Assuming Hare is healthy.

Childers. I have no idea just a shot in the dark

Assuming everyone is healthy, the depth chart should be as follows:

1. Drew Hare
2. Ryan Graham
3. Anthony Maddie
4. Daniel Santacaterina

Childers looked pretty brutal in spring..:granted he's learning a new offense and everything though. Hope he turns out well but won't be the #2 this year. Giving the edge to Maddie since he's the upperclassman. He will get the first shot if Hare goes down


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Graham and it's not that close. Childers isn’t going to be anywhere near ready for a full season and Maddie hasn’t progressed. No one was more fearful of Graham having to play a meaningful snap last season than me, but he’s made strides this offseason. It seemed like the game slowed down for him this spring. He has confidence and experience. I expect him to take his largest step in growth this offseason. He has a lower ceiling than our last string of starting QBs of course but can “manage” well enough.

Watched the OSU replay last night on youtube to refresh my memory since I’m starting to jones pretty bad. Couple of observations:

First and foremost, expect our defense to keep us in every (regular season) game. For the first time since Coach Novak I’m more excited about this side of the ball than offense.

Hare was still inaccurate and over-throwing prior to injury so don’t lose your **** if he doesn’t look great this fall. If he’s been throwing with no sense of touch his entire life we shouldn’t expect that to change his final year. He is what he is. An efficient but flawed QB who had elusiveness when he needed it. Now that that’s changed expect more predetermined run plays from our stable of backs. Where I see him improving this year is on the mental side, such as making better decisions by throwing balls away instead of forcing it or taking sacks.

Fully expect Mister to be the feature back barring injuries. He will not make it through a full season. ACBR is a proven work horse with obvious big play limitations. Regardless, he is still the key to maintaining success for an entire season after QB play. Huff will be used for nothing more than the icing on the cake that he is.

Concerned most about our OL, although having coach U gives me a sense of renewed hope. We now have the size, but are missing out on the athleticism from my untrained eye. Hopefully technique will be there.

Turner & Saffold will be very busy with sweeps and shovel passes. People talk about how deep we are at WR, which is true. But even with #19 we don’t have anyone that can really stretch the defense and take over a game imo. We lost to OSU because we couldn’t throw the ball down field. Not to say anyone has receivers that can run away from that defense, but we lost that game because our offense was dominated on the outside, not the LOS. I was not as disappointed with Cole’s overall play calling (compared to this board) as I was the lack of aggressiveness on 3rd/4th and short. We can blame Cole for the lame 3rd down play calling and Carey needs a better sense of risk management. It was Meyer going for it on 4th and short instead of the 34.5 point underdog?? The OC isn’t going to change who we are, but expect 3rd down conversions to be better and pray Carey allows him to be more aggressive.

Defensive backfield & LBs are the team’s biggest strength by far. They cover up the undersized DL limitations that come with being a G5. I still think the DL is a decent bunch. We have 6 hungry non-freshmen DEs (not including Dunbar). Up the middle Jones, Lee & Thomas will be as good as we’ve ever been. They are experienced upper-classmen.

If the defense shows up we’ve shown we can play with anyone. That will not change next year MD.

Graham earned number 2 last season . Unless he's still hurt he's number 2. Santa at 3. Maddie as emergency.

love the positive outlook. hope your right

(07-19-2016 02:42 PM)Big Redd Wrote:  Graham and it's not that close. Childers isn’t going to be anywhere near ready for a full season and Maddie hasn’t progressed. No one was more fearful of Graham having to play a meaningful snap last season than me, but he’s made strides this offseason. It seemed like the game slowed down for him this spring. He has confidence and experience. I expect him to take his largest step in growth this offseason. He has a lower ceiling than our last string of starting QBs of course but can “manage” well enough.

Watched the OSU replay last night on youtube to refresh my memory since I’m starting to jones pretty bad. Couple of observations:

First and foremost, expect our defense to keep us in every (regular season) game. For the first time since Coach Novak I’m more excited about this side of the ball than offense.

Hare was still inaccurate and over-throwing prior to injury so don’t lose your **** if he doesn’t look great this fall. If he’s been throwing with no sense of touch his entire life we shouldn’t expect that to change his final year. He is what he is. An efficient but flawed QB who had elusiveness when he needed it. Now that that’s changed expect more predetermined run plays from our stable of backs. Where I see him improving this year is on the mental side, such as making better decisions by throwing balls away instead of forcing it or taking sacks.

Fully expect Mister to be the feature back barring injuries. He will not make it through a full season. ACBR is a proven work horse with obvious big play limitations. Regardless, he is still the key to maintaining success for an entire season after QB play. Huff will be used for nothing more than the icing on the cake that he is.

Concerned most about our OL, although having coach U gives me a sense of renewed hope. We now have the size, but are missing out on the athleticism from my untrained eye. Hopefully technique will be there.

Turner & Saffold will be very busy with sweeps and shovel passes. People talk about how deep we are at WR, which is true. But even with #19 we don’t have anyone that can really stretch the defense and take over a game imo. We lost to OSU because we couldn’t throw the ball down field. Not to say anyone has receivers that can run away from that defense, but we lost that game because our offense was dominated on the outside, not the LOS. I was not as disappointed with Cole’s overall play calling (compared to this board) as I was the lack of aggressiveness on 3rd/4th and short. We can blame Cole for the lame 3rd down play calling and Carey needs a better sense of risk management. It was Meyer going for it on 4th and short instead of the 34.5 point underdog?? The OC isn’t going to change who we are, but expect 3rd down conversions to be better and pray Carey allows him to be more aggressive.

Defensive backfield & LBs are the team’s biggest strength by far. They cover up the undersized DL limitations that come with being a G5. I still think the DL is a decent bunch. We have 6 hungry non-freshmen DEs (not including Dunbar). Up the middle Jones, Lee & Thomas will be as good as we’ve ever been. They are experienced upper-classmen.

If the defense shows up we’ve shown we can play with anyone. That will not change next year MD.

(07-19-2016 02:48 PM)BDB5yp Wrote:  Graham earned number 2 last season . Unless he's still hurt he's number 2. Santa at 3. Maddie as emergency.

I doubt Maddie will fall from the backup spot to the emergency QB.

(07-19-2016 03:11 PM)timxlydon Wrote:  

(07-19-2016 02:48 PM)BDB5yp Wrote:  Graham earned number 2 last season . Unless he's still hurt he's number 2. Santa at 3. Maddie as emergency.

I doubt Maddie will fall from the backup spot to the emergency QB.

If Santa has a shot at being #1 in 2017 he will get more reps than Maddie in 2016 as long as he's ready. If it's close I'd think the staff gives Santa the nod.

I really hope it's not Graham. NIU's success has been built on QB play. I don't think Graham has anywhere near the upside required to win this conference as a staring QB.

(07-19-2016 03:43 PM)Big Redd Wrote:  

(07-19-2016 03:11 PM)timxlydon Wrote:  

(07-19-2016 02:48 PM)BDB5yp Wrote:  Graham earned number 2 last season . Unless he's still hurt he's number 2. Santa at 3. Maddie as emergency.

I doubt Maddie will fall from the backup spot to the emergency QB.

If Santa has a shot at being #1 in 2017 he will get more reps than Maddie in 2016 as long as he's ready. If it's close I'd think the staff gives Santa the nod.

The coaching staff isn't handing out spots on the depth chart based on potential. I just can't see a RS Freshman overtaking a RS Senior. If Santa earns the spot, so be it. I haven't read or seen anything to say he will.

(07-19-2016 03:03 PM)142niu Wrote:  love the positive outlook. hope your right

(07-19-2016 02:42 PM)Big Redd Wrote:  Graham and it's not that close. Childers isn’t going to be anywhere near ready for a full season and Maddie hasn’t progressed. No one was more fearful of Graham having to play a meaningful snap last season than me, but he’s made strides this offseason. It seemed like the game slowed down for him this spring. He has confidence and experience. I expect him to take his largest step in growth this offseason. He has a lower ceiling than our last string of starting QBs of course but can “manage” well enough.

Watched the OSU replay last night on youtube to refresh my memory since I’m starting to jones pretty bad. Couple of observations:

First and foremost, expect our defense to keep us in every (regular season) game. For the first time since Coach Novak I’m more excited about this side of the ball than offense.

Hare was still inaccurate and over-throwing prior to injury so don’t lose your **** if he doesn’t look great this fall. If he’s been throwing with no sense of touch his entire life we shouldn’t expect that to change his final year. He is what he is. An efficient but flawed QB who had elusiveness when he needed it. Now that that’s changed expect more predetermined run plays from our stable of backs. Where I see him improving this year is on the mental side, such as making better decisions by throwing balls away instead of forcing it or taking sacks.

Fully expect Mister to be the feature back barring injuries. He will not make it through a full season. ACBR is a proven work horse with obvious big play limitations. Regardless, he is still the key to maintaining success for an entire season after QB play. Huff will be used for nothing more than the icing on the cake that he is.

Concerned most about our OL, although having coach U gives me a sense of renewed hope. We now have the size, but are missing out on the athleticism from my untrained eye. Hopefully technique will be there.

Turner & Saffold will be very busy with sweeps and shovel passes. People talk about how deep we are at WR, which is true. But even with #19 we don’t have anyone that can really stretch the defense and take over a game imo. We lost to OSU because we couldn’t throw the ball down field. Not to say anyone has receivers that can run away from that defense, but we lost that game because our offense was dominated on the outside, not the LOS. I was not as disappointed with Cole’s overall play calling (compared to this board) as I was the lack of aggressiveness on 3rd/4th and short. We can blame Cole for the lame 3rd down play calling and Carey needs a better sense of risk management. It was Meyer going for it on 4th and short instead of the 34.5 point underdog?? The OC isn’t going to change who we are, but expect 3rd down conversions to be better and pray Carey allows him to be more aggressive.

Defensive backfield & LBs are the team’s biggest strength by far. They cover up the undersized DL limitations that come with being a G5. I still think the DL is a decent bunch. We have 6 hungry non-freshmen DEs (not including Dunbar). Up the middle Jones, Lee & Thomas will be as good as we’ve ever been. They are experienced upper-classmen.

If the defense shows up we’ve shown we can play with anyone. That will not change next year MD.

agree with a ton of this. But Buirge and Brown will see more than Saffold in the sweep game. I think Maddie has a shot at the #2 but trust me Hare is ready !! Mister is a beast and jones should see more than Huff !!

(07-19-2016 04:00 PM)7 Wrote:  I really hope it's not Graham. NIU's success has been built on QB play. I don't think Graham has anywhere near the upside required to win this conference as a staring QB.

This is true

(07-19-2016 09:38 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(07-19-2016 04:00 PM)7 Wrote:  I really hope it's not Graham. NIU's success has been built on QB play. I don't think Graham has anywhere near the upside required to win this conference as a staring QB.

This is true

Did everyone forget the Western Michigan game and the Toledo game? For a back QB to come in and get big wins against quality opponents is no small task. He was good enough until he got hurt. He should be better this year with real in game experience.

I Graham is the backup I see that as a good thing. We know what we have with Maddie, if he jumps him it's a sign of his development.

I think he can be more than serviceable, as proven, to win us games.

Hare is going to have a big season. Everyone wants to talk about his touch but it was much improved year over year and he was locked in before he went down.

Santa and Childers have a whole season and another off-season to make huge strides....we didn't burn Santa for a reason I'm hoping.

(07-20-2016 07:35 PM)scottiep12 Wrote:  I Graham is the backup I see that as a good thing. We know what we have with Maddie, if he jumps him it's a sign of his development.

I think he can be more than serviceable, as proven, to win us games.

Hare is going to have a big season. Everyone wants to talk about his touch but it was much improved year over year and he was locked in before he went down.

Santa and Childers have a whole season and another off-season to make huge strides....we didn't burn Santa for a reason I'm hoping.

I don't think NIU has a QB capable of winning the conference after Hare, it certainly should be an open competition for the positioning behind Hare, whether that be as 2nd string or starter if Hare can't go.

Not gonna lie, I'm pretty surprised we didn't pick up another QB transfer from a Power 5 school that fits our offense and is stuck down the depth chart after Collins bailed. With the uncertainty after Hare it would have been the perfect time to transfer for a good dual threat guy


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(07-20-2016 07:57 PM)NIU32 Wrote:  Not gonna lie, I'm pretty surprised we didn't pick up another QB transfer from a Power 5 school that fits our offense and is stuck down the depth chart after Collins bailed. With the uncertainty after Hare it would have been the perfect time to transfer for a good dual threat guy


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Seth Collins would have had to sit out a year regardless. That why that kid out of Detroit committed.

(07-20-2016 08:32 PM)BDB5yp Wrote:  

(07-20-2016 07:57 PM)NIU32 Wrote:  Not gonna lie, I'm pretty surprised we didn't pick up another QB transfer from a Power 5 school that fits our offense and is stuck down the depth chart after Collins bailed. With the uncertainty after Hare it would have been the perfect time to transfer for a good dual threat guy


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Seth Collins would have had to sit out a year regardless. That why that kid out of Detroit committed.

Exactly. That's why it would have been perfect to transfer this year. They could have sat out Hare's senior year since he's gonna start anyways and been ready to compete 2017.

However, yes to your point this thread is about 2016 not 17 so my bad


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I am excited to see a healthy Santa. He has had a year to learn and physically develop. I wonder if he was healthy, if he would have played instead of Graham?