Not Qualified To Comment » Big Ten Preview: Northwestern

Big Ten Preview: Northwestern

August 18, 2009 at 9:00 am | College Football
By: StevieY19

For the next few weeks leading up to the college football season, we’ll be previewing every Big Ten team, starting with my prediction to finish last, to my predicted champ. This way if I don’t get to Ohio State before the season starts, you’ll have a good grasp on all the teams whose analysis isn’t “highest payroll, most talent, probably champs.” Northwestern comes in at #8.

Last year I predicted big things for Northwestern (like a winning record) and the Wildcats came through to back me up with nine wins. Since I don’t want to press my luck, I’ll curtail enthusiasm this season. Last year, the Wildcats boasted a bevy of seniors at important skill positions. This year the Wildcats return players in the trenches, with four offensive linemen and eight defensive starters coming back.

Despite losing three-year starter CJ Bacher as the signal caller, replacement Mike Kafka does have some experience after filling in last year in spots. Kafka is very athletic and head coach Pat Fitzgerald will need to work to get him in space to make plays. You may remember Kafka running for 217 yards last year in a win against Minnesota. Then again, it was Northwestern vs. Minnesota, so probably not.

Stephen Simmons will fill in for departed running back Tyrell Sutton. Sutton leaves NU at second place on the school’s all-time rushing list. As for those catching the passes now that three of the Wildcats’ top receivers from last year are gone, look for speedsters Jeremy Ebert and Andrew Brewer, as well as tight end Drake Dunsmore as a breakout sophomore.

If the offense has trouble getting up to speed with its inexperience, the defense could help keep them in games. The squad features Northwestern’s best player in first team all-Big Ten defensive end Corey Wootton. The seven other returning starters, including defensive backs Sherrick McManis and Brad Phillips, should continue to improve under second year d-coordinator Mike Hankwitz.

I don’t like the inexperience on offense for Northwestern but 8th place could prove to be far too low with the improving defense and some talent–albeit unproven talent–on offense, especially when you look at the schedule. The Wildcats don’t play a “good” team until they travel to Michigan State in the seventh game of the season. The last four games of the year will be tough as well, but the schedule sets up perfectly to get the young offense up and running. They miss Michigan and Ohio State this year due to the rotating conference schedule.

Three out of the last four times Ohio State has been absent from the NU schedule, the Wildcats have won at least a share of the Big Ten title. Don’t see that happening this year.