Greetings from Chicago. I am a Northwestern University (NU) alumnus and a big college football fan. We are looking forward to the Gator Bowl, and wish you the best during the holidays and the game (except a bowl victory, of course).
I'll post some comments on our plucky Wildcats and be happy to respond to any questions about the team.
We finished the regular season 9-3--an unexpected win total during a season many considered to be a "rebuilding" year. But an improved defense and an unimposing schedule enabled the Wildcats to win 9 games for the 2nd time since 2008 and make its fifth straight bowl appearance. This may sound unremarkable, but in the context of the history of the Wildcats it is a significant achievement as the program recovers from the Dark Ages, a period from 1964 (Ara Parseghian's last year) through the late 1980s when the NU administration was openly hostile toward athletics. From 1964 to 1994, the program had two winning seasons before magically going to the Rose Bowl in 1995. So playing in its fifth-straight bowl game is a significant milestone for the Wildcats, as its current crop of seniors have seen postseason games in every season of their entire collegiate careers--a first at NU.
Getting to 9 wins was a matter of winning winnable games while losing heartbreakers to better teams, including a Hail Mary-induced overtime loss at Michigan, a fourth quarter secondary meltdown at home against Nebraska, and a fatigue-induced fourth-quarter defensive collapse against Penn State when our offense morphed into a 3-and-out machine. Our most notable wins were against Syracuse, Vandy, and Michigan State. Nothing to crow about, but some points given for consistency throughout the season.
DEFENSE
The 2012 team has generally been solid but uspectacular in all three aspects of the game. The defense has been very solid against the run, thanks largely to disciplined line play and solid linebacking. Our tackles do not get upfield exceptionally well, but are stout and maintain their gaps well. Names to watch (if you like watching tackles) are Sean McEvily and Brian Arnfelt. Our ends are better pass rushers who have better days ahead of them, but have lapsed at times in positioning (coaches have been quick to correct this). Names to watch include Tyler Scott and Deonte Gibson.
Linebacking is solid but unspectacular. Mike Damien Proby is a tackling machine. David Nwabuisi had 2 pick-sixes in the last 2 games, but the real playmaker is Chi Chi Ariguzo, a sophomore who always seems to be around the ball.
The secondary has struggled, and was implicated in late losses to Penn State, Michigan, and Nebraska. Our best corner is sophomore Nick Van Hoose, who has good cover skills and all-conference potential. He has been a real find. Other corners like Dugar, Evans, and Jones play decent technique but tend have to plays made against them. It has been a source of frustration all season. Our safeties are young and talented, but can be exposed. Ibraheim Campbell, another sophomore, is a hammer. Traveon Henry and Jared Carpenter will also play a lot. They need to improve their coverage skills.
OFFENSE
Unlike recent Wildcat teams, the offense is a run-first unit that thrives off the read-option skills of QB Kain Colter, a dual-threat guy who is more dangerous with his feet than his arm. He is acceptable in the short passing game but downfield passing is a work in progress, though this has improved lately. You likely will see another QB, RS sophomore Trevor Siemian, who is more a pocket style passer with a strong arm. He throws a beautiful deep sideline route and is getting better on deep outs and deep seam routes, but he is still learning to read coverages and struggles with his progressions. When he learns to read defenses, I think he will be very good and terrorize a lot of B1G secondaries--hopefully next season (if not January 1).
Venric Mark is our primary TB, a 5'8" speedster who is surprisingly tough between the tackles. As you might expect, he has worn down a bit as the season has progressed, but should be healthy for the Gator Bowl. He is very quick with good vision, balance and deceptive power. He is a threat to break a long run or a long punt return. His backup is Mike Trumpy, more a one-move power back with decent straight line speed, very good feet and balance, and is also a good blocker and receiver. Had it not been for a torn ACL in October 2011, he would be a very good back in the B1G.
Our receivers are a developing lot. Christian Jones is the most explosive of the group and is emerging as a downfield threat. Demetrius Fields, a senior, is a possession type receiver with good hands and good route skils. The wildcard my be freshman Dan GIANT CALVES Vitale, who has emerged as a bit of a playmaker who poses matchup problems for linebackers.
Our experienced offensive line has been solid, though more effective in run-blocking than in pass protection. Colter's mobility has saved them more than a few sacks. The best lineman is center Brandon Vitabile.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Our placekicking was exceptionally good this year, as Jeff Budzien missed only one kick (52 YD FG against Nebraska that likely would have won the game) all season. Punter Brandon Williams has been good enough, though he has been inconsistent. Venric Mark, our returner, is a real threat. Kick coverage has been surprisingly good, as this unit has plagued Wildcat teams in the past.
SUMMARY
I have a hard time assessing this team. They won 9 games, but did not beat anyone of real consequence. Sagarin rates them around 30, which sounds right to me. They were very close in their 3 losses, but a lot of teams can claim that. Winning games is all about making plays, and this team, though solid, lacks big playmakers on defense and needs to develop the ability to make more plays in the passing game. I seem them as a work in progress with many younger players in the two-deep.
But I can guarantee you that the Cats will make it interesting. They may strike early, get out to a big lead, and then go stale and give it up. Or they may shoot themselves in the foot, fall behind big, and charge back into the game. They don't make a lot of mistakes, but need to make more plays to become considered a top 20 team, IMO.
Thanks for reading. My apologies for the length.
I'll post some comments on our plucky Wildcats and be happy to respond to any questions about the team.
We finished the regular season 9-3--an unexpected win total during a season many considered to be a "rebuilding" year. But an improved defense and an unimposing schedule enabled the Wildcats to win 9 games for the 2nd time since 2008 and make its fifth straight bowl appearance. This may sound unremarkable, but in the context of the history of the Wildcats it is a significant achievement as the program recovers from the Dark Ages, a period from 1964 (Ara Parseghian's last year) through the late 1980s when the NU administration was openly hostile toward athletics. From 1964 to 1994, the program had two winning seasons before magically going to the Rose Bowl in 1995. So playing in its fifth-straight bowl game is a significant milestone for the Wildcats, as its current crop of seniors have seen postseason games in every season of their entire collegiate careers--a first at NU.
Getting to 9 wins was a matter of winning winnable games while losing heartbreakers to better teams, including a Hail Mary-induced overtime loss at Michigan, a fourth quarter secondary meltdown at home against Nebraska, and a fatigue-induced fourth-quarter defensive collapse against Penn State when our offense morphed into a 3-and-out machine. Our most notable wins were against Syracuse, Vandy, and Michigan State. Nothing to crow about, but some points given for consistency throughout the season.
DEFENSE
The 2012 team has generally been solid but uspectacular in all three aspects of the game. The defense has been very solid against the run, thanks largely to disciplined line play and solid linebacking. Our tackles do not get upfield exceptionally well, but are stout and maintain their gaps well. Names to watch (if you like watching tackles) are Sean McEvily and Brian Arnfelt. Our ends are better pass rushers who have better days ahead of them, but have lapsed at times in positioning (coaches have been quick to correct this). Names to watch include Tyler Scott and Deonte Gibson.
Linebacking is solid but unspectacular. Mike Damien Proby is a tackling machine. David Nwabuisi had 2 pick-sixes in the last 2 games, but the real playmaker is Chi Chi Ariguzo, a sophomore who always seems to be around the ball.
The secondary has struggled, and was implicated in late losses to Penn State, Michigan, and Nebraska. Our best corner is sophomore Nick Van Hoose, who has good cover skills and all-conference potential. He has been a real find. Other corners like Dugar, Evans, and Jones play decent technique but tend have to plays made against them. It has been a source of frustration all season. Our safeties are young and talented, but can be exposed. Ibraheim Campbell, another sophomore, is a hammer. Traveon Henry and Jared Carpenter will also play a lot. They need to improve their coverage skills.
OFFENSE
Unlike recent Wildcat teams, the offense is a run-first unit that thrives off the read-option skills of QB Kain Colter, a dual-threat guy who is more dangerous with his feet than his arm. He is acceptable in the short passing game but downfield passing is a work in progress, though this has improved lately. You likely will see another QB, RS sophomore Trevor Siemian, who is more a pocket style passer with a strong arm. He throws a beautiful deep sideline route and is getting better on deep outs and deep seam routes, but he is still learning to read coverages and struggles with his progressions. When he learns to read defenses, I think he will be very good and terrorize a lot of B1G secondaries--hopefully next season (if not January 1).
Venric Mark is our primary TB, a 5'8" speedster who is surprisingly tough between the tackles. As you might expect, he has worn down a bit as the season has progressed, but should be healthy for the Gator Bowl. He is very quick with good vision, balance and deceptive power. He is a threat to break a long run or a long punt return. His backup is Mike Trumpy, more a one-move power back with decent straight line speed, very good feet and balance, and is also a good blocker and receiver. Had it not been for a torn ACL in October 2011, he would be a very good back in the B1G.
Our receivers are a developing lot. Christian Jones is the most explosive of the group and is emerging as a downfield threat. Demetrius Fields, a senior, is a possession type receiver with good hands and good route skils. The wildcard my be freshman Dan GIANT CALVES Vitale, who has emerged as a bit of a playmaker who poses matchup problems for linebackers.
Our experienced offensive line has been solid, though more effective in run-blocking than in pass protection. Colter's mobility has saved them more than a few sacks. The best lineman is center Brandon Vitabile.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Our placekicking was exceptionally good this year, as Jeff Budzien missed only one kick (52 YD FG against Nebraska that likely would have won the game) all season. Punter Brandon Williams has been good enough, though he has been inconsistent. Venric Mark, our returner, is a real threat. Kick coverage has been surprisingly good, as this unit has plagued Wildcat teams in the past.
SUMMARY
I have a hard time assessing this team. They won 9 games, but did not beat anyone of real consequence. Sagarin rates them around 30, which sounds right to me. They were very close in their 3 losses, but a lot of teams can claim that. Winning games is all about making plays, and this team, though solid, lacks big playmakers on defense and needs to develop the ability to make more plays in the passing game. I seem them as a work in progress with many younger players in the two-deep.
But I can guarantee you that the Cats will make it interesting. They may strike early, get out to a big lead, and then go stale and give it up. Or they may shoot themselves in the foot, fall behind big, and charge back into the game. They don't make a lot of mistakes, but need to make more plays to become considered a top 20 team, IMO.
Thanks for reading. My apologies for the length.
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