Which team is better?
I think the 2022 offense has better balance but the 2012 defense had more experience.
Coaching goes to 2022.
So this year's team might be better.

Unless the defense takes a massive, massive leap forward it’ll be 2012. Although the 2012 defense made a huge step forward from 2011, so we will see what happens.

If we had a 2012 defense with this 2022 offense (which I expect to be very good) this team will be a blast to watch and dominate.

QB-Lynch v Lombardi - 12
RB-Harris/Daniels/Settle v Waylee/Brown/Blakmeore - 22
WR-TLL/Moore/Ashford/Brown v Rudolph/Tucker/Thorton - 12
TE-Eakes/Semisch v Crawford/Tewes - XX
OL-Loos/Krempel/Ness/Pitt/Conlan vs Cox/Lippe/Nygra/Z/Potter - 22

Offenses are pretty close. Give the edge to 2012 primarily because of Lynch.

S-Ward/Durante vs Brown/Lafaeytee - 12
CB-Melvin/STone v Gandy/Mcghee - 12
DL-Baxter/Bishop/Jeferson/Progar v Thomas/Ester/Omalley/IGM - 12
LB-Bass/Mays/Clark v Nelson-Douglas/Pugh/Dolphin - 12

The advantage is pretty clear on D

Will have to reevaluate after the season

2022 is overall a stronger schedule. Not seeing five 1-2 win teams like in 2012. Huskies played, 8 poor to mediocre teams, four good teams, and an extremely talented FSU.
I don't see an FSU yet(maybe in a Bowl), but the rest of this year's schedule seems more challenging.

I love Garrett Wolfe and Michael Turner but Jordan Lynch is the best offensive player NIU has ever had. Teams knew he was going to run the ball but still couldn't stop him. His passing improved to more than adequate. He was a true dual threat QB. You move those running backs with the QB from those teams, we do not go to the orange bowl

(08-08-2022 09:59 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  QB-Lynch v Lombardi - 12
RB-Harris/Daniels/Settle v Waylee/Brown/Blakmeore - 22
WR-TLL/Moore/Ashford/Brown v Rudolph/Tucker/Thorton - 12
TE-Eakes/Semisch v Crawford/Tewes - XX
OL-Loos/Krempel/Ness/Pitt/Conlan vs Cox/Lippe/Nygra/Z/Potter - 22

Offenses are pretty close. Give the edge to 2012 primarily because of Lynch.

S-Ward/Durante vs Brown/Lafaeytee - 12
CB-Melvin/STone v Gandy/Mcghee - 12
DL-Baxter/Bishop/Jeferson/Progar v Thomas/Ester/Omalley/IGM - 12
LB-Bass/Mays/Clark v Nelson-Douglas/Pugh/Dolphin - 12

The advantage is pretty clear on D

Will have to reevaluate after the season

I would disagree that the DL was better in 2012 - I think this D line has a chance to be the best OVERALL D line NIU has ever had.

Ward was fantastic. Durante was OK. I think Brown/Lafayette/White are all Good. Might call that a push. Don’t know that I feel like this 2022 defense will be “clearly” worse than the 2012 D. I will say the 2012 Defense schemed for their personnel WAY better than the 2021 D did. Feel like that will continue to 2022. So scheme 2012 was far superior…unless things change.

(08-08-2022 12:01 PM)BigChilla Wrote:  

(08-08-2022 09:59 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  QB-Lynch v Lombardi - 12
RB-Harris/Daniels/Settle v Waylee/Brown/Blakmeore - 22
WR-TLL/Moore/Ashford/Brown v Rudolph/Tucker/Thorton - 12
TE-Eakes/Semisch v Crawford/Tewes - XX
OL-Loos/Krempel/Ness/Pitt/Conlan vs Cox/Lippe/Nygra/Z/Potter - 22

Offenses are pretty close. Give the edge to 2012 primarily because of Lynch.

S-Ward/Durante vs Brown/Lafaeytee - 12
CB-Melvin/STone v Gandy/Mcghee - 12
DL-Baxter/Bishop/Jeferson/Progar v Thomas/Ester/Omalley/IGM - 12
LB-Bass/Mays/Clark v Nelson-Douglas/Pugh/Dolphin - 12

The advantage is pretty clear on D

Will have to reevaluate after the season

I would disagree that the DL was better in 2012 - I think this D line has a chance to be the best OVERALL D line NIU has ever had.

Ward was fantastic. Durante was OK. I think Brown/Lafayette/White are all Good. Might call that a push. Don’t know that I feel like this 2022 defense will be “clearly” worse than the 2012 D. I will say the 2012 Defense schemed for their personnel WAY better than the 2021 D did. Feel like that will continue to 2022. So scheme 2012 was far superior…unless things change.

While I have the 2012 defense better at each position I thought they were really close calls except LB. Ward was so amazing he lifts that safety group by himself. The DL goes to 2012 on Bishop/Baxter as well as on 2021’s terrible performance. I’m expecting a big improvement in 2022 from the D-line, but I’m not ready to give them the nod just on projections. All these groups COULD be better by years end. We will just have to wait to see.

2012 vs 2022? No comparison 2012 was way better. They came off a 2011 11-3 season as MAC champs with a bowl win. They had DOMINANCE. Lynch was dominating, Jimmy FREAKING Ward was a game changer 1st round pick. There is no one, no one that will start in 2022 that is a 1st rounder and definitely not on defense.

(08-08-2022 09:59 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  QB-Lynch v Lombardi - 12
RB-Harris/Daniels/Settle v Waylee/Brown/Blakmeore - 22
WR-TLL/Moore/Ashford/Brown v Rudolph/Tucker/Thorton - 12
TE-Eakes/Semisch v Crawford/Tewes - XX
OL-Loos/Krempel/Ness/Pitt/Conlan vs Cox/Lippe/Nygra/Z/Potter - 22

Offenses are pretty close. Give the edge to 2012 primarily because of Lynch.

S-Ward/Durante vs Brown/Lafaeytee - 12
CB-Melvin/STone v Gandy/Mcghee - 12
DL-Baxter/Bishop/Jeferson/Progar v Thomas/Ester/Omalley/IGM - 12
LB-Bass/Mays/Clark v Nelson-Douglas/Pugh/Dolphin - 12

The advantage is pretty clear on D

Will have to reevaluate after the season

I was going to say Richardson over Sims, but in 2012, Sim was averaging nearly 9 pts/ game, They don't have the 2021 stats up, but in the 2 years prior, Richardson, averaged only 6 pts/game. I know in 2021, Richardson had tons of FG' so he had to have had a better year point wise than Sims.
Plus, Richardson was so clutch. So I would say Richardson get the win. I also think Ference was a better punter

(08-08-2022 12:29 PM)NIU05 Wrote:  2012 vs 2022? No comparison 2012 was way better. They came off a 2011 11-3 season as MAC champs with a bowl win. They had DOMINANCE. Lynch was dominating, Jimmy FREAKING Ward was a game changer 1st round pick. There is no one, no one that will start in 2022 that is a 1st rounder and definitely not on defense.

The 2012 team had superstars. Lynch, Ward, Melvin,Moore and an NFLer in Bishop. While the 22 squad doesn’t have a superstar(possibly Rudolph or an RB) I think it has great balance. Very good guys everywhere. I say that based on my own projections and improved play for 22 on D. It will be interesting to evaluate this D in another year or two.

A better comparison would be 2012-D VS 2017-D. Just off the top of my head I go 17.

(08-08-2022 12:13 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(08-08-2022 12:01 PM)BigChilla Wrote:  

(08-08-2022 09:59 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  QB-Lynch v Lombardi - 12
RB-Harris/Daniels/Settle v Waylee/Brown/Blakmeore - 22
WR-TLL/Moore/Ashford/Brown v Rudolph/Tucker/Thorton - 12
TE-Eakes/Semisch v Crawford/Tewes - XX
OL-Loos/Krempel/Ness/Pitt/Conlan vs Cox/Lippe/Nygra/Z/Potter - 22

Offenses are pretty close. Give the edge to 2012 primarily because of Lynch.

S-Ward/Durante vs Brown/Lafaeytee - 12
CB-Melvin/STone v Gandy/Mcghee - 12
DL-Baxter/Bishop/Jeferson/Progar v Thomas/Ester/Omalley/IGM - 12
LB-Bass/Mays/Clark v Nelson-Douglas/Pugh/Dolphin - 12

The advantage is pretty clear on D

Will have to reevaluate after the season

I would disagree that the DL was better in 2012 - I think this D line has a chance to be the best OVERALL D line NIU has ever had.

Ward was fantastic. Durante was OK. I think Brown/Lafayette/White are all Good. Might call that a push. Don’t know that I feel like this 2022 defense will be “clearly” worse than the 2012 D. I will say the 2012 Defense schemed for their personnel WAY better than the 2021 D did. Feel like that will continue to 2022. So scheme 2012 was far superior…unless things change.

While I have the 2012 defense better at each position I thought they were really close calls except LB. Ward was so amazing he lifts that safety group by himself. The DL goes to 2012 on Bishop/Baxter as well as on 2021’s terrible performance. I’m expecting a big improvement in 2022 from the D-line, but I’m not ready to give them the nod just on projections. All these groups COULD be better by years end. We will just have to wait to see.

Totally fair.

Linebackers might be closer with Rayner, he’s pretty good, might be a season or so away from his best football.

I do like the depth of 2022 better. I don’t really see a loss of anyone being *that* big of a deal. Maybe Lombardi…but this team can run 50 times a game and still do fine most weeks in the MAC.

Why don’t we ask Kyle Pugh?

(08-08-2022 02:08 PM)Max Power Wrote:  Why don’t we ask Kyle Pugh?

awesome

Since 2022 hasn't played a down.....going out on a limb as much as Hawk Harrelson stating that he picks Frank Thomas for pick to click.....2012.

(08-08-2022 02:08 PM)Max Power Wrote:  Why don’t we ask Kyle Pugh?

That was funny.

(08-08-2022 03:11 PM)Schaefer Beer Wrote:  

(08-08-2022 02:08 PM)Max Power Wrote:  Why don’t we ask Kyle Pugh?

That was funny.

Lol. How crazy is that? Pugh committed in 2014. The game was in 2013. He probably remembers it like it was yesterday.

2017 best NIU defense ever.

2012 defense gave up a lot of points but had some great individuals. Also, some really bad MAC teams that year (Buffalo and EMU) Their best game was the Orange Bowl.....They kept us in the game against FSU's NFL team. 2022 should be fun to watch the improvement from last year.

(08-08-2022 11:38 AM)klake87 Wrote:  I love Garrett Wolfe and Michael Turner but Jordan Lynch is the best offensive player NIU has ever had. Teams knew he was going to run the ball but still couldn't stop him. His passing improved to more than adequate. He was a true dual threat QB. You move those running backs with the QB from those teams, we do not go to the orange bowl

As far as knowing we were going to run the ball, I would say Stacey Robinson had it tougher than Lynch. Robinson was fun to watch as well. Her led the nation in many categories and led the Huskies to a great win over Fresno State.

(08-09-2022 08:30 AM)Splooie99 Wrote:  

(08-08-2022 11:38 AM)klake87 Wrote:  I love Garrett Wolfe and Michael Turner but Jordan Lynch is the best offensive player NIU has ever had. Teams knew he was going to run the ball but still couldn't stop him. His passing improved to more than adequate. He was a true dual threat QB. You move those running backs with the QB from those teams, we do not go to the orange bowl

As far as knowing we were going to run the ball, I would say Stacey Robinson had it tougher than Lynch. Robinson was fun to watch as well. Her led the nation in many categories and led the Huskies to a great win over Fresno State.

I was in my 20's when the Fresno State game was played and since my 20's were a blur, I don't remember much of that game. But Klake's post made me look it upand and saw we gained 733 yards rushing that day! 733 yards! Dang!
You will never see that yardage again running the rock anymore with passing game as it is today.