best case / worst case: Northwestern

[orangenauburn]

Best:
The offense comes out clicking ... new wrinkles (and play-makers) lead to big plays and lots of excitement.
The defense, bigger, faster, and experienced comes out swarming ... anything 3rd and long turns into punting situations
The special teams opens the season with a big play: a long kick return or a blocked punt / FG
The offensive line comes out as a cohesive unit and pushes around the front 7 of NW allowing Ryan Nassib to pick apart the secondary


Worst:
Hickey goes down, and our guards struggle - NW blows up plays in the backfield all day long
The D is too aggressive and misses assignments, allowing big plays at inopportune moments
Special Teams resorts to last years chaos, and allows a big return after an SU field goal
Our front four get no pressure (or containment) and our smallish LBers are blown up


Cuse - 30
NW - 24

 

[Rocco]

Agreed.

I am more worried about the punting unit, of all things. I know many of you are worried about the WRs, LBs, RBs, OL, etc (as am I in certain cases)... but I can foresee disasters happening here. Neither Fisher or Dixon have displayed consistency all camp, and I'm just worried about shanks, drops and quickness in getting the kicks off. This will potentially lead to horrid field position.

There are obvious question marks across the board, but this is something that makes me the most nervous.

I think the D will be much improved and ball-hawking, and Nassib and the WRs tear up the NW D...

Cuse 35
NW 17

 

[RF2044]

Agreed.

I am more worried about the punting unit, of all things. I know many of you are worried about the WRs, LBs, RBs, OL, etc (as am I in certain cases)... but I can foresee disasters happening here. Neither Fisher or Dixon have displayed consistency all camp, and I'm just worried about shanks, drops and quickness in getting the kicks off. This will potentially lead to horrid field position.

There are obvious question marks across the board, but this is something that makes me the most nervous.

I think the D will be much improved and ball-hawking, and Nassib and the WRs tear up the NW D...

Cuse 35
NW 17

Love your optimism! I think it will be closer than that:

Cuse 30
NW 27

But I'd love to see your prediction come true--how great would it be to come out and lay the wood against a decent opponent to set the tone for the rest of the season?

 

[Chip]

Agreed.

I am more worried about the punting unit, of all things. I know many of you are worried about the WRs, LBs, RBs, OL, etc (as am I in certain cases)... but I can foresee disasters happening here. Neither Fisher or Dixon have displayed consistency all camp, and I'm just worried about shanks, drops and quickness in getting the kicks off. This will potentially lead to horrid field position.

There are obvious question marks across the board, but this is something that makes me the most nervous.

I think the D will be much improved and ball-hawking, and Nassib and the WRs tear up the NW D...

Cuse 35
NW 17

I know one easy way to avoid any punting disasters. It involves 4 downs, 2 balls, and an undetermined # of breaks in our favor.

We're doing that 3 person shield in front of the punter. I know it ends up being effective for a lot of teams, but scares me, especially since we're new to it.

 

[kcsu]

Nw has only two weapons the qb and the tall wr. shut down the qb dont let him out of the pocket and we win going away.

 

[NailstheCusefan12]

Nw has only two weapons the qb and the tall wr. shut down the qb dont let him out of the pocket and we win going away.

Easier said than done. I know the defense should be improved, but dual-threat (or even just running) QB's killed us last year.

 

[Seatle_Cat]

Nw has only two weapons the qb and the tall wr. shut down the qb dont let him out of the pocket and we win going away.

Prater isn't even a starter. The Cats have a host of receivers and a REALLY quick RB. Scoring isn't an issue for NU. Keeping the other team from scoring is an issue, though.

 

[qdawgg]

Prater isn't even a starter. The Cats have a host of receivers and a REALLY quick RB. Scoring isn't an issue for NU. Keeping the other team from scoring is an issue, though.

Uh oh because we can't score.

 

[NailstheCusefan12]

Uh oh because we can't score.

That's how we all felt before we dropped 36 on K-State in the Pinstripe Bowl (I don't know why I specifically remembered that game as having that feeling). I honestly have no idea what's going to happen Saturday, I just can't wait for it to get here.

 

[qdawgg]

That's how we all felt before we dropped 36 on K-State in the Pinstripe Bowl (I don't know why I specifically remembered that game as having that feeling). I honestly have no idea what's going to happen Saturday, I just can't wait for it to get here.

I was at the game and amazed I was watching a SU offense that seemed unstoppable and a defense that couldn't stop anybody. I've been waiting to see that offense again and haven't even seen a glimpse of it. At this point I have no reason to believe it will make an appearance again this saturday. Hate to be pessimistic but sick of thinking we'll finally get to see some semblance of a "dynamic" (or whatever the "in" term is right now) offense.

It's gotten so bad for me that I've started bringing toys to play with on the bleachers, especially since there is so much bleacher space to take advantage of. My wife packs a "fun" bag so that when the 3rd quarter starts I don't fall asleep on the bench. What she's worried about the most is that I'll be so tired I won't have enough energy to walk back to the car or drive the 2 hours home. I don't know how some of you stay awake through some of these games. Then to watch us stumble along against teams like Maine while they run the ball down our throats with guys that could never touch a D-1 scholarship. Holy crap, by the end of the season I'm physically and mentally worn down.

Alright - end of rant

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I know one easy way to avoid any punting disasters. It involves 4 downs, 2 balls, and an undetermined # of breaks in our favor.

Yeah.

 

[Scooch]

That's how we all felt before we dropped 36 on K-State in the Pinstripe Bowl (I don't know why I specifically remembered that game as having that feeling). I honestly have no idea what's going to happen Saturday, I just can't wait for it to get here.

K-State's defense was horrendous, that helped a lot.

 

[Scooch]

I know one easy way to avoid any punting disasters. It involves 4 downs, 2 balls, and an undetermined # of breaks in our favor.

We're doing that 3 person shield in front of the punter. I know it ends up being effective for a lot of teams, but scares me, especially since we're new to it.

Ugh, I hadn't thought about our 4th down eunichism for a while. Now I'm even more discouraged.