I think next year we will be solid, got a lot of tough players coming back. I think TLL and Akeem will get tons of touches next year and add balance we didn't have this year. I'm fully convinced now that the year went on and reading the articles Akeem was pretty banged up and that's why his touches weren't so high. If he stays healthy, he's a first team all-mac guy for sure. Jimmie Ward IMO showed he can play at A LOT of big schools. He was a monster. This is my view of how starters will look next year.
Offense
JL, Akeem, TLL, DaRon Brown, and Charlie Miller at skills Eakes, Loos, Volk, Ness, Conlon, and Ryan Brown at TE/O-line
Defense
Windsor, Rainey/O'Neal, Bishop Wells, on the line those two DTs are gonna wreak havoc. Santa, Bass, and Cotton at LB. Ward, Evans/Moore, Faustin and Durante in the secondary, IMO that's a very good secondary.
Specialists
Wedel will punt and do kickoffs, Sims for field goals. TLL will return kicks and Sebastiano punts.
Looking at that there aren't that many new faces we haven't seen, LOTS of talent coming back

The talent returning is great, and they're going to pot in a little extras in their off season work. Not only are they a big target in conference, but this OB appearance makes NIU a target even for Iowa and Purdue.

Brescasin will start at wr with Lewis and Brown. Santa and Wells need to gain 20 pounds. We also have several o lineman that need to gain 20 plus pounds. Faustin and Evans will be the corners. Maxwell will start at fb or tightend.

(01-05-2013 05:05 PM)niu2222 Wrote:  Brescasin will start at wr with Lewis and Brown. Santa and Wells need to gain 20 pounds. We also have several o lineman that need to gain 20 plus pounds. Faustin and Evans will be the corners. Maxwell will start at fb or tightend.

For Brescacin I really like him, but I went with a shock pick for Miller instead, I know Faustin will start but I did Evans/Moore b/c I don't know who will win that battle. I think Wells has put on as much weight as his body is gonna take after the move from DE he's already added A LOT of weight. I didn't put Maxwell on because I had three WRs instead of 2 and a FB and Eakes is top TE but he will get lots of reps. As for Santa 20 lbs added is pushing it, if he adds 10 that will do well, I just don't see him hitting 230. Loos could add some weight but with the rehab we shall see, plus I think this line is already the top returning one in the league, I think you're wanting this weight for another Orange Bowl type opponent. If Ryan Brown can hit the 300 mark or more, WATCH OUT. That kid has a lot of potential, great height, but is thin out there, that weight will make him an animal.

No question the talent will be there next year is everyone confident in the coaching staff? I mean we don't really know yet if Carey can have sustainable success as a head coach. Too me that is the biggest wild card for next season, having a first year head coach. Expectations are soaring right now.

I could see Miller returning some punts or kicks too. I believe he did it in HS. The OL will put on even more weight. They were a pretty young group Conlon especially and will be a better overall group next season than they were this one. Hard to say that when they were pretty damn good this year.

The o lineman need to be bigger even for mac play. At our level lineman need to be over 300 pounds. I think Donovan Gordon started in the bowl game at DT. I know there is a lot of pressure on next years team, but that's what the big boys deal with every year. This maybe our last chance at a special season for awhile. There is no Q-Back of the future yet.

Agreed, especially our interior. Not sure Conlon can carry that much, but he is a tough kid and I like how he plays. Nothing wrong with physical, downhill play. Really interested in seeing how Ruka and Myers develop. Need the bell cow running back and Akeem should knock on the door for 1,000. DLine wise, we need to have Jones and Thomas get in the rotation.

The kid who will benefit the most by another year of maturity will be Ryan Brown. He has a huge upside. I like our LBs an WRs, look for AJ Sebastiano and Brinlee to compliment Brown and Brescasin.
Not sure if my concern has any validity, but I fear a few of our true freshmen, RS freshmen, and true sophomores, all Doeren recruits, going to NC State.

(01-05-2013 06:30 PM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  No question the talent will be there next year is everyone confident in the coaching staff? I mean we don't really know yet if Carey can have sustainable success as a head coach. Too me that is the biggest wild card for next season, having a first year head coach. Expectations are soaring right now.

That's a good point.....will Carey grow into the job?
We will definitely have a target on our back next season., but that comes with success.

Regarding WR position: how big is C. Miller? Is DaRon Brown ready to step it up? I was a bit disappointed in him this season

(01-05-2013 10:49 PM)Djud Wrote:  The kid who will benefit the most by another year of maturity will be Ryan Brown. He has a huge upside. I like our LBs an WRs, look for AJ Sebastiano and Brinlee to compliment Brown and Brescasin.
Not sure if my concern has any validity, but I fear a few of our true freshmen, RS freshmen, and true sophomores, all Doeren recruits, going to NC State.

I love our guys, but put yourself in the shoes of an NC State fan...would you want your new coach bringing in transfers from the perceived smaller school he just came from? The Chicago kids they're recruiting now are players that NIU offered who already turned the Huskies down and have other AQ's interested in them. Coach Carey even commented on how good Doeren and our now former coaches have gone about the awkward recruiting process. NC State has been a bit down, but they still have 18 guys playing in the league, including a former #1 pick (Mario Williams) and a borderline top 10 QB in Rivers. (As a side note, we have more NFL players than Minny, and Kill sure tried to raid our recruits a whole lot more than DD and his staff will) I think we'll have 2-3 guys leave, have some late success with our recruits, and next year should be the big bump.

(01-05-2013 11:23 PM)NIU010 Wrote:  

(01-05-2013 10:49 PM)Djud Wrote:  The kid who will benefit the most by another year of maturity will be Ryan Brown. He has a huge upside. I like our LBs an WRs, look for AJ Sebastiano and Brinlee to compliment Brown and Brescasin.
Not sure if my concern has any validity, but I fear a few of our true freshmen, RS freshmen, and true sophomores, all Doeren recruits, going to NC State.

I love our guys, but put yourself in the shoes of an NC State fan...would you want your new coach bringing in transfers from the perceived smaller school he just came from? The Chicago kids they're recruiting now are players that NIU offered who already turned the Huskies down and have other AQ's interested in them. Coach Carey even commented on how good Doeren and our now former coaches have gone about the awkward recruiting process. NC State has been a bit down, but they still have 18 guys playing in the league, including a former #1 pick (Mario Williams) and a borderline top 10 QB in Rivers. (As a side note, we have more NFL players than Minny, and Kill sure tried to raid our recruits a whole lot more than DD and his staff will) I think we'll have 2-3 guys leave, have some late success with our recruits, and next year should be the big bump.

I hope my concern proves to be misguided, but I still think DD would love to have a player or two that he recruited and coached as Huskies.

(01-06-2013 09:03 AM)Djud Wrote:  

(01-05-2013 11:23 PM)NIU010 Wrote:  

(01-05-2013 10:49 PM)Djud Wrote:  The kid who will benefit the most by another year of maturity will be Ryan Brown. He has a huge upside. I like our LBs an WRs, look for AJ Sebastiano and Brinlee to compliment Brown and Brescasin.
Not sure if my concern has any validity, but I fear a few of our true freshmen, RS freshmen, and true sophomores, all Doeren recruits, going to NC State.

I love our guys, but put yourself in the shoes of an NC State fan...would you want your new coach bringing in transfers from the perceived smaller school he just came from? The Chicago kids they're recruiting now are players that NIU offered who already turned the Huskies down and have other AQ's interested in them. Coach Carey even commented on how good Doeren and our now former coaches have gone about the awkward recruiting process. NC State has been a bit down, but they still have 18 guys playing in the league, including a former #1 pick (Mario Williams) and a borderline top 10 QB in Rivers. (As a side note, we have more NFL players than Minny, and Kill sure tried to raid our recruits a whole lot more than DD and his staff will) I think we'll have 2-3 guys leave, have some late success with our recruits, and next year should be the big bump.

I hope my concern proves to be misguided, but I still think DD would love to have a player or two that he recruited and coached as Huskies.

I wouldn't worry too much about it. Any transfers to NC State will have to sit out a year (unless they RS Jr.s that graduate) So any kid that has already used a RS season will not want to sit out again.

After seeing how much Cotton played this year at LB, I really wish they would have RS him.

(01-06-2013 04:48 PM)HuskiePride12 Wrote:  After seeing how much Cotton played this year at LB, I really wish they would have RS him.

Was not the ideal, but after Butler went away we didn't have much depth at the position. It's not the end of the world and we should still get at least 2 solid years out of him.

The NIU Athletics twitter just confirmed that our crossover games are at UMASS and Kent, and Akron at home.

If the other schedules are to be believed, we may end up having to face Kent in week 2.

EDIT: After consulting fbschedules for the other teams, yeah we're gonna be playing in Kent on 9/7 unless someone else changes their schedule. Also means we open the season with 3 straight on the road.

NORTHERN ILLINOIS
Home: Ball State, Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan, Akron;

Road: Central Michigan, Toledo, Kent State, UMass;

http://www.mac-sports.com/tabid/969/Arti...nents.aspx

(01-09-2013 11:01 AM)BarsemaBone2 Wrote:  The NIU Athletics twitter just confirmed that our crossover games are at UMASS and Kent, and Akron at home.

If the other schedules are to be believed, we may end up having to face Kent in week 2.

EDIT: After consulting fbschedules for the other teams, yeah we're gonna be playing in Kent on 9/7 unless someone else changes their schedule.

I agree NIU @ Kent St is most likely our week 2 matchup...UNLESS ESPN asks for one of our opponents to move their FCS game so they can have this match up in November or at least October for the MAC game of the week.

Does Kent St have any returning coaches?

(01-09-2013 11:12 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(01-09-2013 11:01 AM)BarsemaBone2 Wrote:  The NIU Athletics twitter just confirmed that our crossover games are at UMASS and Kent, and Akron at home.

If the other schedules are to be believed, we may end up having to face Kent in week 2.

EDIT: After consulting fbschedules for the other teams, yeah we're gonna be playing in Kent on 9/7 unless someone else changes their schedule.

I agree NIU @ Kent St is most likely our week 2 matchup...UNLESS ESPN asks for one of our opponents to move their FCS game so they can have this match up in November or at least October for the MAC game of the week.

Does Kent St have any returning coaches?

Well that would SUCK...for lack of a better word.

8/31 @ Iowa
9/7 @ KSU?????
9/14 @ Idaho
9/21 E Ill
9/28 @ Purdue

Home Opener not til 9/21!?
And 4 of your first 5 games on the road!

For a lot reasons (ATTENDANCE being one) 9/7 needs to be the Home Opener!

(01-09-2013 11:06 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  NORTHERN ILLINOIS
Home: Ball State, Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan, Akron;

Road: Central Michigan, Toledo, Kent State, UMass;

http://www.mac-sports.com/tabid/969/Arti...nents.aspx

So our best home game next year is what Ball State? I don't know if even the Orange Bowl momentum can save our attendance next year. Big East please, I am ready to move...