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<a href='http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2004/08/12/sports/sports02.txt' target='_blank'>http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/20...ts/sports02.txt</a>

If there was one drawback to last year's running attack, it's that it was a little too dependant on Turner. Ohio was able to key on him, and they shut down our running game, and almost scored an upset. Handing off to multiple backs, along with our potent passing attack can keep the defenses guessing. That's key.

Huskie_Jon Wrote:If there was one drawback to last year's running attack, it's that it was a little too dependant on Turner. Ohio was able to key on him, and they shut down our running game, and almost scored an upset. Handing off to multiple backs, along with our potent passing attack can keep the defenses guessing. That's key.

Correct me if I'm wrong but keying on turner is the same thing as "keying on the running back" It doesn't mater if we have 50 different guys we give the ball too, you can still key on the RB. What needs to happen is not so much the different number of backs, not that keeping guys fresh and having change of pace backs is bad, but we need to establish a passing game. I'm fully confident that Josh Haldi can do that this year and really show that he is a smart QB with good enough skills to win.

NIUGAMBLER Wrote:

Huskie_Jon Wrote:If there was one drawback to last year's running attack, it's that it was a little too dependant on Turner.&nbsp; Ohio was able to key on him, and they shut down our running game, and almost scored an upset.&nbsp; Handing off to multiple backs, along with our potent passing attack can keep the defenses guessing.&nbsp; That's key.

Correct me if I'm wrong but keying on turner is the same thing as "keying on the running back" It doesn't mater if we have 50 different guys we give the ball too, you can still key on the RB. What needs to happen is not so much the different number of backs, not that keeping guys fresh and having change of pace backs is bad, but we need to establish a passing game. I'm fully confident that Josh Haldi can do that this year and really show that he is a smart QB with good enough skills to win.

Plus, I still like the two-back offense. That's where the confusion would come in.

We're on the same page here. I can see NIU using multiple backs at the same time, so you don't know which one is going to carry the ball. They used this play last year, but mostly just for 2pt. conversions, where you had Haldi, Harris, and Turner lined up, one behind the other. You had no idea if Haldi would had off to Turner, Harris, or just keep the ball himself. NIU could run more options and misdirection plays this year.

I have said this once, I will say it again. People are grossly underestimating the importance Michael Turner played on this team. While the offensive line should be improved and A.J. Harris seems like a quality runner, you don't lose a player the caliber of Turner and not miss a beat or two. We aren't Miami (FL).

Rationalization to death of our defensive weaknesses is also becoming epidemic on this board.

Running back will NOT be a problem. I have followed NIU football for over 30 years, and I do not remember a problem at RB. Remember how worried everyone was when Hammock went down? I think we found an adequate replacement. Now that Turner is gone, we have a bullpen full of hungry RB studs waiting to strut their stuff. Turner will be the easiest one of the last year's graduating seniors to replace.

Dog Fan Wrote:Running back will NOT be a problem. I have followed NIU football for over 30 years, and I do not remember a problem at RB. Remember how worried everyone was when Hammock went down? I think we found an adequate replacement. Now that Turner is gone, we have a bullpen full of hungry RB studs waiting to strut their stuff. Turner will be the easiest one of the last year's graduating seniors to replace.

I respectfully disagree. Opponents defensive strategy was focused on Michael Turner. With him out of the picture, defenses will take a more generalist approach that will no doubt have impact on our ability to throw the football. Can Josh Haldi and the receiving corp rise the ocassion? Lets hope. The presence of Michael Turner on the field had a good deal to do with Josh Haldi becoming a quality successful QB. Ditto PJ Fleck becoming the caliber of wide receiver he did.

niu85alum Wrote:

Dog Fan Wrote:Running back will NOT be a problem.&nbsp; I have followed NIU football for over 30 years, and I do not remember a problem at RB.&nbsp; Remember how worried everyone was when Hammock went down?&nbsp; I think we found an adequate replacement.&nbsp; Now that Turner is gone, we have a bullpen full of hungry RB studs waiting to strut their stuff.&nbsp; Turner will be the easiest one of the last year's graduating seniors to replace.

I respectfully disagree. Opponents defensive strategy was focused on Michael Turner. With him out of the picture, defenses will take a more generalist approach that will no doubt have impact on our ability to throw the football.

I think this is EXACTLY what we want! Let them concentrate on Haldi, and we'll run our backs up their gut. This year they will be guessing even more. With Turner gone, I think the ball will be more evenly spread around among receivers and our backs. If we throw in a few two-back schemes (I and wishbone) and run an otion play or two, this would confuse the living crap out of the defenses.

For what it's worth, the offense will be fine. Better than last year. The D has be worried. It should make for some fun games this year if you like to see offense.
I think this team will have more of a chip on their shoulder this year. They want to show the nation that last year wasn't a fluke, and that they were more than just #32. That plus they have a little score to settle with our friends in Northwest Ohio. My hope is to come out of the first three games healthy and with a 2-1 record then take care of the home field against the MAC and see what happens.

IMO, we won't miss a beat without Turner. Michael was a great athletic talent, but his biggest damage was done on the edge or outrunning people. He was not a pure running back in the truest sense - he's learned a lot, and his combination of size with a low center of gravity and great balance plus great top end speed made him effective. But what we have now are 4 true running backs - guys that are more apt to trust the hole and hit it at full speed. AJ Harris gets to full speed quicker than Michael and may be just as fast top end.

Michael was incredibly durable. How these guys do with getting (or not getting) nicked up is my biggest question mark at this position. Also, don't underestimate the fact that last year's Oline was very young. It has a LOT more experience this year, and that will be a big boost.

HuskieDan Wrote:IMO, we won't miss a beat without Turner.&nbsp; Michael was a great athletic talent, but his biggest damage was done on the edge or outrunning people.&nbsp; He was not a pure running back in the truest sense - he's learned a lot, and his combination of size with a low center of gravity and great balance plus great top end speed made him effective.&nbsp; But what we have now are 4 true running backs - guys that are more apt to trust the hole and hit it at full speed.&nbsp; AJ Harris gets to full speed quicker than Michael and may be just as fast top end.&nbsp;

Michael was incredibly durable.&nbsp; How these guys do with getting (or not getting) nicked up is my biggest question mark at this position.&nbsp; Also, don't underestimate the fact that last year's Oline was very young.&nbsp; It has a LOT more experience this year, and that will be a big boost.

Michael Turner's simple presence altered the way opponents game planned against our offense. Michael Turner's simple presence greatly aided Josh Haldi's effectiveness. Michael Turner's simple presence enabled NIU to have a quite effective "possession style" passing attack.

Michael Turner was a "special" player and a difference maker that provided positive domino effect to the entire offense. It is a mistake to minimize the impact that his loss will have on this team. Josh Haldi and the passing game will have to prove their ability to adapt to the loss of Turner. The degree of difficulty they will face in 2004 is turned up a distinct notch versus 2003. Compounding matters is the loss of an incredibly gifted possession receiver in PJ Fleck too. Can Haldi and the passing game rise to the ocassion? While I think they will, we will not know for sure until the season starts.

And before everybody jump down my throat, I have little doubt that AJ Harris will log 800 plus rushing yards assuming of course he stays healthy. I think we will see fairly early on that a defense trying to shut down Turner versus Harris are two completely different things though.

In the end, offense will not be this team's undoing, rather it could be a suspect at best defensive unit.

This team has been running an effective play-action passing attack since Joe has been here - that wasn't because of Michael. His big play potential made us an explosive attack, no doubt, but losing Sheldon last year really hamstrung our O as we lost our deep threat. Losing PJ will be a blow, but I do suspect we won't have to be as dependent on one receiver this year.

D is a question mark, but I love the speed we'll put out there. I also suspect a tweaked attack with a new, veteran coordinator.

Alum, I think it is all a matter of how you look at it. You choose to see the glass have empty. Turner's presence is in fact what helped our passing game last year, I give you that. This year, teams won't be keying on the running back as much which will open things up for whomever we put back there. I see Harris over 1200 yards (if healthy). I think you hit the nail on the head when you talked about Fleck. I think he will be the hardest player to replace because he always seemed to get the difficult catch to move the chains. Sheldon is great, but he is not the possession guy Fleck was. Powers or Hurd will have to take over that role, or maybe the tight end.

We didn't have Fleck in 2002 and our offense was outstanding. Michael Turner was a great player for us, but he was far from godlike in his abilities. If he was he would have been the starter long before Thomas Hammock's injury. Turner was a virtual non-factor in our two losses last year because of the inclement weather conditions, conditions which are ineveitable in late season games in this part of the country. Frankly, I think will be in a better position in those types of games having AJ Harris running straight ahead rather than trying to turn the corner like Mike.

Offense isn't going to be a problem for the 2004 Huskies. the question marks are on D (particularly the D line) and the kicking game.

BTW, anyone know who is going to be returning kickoffs for us this year?

FC - great point about Turner. He was very quick to try to bounce it outside to use his speed. There's a reason he couldn't unseat Hammock, and that was that Thomas was a more sure bet to stick with the design of a running play and make positive yardage, while Turner could go backwards.

I respectfully disagree with all these rationalizations. Michael Turner caused the opponent to alter their game plan and was an elite "difference maker." His loss is a huge one and expecting AJ Harris to completely replace the load (albeit via a different running approach) is very unfair to Harris. The loss of Turner will necessitate the need for Josh Haldi and the passing attack to be able to move it up a couple of notches. People had better expect defenses to come after us in completely different ways in 2004. I am confident Joe Novak and staff are preparing in this manner. We shall see the results. One thing is for sure, Josh Haldi will really be under the microscope in 2004 because he is going to be required to do things that he has not been asked to do in the past.

In 2002, we had Dunker (TE) who made the tough catches over the middle to move the sticks.

niu85alum Wrote:I respectfully disagree with all these rationalizations. Michael Turner caused the opponent to alter their game plan and was an elite "difference maker." His loss is a huge one and expecting AJ Harris to completely replace the load (albeit via a different running approach) is very unfair to Harris. The loss of Turner will necessitate the need for Josh Haldi and the passing attack to be able to move it up a couple of notches. People had better expect defenses to come after us in completely different ways in 2004. I am confident Joe Novak and staff are preparing in this manner. We shall see the results. One thing is for sure, Josh Haldi will really be under the microscope in 2004 because he is going to be required to do things that he has not been asked to do in the past.

I have one question for alum, how does one have so much business and football knowledge. You know what coach novak, and what the AD should be doing, have you ever thought of attempting to do both at NIU?

niu85alum Wrote:I have said this once, I will say it again. People are grossly underestimating the importance Michael Turner played on this team. While the offensive line should be improved and A.J. Harris seems like a quality runner, you don't lose a player the caliber of Turner and not miss a beat or two. We aren't Miami (FL).

Rationalization to death of our defensive weaknesses is also becoming epidemic on this board.

NIU is loads and loads better offensively this year. NIU has an incredible offensive line and incredible depth at RB. The great thing is each back offers soemthing differnet, you don't have 4 RB's who do the same thing. It is a perfect mix of power and finess and is why Novak thinks NIU is a better team offensively than last year.