The Strength of the Northwestern Defense

On3 imageby:Freddie Maggard12/29/17
[caption id="attachment_234242" align="alignnone" width="975"] Picture of Paddy Fisher by Inside NU[/caption] Northwestern ranks tenth in the nation by allowing 111 rushing yards per game. As you’ve most likely read or heard by now, the Purple Wildcats are a fundamentally sound team with a stingy rush defense. Like most stout Ds, the middle of the field is normally a team strength; NU is no different. Here are four players that will operate between the hashes and could play a significant role in Friday’s Music City Bowl:   42 Mike Linebacker Paddy Fisher -- 6’4, 250 pounds. From Katy, Texas -- Led all FBS first-year players with 110 tackles to include 62 solo stops -- Second Team All-Big Ten -- Big Ten Freshman Defensive Player of the Year -- Led the Big Ten with 4 forced fumbles; good enough for 7th in the nation -- Registered 8 tackles for loss -- Posted four double digit tackle games. Had 18 vs. Duke and 19 vs. Michigan State -- Considered by many to be the top freshman defensive player in the nation -- Plays downhill. Physical linebacker with excellent speed for a player of that size
[caption id="attachment_234241" align="alignnone" width="975"] Picture of Nate Hall by Inside NU[/caption]

32 Sam Linebacker Nate Hall

-- 6’2, 230-pound junior from Toledo, Ohio -- 2nd on team with 79 tackles -- Led the Big Ten and ranked 13th nationally by registering 16.5 tackles for loss -- Accounted for 11 tackles and 3.5 TFLs vs. Maryland -- Recorded 5 quarterback sacks and 6 pass breakups
[caption id="attachment_234240" align="alignnone" width="975"] Picture of Kyle Queiro by Northwestern Athletics[/caption]

21 Safety Kyle Queiro

-- 6’2, 220-pound senior from Verona, New Jersey -- Had 58 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss in 2017 -- Led the team with 8 pass breakups and 4 interceptions -- Career-high 9 tackles vs. Duke
[caption id="attachment_234239" align="alignnone" width="975"] Pic of Godwin Igwebuike by Inside NU[/caption]

16 Safety Godwin Igwebuike

-- 6’0, 212-pound senior from Pickerington, Ohio. -- 2nd Team All-Big Ten. -- Led NU defensive backs and finished 3rd on the team with 72 tackles. -- Had career high 14 stops vs. Duke. -- Recorded 2 interceptions. -- Excels in run-support.

Why is this important?

Northwestern utilizes a four-man front. This means that on most downs, there will be two defensive tackles and two defensive ends that start the play in a three-point stance (hand in the dirt). Four defensive linemen protect its inside linebackers (Fisher and Hall) by taking up space in assigned gaps and occupying blockers. Paddy Fisher is considered by many that I trust to be the best freshman defensive player in the nation. Fellow linebacker Nate Hall’s 16.5 tackles for loss is notable and indicates that the junior is a sideline-to-sideline defender with top-level speed. Fisher and Hall will be tasked to stop or slow Benny Snell. Notice the size of safeties Godwin Igwebuike and Kyle Queiro; both are 6’2 or taller, 210-plus and are prototypical Big Ten, back-end defenders that are physical against the run. Queiro and Igwebuike will also be focused on immediate run support in order to stop Benny Snell. NU will often times load the box and dare Kentucky to pass the football. All four of the aforementioned defensive players are sure tacklers. This could pose a problem for Kentucky and force Eddie Gran to be creative in his game plan. [mobile_ad]

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2024-03-28