Wildcat Woes

This will be the first in our 11 part series previewing the 2008 Big 10 Football Season. Today we take Northwestern and coach Pat Fitzgerald to task.

The maintenance crew at Ryan Field will be working overtime to repair the lights in the scoreboard this fall, as the offense promises to light it up while the defense struggles to pick up the slack for departing seniors.

Offense:

With their leading passer, rusher and receivers coming back for the fall, the biggest change Northwestern will be looking at this year is the return of the no-huddle. After a nearly decade long absence from Evanston, third year head coach Pat Fitzgerald has resurrected this fast paced option with the hopes of electrifying an offense which is stymied by a lack of incoming talent and the inability to find the end zone.

Senior quarterback C.J. Buscher has proven to be an effective weapon in spreading around the ball, receiving Big 10 Offensive Player of the Week honors twice last year. Although both times he light it up against underpowered defenses (Minnesota’s and Michigan State), he knows how to use his aerial weapons. Converted QB’s are a specialty of Pat Fitzgerald, and he uses the dynamicism of Andrew Brewer and Eric Peterman to confound defenses with a variety of looks.

This year promises to yield solid offensive production from this veteran crew of athletes.

Defense:

Defensive leaders in tackles and sacks have both moved on to the real world for the Wildcats, and their replacements will have a tough time filling their shoes. After graduating Middle Linebacker Adam Kadela, Senior Mike Dineard will be thrown into fire after recording not a single tackle his entire college career.

The defensive line looks to have strong depth coming out of spring practice, but a crew who recorded one of the fewest sack counts in the Big 10 in 2007 will need to kick it in gear if their secondary are to have any chance at stalling the high powered spread offenses of the Big 10. Defensive line pressure is the key for stalling the spread, and recycling what didn’t work before isn’t a good sign.

With no new major talent pickups in the 2008 recruiting class, this crew of leftovers will be hard pressed to prevent their Big 10 challenges from turning into shootouts.

Rusty’s Ridiculous Prediction: 4-8 overall, 1-7 in the Big 10.

After posting an embarrassing loss against Duke at home last year, the Wildcats will be hard pressed to record a W when on the road. The other three non-conference games look to be manageable, but the Big 10 schedule is going to be a lesson in pain. Last year’s wins came on the backs of Indiana, Michigan State and Minnesota. With Michigan State retooled after a year of upheaval from coaching changes and Minnesota including the Wildcats in the Metrodome Farewell tour, these look like two victories which could be converted to L’s. Indiana looks to be the only sure thing on their schedule, and the 30,000 screaming faithful packing Ryan Field should be an overwhelming advantage (sarcasm should be noted).

Overall, with a resurgent Wisconsin and Illinois, coupled with Minnesota and DickRod cherry picking their homegrown talent, the future doesn't bode well for the most intelligent players in the Big 10.