The Good News:
Northwestern's offense and defense are terrible in 2021. No seriously. These units might make up Fitz's least talented and least experienced units since the Huskers have been in the Big Ten. They can't really throw the football. And while Evan Hull is 2nd in the Big Ten in rushing, 72% of his rushing total came against Indiana State and Ohio U.
- This is a bad offense. They aren't explosive. Their receivers are tiny, without elite quickness, and their QB play has been awful so far this season.
Defensively, Northwestern basically has 12 new faces that make up their top 15 defenders. In two games vs. Power 5 programs, MSU and Duke, the Wildcats are allowing more than 9 yards per play.
The Bad News:
Northwestern has the top punt return team in the Big Ten. In fact they have 3 punt returners averaging more than 10 yards per return. As a unit, they're averaging more than 18 yards per punt return. Brandon Joseph, their only true NFL prospect for the 2022 draft, has 2 returns of more than 50 yards.. without actually scoring a touchdown.
Their punter, Derek Adams is not a boomer like the kid from MSU or Illinois, but he's consistently in the 42 to 50 yard net range and has a LOT of work this season already... ha.
- What would a game with Northwestern be if penalties weren't a topic? Northwestern has always had an uncanny talent for forcing opponents to commit penalties. There is something to the reality that Northwestern is JUST smarter than everyone else. In 2021, their opponents are committing only 2 more penalties per game than the Cats, but the yardage is substantial Their opponents are drawing almost 3 more personal foul or 15 yard penalties per game.
- Northwestern's DE's have been pretty awful against the run this season. They can't hold the edge for anything. But they have been pretty good attacking the pocket as pass rushers vs bad opponents. How is that relevant against Nebraska? Adetomiwa Adebawore and Jeffery Pooler are going to really go hard vs. Nebraska's tackles. I don't know how Benhart and Corcoran would compare with the likes of Indiana State or Ohio U's tackles, but I feel confident in saying that both Duke and Michigan State have better pass protection than the Huskers.
Northwestern's offense and defense are terrible in 2021. No seriously. These units might make up Fitz's least talented and least experienced units since the Huskers have been in the Big Ten. They can't really throw the football. And while Evan Hull is 2nd in the Big Ten in rushing, 72% of his rushing total came against Indiana State and Ohio U.
- This is a bad offense. They aren't explosive. Their receivers are tiny, without elite quickness, and their QB play has been awful so far this season.
Defensively, Northwestern basically has 12 new faces that make up their top 15 defenders. In two games vs. Power 5 programs, MSU and Duke, the Wildcats are allowing more than 9 yards per play.
The Bad News:
Northwestern has the top punt return team in the Big Ten. In fact they have 3 punt returners averaging more than 10 yards per return. As a unit, they're averaging more than 18 yards per punt return. Brandon Joseph, their only true NFL prospect for the 2022 draft, has 2 returns of more than 50 yards.. without actually scoring a touchdown.
Their punter, Derek Adams is not a boomer like the kid from MSU or Illinois, but he's consistently in the 42 to 50 yard net range and has a LOT of work this season already... ha.
- What would a game with Northwestern be if penalties weren't a topic? Northwestern has always had an uncanny talent for forcing opponents to commit penalties. There is something to the reality that Northwestern is JUST smarter than everyone else. In 2021, their opponents are committing only 2 more penalties per game than the Cats, but the yardage is substantial Their opponents are drawing almost 3 more personal foul or 15 yard penalties per game.
- Northwestern's DE's have been pretty awful against the run this season. They can't hold the edge for anything. But they have been pretty good attacking the pocket as pass rushers vs bad opponents. How is that relevant against Nebraska? Adetomiwa Adebawore and Jeffery Pooler are going to really go hard vs. Nebraska's tackles. I don't know how Benhart and Corcoran would compare with the likes of Indiana State or Ohio U's tackles, but I feel confident in saying that both Duke and Michigan State have better pass protection than the Huskers.
