's prediction: 41-7, Ohio State (24 + 3 = 27 + 119 last week) DNP 1 week (NIU 21)
(200) (135) DaddyBigBucks's prediction: 42-0, Ohio State (25 + 10 = 35 + 100 last week) DNP 2 weeks (NIU 21, Texas 44)
Adjusted scores for weeks missed. Participant must take the highest score from the week they missed:
(145) Deety 125 + MSU 20 = 108
(157) FKAGobucks877 95 + BGSU 23 + MSU 20 + Minny 19 = 157
(167) jwinslow 146 + NIU 21 = 167
(200) DaddyBigBucks 135 + NIU 21 + Texas 44 = 200
BuckeyeRyn's prediction: 34-10, Ohio State
Buckeyeskickbuttocks' prediction: 38-10, Ohio State
Bucklion's prediction: 31-10, Ohio State
DaddyBigBucks's prediction: 42-0, Ohio State
daddyphatsac's prediction: 38-6, Ohio State
Deety's prediction: 35-9, Ohio State
FKAGobucks877's prediction: 45-6, Ohio State
jwinslow's prediction: 34-6, Ohio State
LordJeffBuck's prediction: 33-13, Ohio State
osugrad21's prediction: 31-6, Ohio State
OSUsushichic's prediction: 31-10, Ohio State
PrincessPeach's prediction: 38-13, Ohio State
3yardsandacloud's prediction: 42-9, Ohio State
Last Week's Results (OSU 17 - Illinois 10)
Low score wins the year long battle of prediction supremacy! (Difference of actual score versus predicted score. 10 point penalty for picking the losing team.)
(109) Buckeyeskickbuttocks' prediction: 45-6, Ohio State (28 + 4 = 32 + 77 last week)
(131) BB73's prediction: 34-13, Ohio State (17 + 3 = 20 + 111 last week)
(133) PrincessPeach's prediction: 38-13, Ohio State (21 + 3 = 24 + 109 last week)
(145) (125) Deety's prediction: 42-7, Ohio State (25 + 3 = 28 + 97 last week) DNP 1 week (MSU 20)
(148) daddyphatsac's prediction: 34-10, Ohio State (17 + 0 = 17 + 131 last week)
(149) BuckeyeRyn's prediction: 45-10, Ohio State (28 + 0 = 28 + 121 last week)
(149) Bucklion's prediction: 34-12, Ohio State (17 + 2 = 19 + 130 last week)
(153) OSUsushichic's prediction: 41-7, Ohio State (24 + 3 = 27 + 126 last week)
(156) 3yardsandacloud's prediction: 35-7, Ohio State (18 + 3 = 21 + 135 last week)
(157) (95) FKAGobucks877's prediction: 41-6, Ohio State (24 + 4 = 28 + 67 last week) DNP 3 weeks (BGSU 23, MSU 20, Minny 19)
(159) osugrad21's prediction: 42-10, Ohio State (25 + 0 = 25 + 134 last week)
(166) LordJeffBuck's prediction: 41-0, Ohio State (24 + 10 = 34 + 132 last week)
(167) (146) jwinslow's prediction: 41-7, Ohio State (24 + 3 = 27 + 119 last week) DNP 1 week (NIU 21)
(200) (135) DaddyBigBucks's prediction: 42-0, Ohio State (25 + 10 = 35 + 100 last week) DNP 2 weeks (NIU 21, Texas 44)
Adjusted scores for weeks missed. Participant must take the highest score from the week they missed:
(145) Deety 125 + MSU 20 = 108
(157) FKAGobucks877 95 + BGSU 23 + MSU 20 + Minny 19 = 157
(167) jwinslow 146 + NIU 21 = 167
(200) DaddyBigBucks 135 + NIU 21 + Texas 44 = 200
