7 is probably right on the D. I expect a positive surprise on the Dline. IF we get a fr corner that can play and the vets don't play stupid, we will be fine. Love to know how the Qbs are doing this spring as well as any Redshirt Fr in particular the WRs.

If Santa starts I would throw at him all game long.

(03-27-2014 10:43 PM)huskie1stdown Wrote:  If Santa starts I would throw at him all game long.

If you are an OC and had done your homework, the wheel route would have to be part of your game plan against us. It worked all year long regardless of the personnel. In fact, Idaho used this play repeatedly scoring twice on the guy everybody is crying over...Lemon. Our scheme last year made us vulnerable to this play because it requires man coverage by a backer on the opponents scat back. The offense typically put strength to the wide side of the field causing a defensive adjustment by the safties; then they clear the zone by running a post route by the remaining weakside WR. The back would release to the weak side flat and turn upfield with man coverage by the backer. Name the backer who could run with a Dri Archer type player down the sideline. If this play has a chance to develop (no pass rush) it is money. Lemon, Santa, Peyton all got beat by this play. How do you defend it? Disrupt the release of the back to the flat, and most importantly get a pass rush forcing the ball to be released earlier. Better yet...change the defensive scheme.

So strange that the 2013 defense gradually seemed to improve as season progressed then was run over like road kill vrs BGSU and almost as badly vrs USU.

Third and long rarely seemed like an obstacle for opponents on Offense vrs NIU D.

VRS BSU, BGSU and USU Huskies were picked apart over the middle like a leftover Thanksgiving turkey on the Friday after .

BTW: I was not the first nor a genius to post here after EIU game that their QB was a big time player. "G" gettiing high marks in NFL from talking heads.

Our D line certainly poses some concerns.....wondering who will step up to fill the void. A "lock for 10 wins"? I don't think so. As things stand now, I see 9-3 record as best case scenario

(03-28-2014 04:33 PM)niucyberdawg Wrote:  So strange that the 2013 defense gradually seemed to improve as season progressed then was run over like road kill vrs BGSU and almost as badly vrs USU.

Third and long rarely seemed like an obstacle for opponents on Offense vrs NIU D.

VRS BSU, BGSU and USU Huskies were picked apart over the middle like a leftover Thanksgiving turkey on the Friday after .

BTW: I was not the first nor a genius to post here after EIU game that their QB was a big time player. "G" gettiing high marks in NFL from talking heads.

I never that he was as good as he is being talked up, possible 1st rounder and top 3 rounds for sure. Everyone talks of his "lightning fast quick release", I dunno....???? To anyone who KNOWS about throwing, does he have a great release? I am of the opinion there is a QB in this draft who will go late and make an impact. (not JL)

(03-28-2014 06:52 PM)NIU05 Wrote:  

(03-28-2014 04:33 PM)niucyberdawg Wrote:  So strange that the 2013 defense gradually seemed to improve as season progressed then was run over like road kill vrs BGSU and almost as badly vrs USU.

Third and long rarely seemed like an obstacle for opponents on Offense vrs NIU D.

VRS BSU, BGSU and USU Huskies were picked apart over the middle like a leftover Thanksgiving turkey on the Friday after .

BTW: I was not the first nor a genius to post here after EIU game that their QB was a big time player. "G" gettiing high marks in NFL from talking heads.

I never that he was as good as he is being talked up, possible 1st rounder and top 3 rounds for sure. Everyone talks of his "lightning fast quick release", I dunno....???? To anyone who KNOWS about throwing, does he have a great release? I am of the opinion there is a QB in this draft who will go late and make an impact. (not JL)

What's with your upside down flag?

(03-29-2014 12:28 PM)DoubleHuskie84 Wrote:  

(03-28-2014 06:52 PM)NIU05 Wrote:  

(03-28-2014 04:33 PM)niucyberdawg Wrote:  So strange that the 2013 defense gradually seemed to improve as season progressed then was run over like road kill vrs BGSU and almost as badly vrs USU.

Third and long rarely seemed like an obstacle for opponents on Offense vrs NIU D.

VRS BSU, BGSU and USU Huskies were picked apart over the middle like a leftover Thanksgiving turkey on the Friday after .

BTW: I was not the first nor a genius to post here after EIU game that their QB was a big time player. "G" gettiing high marks in NFL from talking heads.

I never that he was as good as he is being talked up, possible 1st rounder and top 3 rounds for sure. Everyone talks of his "lightning fast quick release", I dunno....???? To anyone who KNOWS about throwing, does he have a great release? I am of the opinion there is a QB in this draft who will go late and make an impact. (not JL)

What's with your upside down flag?

Section 8a of the United States Flag Code states, "The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property."

Y'all are crazy saying the defense will be better

We lost Dline and secondary

It will get better through the year but they will need to find those players that will step up. And if you are praising Santacanterina as a star, that is a LB that if he is our starter I have to worry!

Also we need to thank our cake schedule and conference schedule. If we were in a bigger conference or had a tougher schedule we would be lucky for a bowl

I say 8-4 or 7-5 this season

I'm not understanding "the D will be better" comments either. It's going to be similar to last year overall.

It all starts with the DL and just don't see much there.

Would love to be wrong but "note to self"... Take the over.

pause and consider:

If D is same or weaker than last year and the O will not likely put up so many points per game with ease with a green QB - especially early in the season, how the hell do we get to 9 or 10 W's in 2014????


Yes- Hope SPRINGS eternal but I am always a Doubting Thomas...who was Doubting Thomas anyways?

EDIT: Never mind. Wikii just informed me and it's a skeptic of a very springtime and religious origin.

(03-30-2014 09:23 AM)yesman815 Wrote:  Y'all are crazy saying the defense will be better

We lost Dline and secondary

It will get better through the year but they will need to find those players that will step up. And if you are praising Santacanterina as a star, that is a LB that if he is our starter I have to worry!

Also we need to thank our cake schedule and conference schedule. If we were in a bigger conference or had a tougher schedule we would be lucky for a bowl

I say 8-4 or 7-5 this season

Than you have been worrying for the last three seasons....Santa has made starts his Feshman, Soph and Junior years. If the season starts to go downhill look for Santa, Durante and even Bass to have their playing time significantly reduced. They are some of the few remaining Kill/Doeren players. Carey will start to play the kids he recruited.

(03-30-2014 06:09 PM)Djud Wrote:  

(03-30-2014 09:23 AM)yesman815 Wrote:  Y'all are crazy saying the defense will be better

We lost Dline and secondary

It will get better through the year but they will need to find those players that will step up. And if you are praising Santacanterina as a star, that is a LB that if he is our starter I have to worry!

Also we need to thank our cake schedule and conference schedule. If we were in a bigger conference or had a tougher schedule we would be lucky for a bowl

I say 8-4 or 7-5 this season

Than you have been worrying for the last three seasons....Santa has made starts his Feshman, Soph and Junior years. If the season starts to go downhill look for Santa, Durante and even Bass to have their playing time significantly reduced. They are some of the few remaining Kill/Doeren players. Carey will start to play the kids he recruited.

Durante and bass are the two best defenders NIU brings back. No way either of them sit.

I agree with many, I think two freshman start at CB and will be pretty solid once MAC play begins. They will take lumps at first. I think Durante and Allen start at safety and will be okay. Not as good as Ward, but better for the MAC.

If the linebackers learn how to defend the pass better in man to man situations they will improve. I trust them to be good run defenders.

Biggest question is d line. They seem to have the skill to rush the passer, but they lack size. I also question the ability to stuff the run and if they are going to play hard every down.

The defense will play better as the season goes on obviously. With 4 games that are gimmes, a handful that NIU will be favorites in, and a few toss ups, I think NIU has enough offensive strength to overcome these deficiencies.

7 wins for sure, if the defense plays better than expected, you could see an undefeated MAC season.

How does any MAC team get a good defense, when the seniors graduate only to be replaced by inexperienced freshmen?

(03-30-2014 06:09 PM)Djud Wrote:  

(03-30-2014 09:23 AM)yesman815 Wrote:  Y'all are crazy saying the defense will be better

We lost Dline and secondary

It will get better through the year but they will need to find those players that will step up. And if you are praising Santacanterina as a star, that is a LB that if he is our starter I have to worry!

Also we need to thank our cake schedule and conference schedule. If we were in a bigger conference or had a tougher schedule we would be lucky for a bowl

I say 8-4 or 7-5 this season

Than you have been worrying for the last three seasons....Santa has made starts his Feshman, Soph and Junior years. If the season starts to go downhill look for Santa, Durante and even Bass to have their playing time significantly reduced. They are some of the few remaining Kill/Doeren players. Carey will start to play the kids he recruited.

I think Santa gets a bad rap, you could see the defense struggle without him in that Akron game after the Purdue injury.

(04-03-2014 12:21 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(03-30-2014 06:09 PM)Djud Wrote:  

(03-30-2014 09:23 AM)yesman815 Wrote:  Y'all are crazy saying the defense will be better

We lost Dline and secondary

It will get better through the year but they will need to find those players that will step up. And if you are praising Santacanterina as a star, that is a LB that if he is our starter I have to worry!

Also we need to thank our cake schedule and conference schedule. If we were in a bigger conference or had a tougher schedule we would be lucky for a bowl

I say 8-4 or 7-5 this season

Than you have been worrying for the last three seasons....Santa has made starts his Feshman, Soph and Junior years. If the season starts to go downhill look for Santa, Durante and even Bass to have their playing time significantly reduced. They are some of the few remaining Kill/Doeren players. Carey will start to play the kids he recruited.

I think Santa gets a bad rap, you could see the defense struggle without him in that Akron game after the Purdue injury.

That may be true, but he also had some horrible moments. The MACC was a prime example.

He is a key part of the defense, but that doesn't mean he is a good defender, or a horrible defender. I think he plays mainly for his "passing defense" and I really don't think he's that good at that. That means there is a drop off from the others.

They need to recruit better outside linebackers for passing downs. I think the other OLB are all good run defenders which Santa isn't. So they need to find a better skill set at that position.

(04-03-2014 12:59 PM)HuskieJWN Wrote:  

(04-03-2014 12:21 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(03-30-2014 06:09 PM)Djud Wrote:  

(03-30-2014 09:23 AM)yesman815 Wrote:  Y'all are crazy saying the defense will be better

We lost Dline and secondary

It will get better through the year but they will need to find those players that will step up. And if you are praising Santacanterina as a star, that is a LB that if he is our starter I have to worry!

Also we need to thank our cake schedule and conference schedule. If we were in a bigger conference or had a tougher schedule we would be lucky for a bowl

I say 8-4 or 7-5 this season

Than you have been worrying for the last three seasons....Santa has made starts his Feshman, Soph and Junior years. If the season starts to go downhill look for Santa, Durante and even Bass to have their playing time significantly reduced. They are some of the few remaining Kill/Doeren players. Carey will start to play the kids he recruited.

I think Santa gets a bad rap, you could see the defense struggle without him in that Akron game after the Purdue injury.

That may be true, but he also had some horrible moments. The MACC was a prime example.

He is a key part of the defense, but that doesn't mean he is a good defender, or a horrible defender. I think he plays mainly for his "passing defense" and I really don't think he's that good at that. That means there is a drop off from the others.

They need to recruit better outside linebackers for passing downs. I think the other OLB are all good run defenders which Santa isn't. So they need to find a better skill set at that position.

If you were a player on the Huskie defense you had a bad day that day.

Santa got beat time after time against Wenning and Ball State. Several times they converted a first down after a short out route that he couldn't stop.

(04-03-2014 04:06 PM)KMR_NIU_13 Wrote:  Santa got beat time after time against Wenning and Ball State. Several times they converted a first down after a short out route that he couldn't stop.

Who didn't Wenning beat? Unless you get pressure right away on Wenning, he picks you apart. That is what made him one of the best if not the best QB in the MAC, and honestly in the nation.

(04-03-2014 04:06 PM)KMR_NIU_13 Wrote:  Santa got beat time after time against Wenning and Ball State. Several times they converted a first down after a short out route that he couldn't stop.

I am awful when it comes to understanding what coverage is what and reading if someone does something well or not but...is there any chance that the D play call put him in a bad position time and time again?

Like Doeren always said he wanted to know what our weakness was on D then do whatever he could to hide it. Maybe our D coaches did a poor job of hiding our weakness.