Inside NU - Northwestern vs. Eastern Illinois GameweekRoll Damn 'Catshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52532/insidenu_fav.png2015-09-11T12:10:43-05:00http://www.insidenu.com/rss/stream/90755782015-09-11T12:10:43-05:002015-09-11T12:10:43-05:00Northwestern-Eastern Illinois predictions
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<p>Is our staff too confident? Most of us don't think it'll be close.</p>
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<p><i>At long last, it's Friday of game week — the Friday before the Northwestern Wildcats will take the field for the second game of the 2015 season — and that can only mean one thing. It's time for picks. Every Friday during the season, we'll put our staff on the spot, and ask them to predict the exact outcome of the coming Saturday's Northwestern game, and we'll encourage readers to do the same in the comments.</i></p>
<p><i>Here's how we see the week two matchup with Eastern Illinois playing out:</i></p>
<p><b>Henry Bushnell: Northwestern 37, EIU 7</b></p>
<p>The offense still might not be good. But it won't have to be. The Wildcats will score at least one, if not two defensive or special teams touchdowns, and they'll roll. Oh, and I'm taking the under this year on 1.5 freshmen falling when they get to run across the field before the game.</p>
<p><b>Josh Rosenblat: Northwestern 23, Eastern Illinois 3</b></p>
<p>It won't be perfect. But Northwestern will prevail in pretty convincing fashion. The Wildcats will continue to struggle in the red zone, mustering just two touchdowns compared to three Jack Mitchell field goals. The defense will dominate, though, collecting at least two turnovers.</p>
<p><b>Dan Waldman: Northwestern 33, Eastern Illinois 6</b></p>
<p>We saw a very raw Clayton Thorson last weekend in Northwestern's upset win over Stanford, with his decision making not where it needs to be when it comes time for conference play. However, this game should serve as a confidence booster for the redshirt freshman, and it'll be interesting to see if he spends more time passing out of the pocket. Last week, I took the Wildcats to upset Stanford, but I can't say I have the chutzpah to pick Eastern Illinois here. Northwestern's relentless defense should take care of the Panthers, and Thorson throws his first TD pass in the win.</p>
<p><b>Zach Pereles: Northwestern 27, Eastern Illinois 6</b></p>
<p>It won't necessarily be pretty from Northwestern, but this will be one the Wildcats pull out easily. I'd love to see Clayton Thorson just light it up, but I don't think he's there yet. It'll be a ho-hum Justin Jackson-led win that won't impress anyone (it's hard to impress people against Eastern Illinois). Jackson runs for 150 and a touchdown, Thorson throws his first career touchdown, a third guy gets a touchdown -- I'll go ahead and say Warren Long -- and the Wildcats cruise. The defense should be dominant and set the hosts up with some short fields to work with. I'll be interested to see how good the Northwestern offense is near the goal line, an area they struggled in last week, albeit against much better competition.</p>
<p><b>Kevin Dukovic: Northwestern 26, Eastern Illinois 10</b></p>
<p>It'll take until the second quarter for NU to shake off its "Stanford hangover" and begin dominating an inferior team. The good: Justin Jackson surpasses 100 yards rushing, the defense forces two turnovers and Clayton Thorson throws his first career touchdown to Christian Jones. The bad: Thorson turns the ball over and the Wildcats struggle to score touchdowns in the red zone.</p>
<p><b>Ian McCafferty: Northwestern 31, Eastern Illinois 13</b></p>
<p>I think this game will be close for long enough to make some people uncomfortable, but in the end Northwestern will run away with it. The defense is just too solid, even if it takes a step back from last week they only have to face an overmatched EIU squad. I think Clayton Thorson plays better, but still not terrific, maybe he completes one or two big plays, but overall he'll still be shaky. This game will be won on the back of Justin Jackson (156 yards, 2 touchdowns) and either a special teams or defensive touchdown. EIU scores late in the fourth against the prevent to push themselves into double digits.</p>
<p><b>Kevin Trahan: Northwestern 38, Eastern Illinois 10</b></p>
<p>Eastern Illinois is bad. Northwestern is not bad. #analysis</p>
<p><b>Lyndsey Armacost: Northwestern 24, EIU 9</b></p>
<p>Northwestern will pull out the easy victory and continue to impress with short gains, limited turnovers, and big defensive plays. Clayton Thorson will need to improve his decision making for Northwestern to be confident in him going into conference play. After Justin Jackson puts points on the board early, the offense will give Thorson the opportunity to prove himself and the dual-threat quarterback will deliver with both a passing and a rushing touchdown. There is no doubt that Eastern Illinois will have a very hard time scoring against Anthony Walker and the Wildcat defense. After last week's high-profile win over Stanford, anything less than a dominating performance is a disappointment.</p>
<p><b>Michael Odom: Northwestern 34, Eastern Illinois 3</b></p>
<p>Last week, Western Illinois beat Eastern Illinois 33-5. Last year, a lesser Wildcats team beat Western Illinois 24-7. Via the transitive property -- which is, admittedly, terrible logic -- Northwestern is at least 45 points better than this week's opponent. I don't see a 45-point shellacking in the forecast, but since the Western Illinois Fighting Leathernecks beat EIU by four touchdowns, I don't see why Northwestern can't beat them by four touchdowns and a field goal.</p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2015/9/11/9311375/northwestern-eastern-illinois-predictionsInside NU Archives2015-09-11T11:15:58-05:002015-09-11T11:15:58-05:00A freshman's guide to Northwestern football
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<p>Welcome to campus! Here's what you should know before you attend your first game at Ryan Field Saturday.</p> <p dir="ltr"><i>So you're finally here. After months of waiting, you're about to start school at Northwestern. But unless you're one of those outlier NU students who actually likes sports, you might already be in over your head when you <strike>get to</strike> are forced to attend the Wildcats' game against Eastern Illinois on Saturday.</i></p>
<p dir="ltr"><i>So we're here to help. Here's a quick, 14 step crash course in Northwestern sports:</i></p>
<h5><b>1. PAT FITZGERALD (proper noun): head coach of the Northwestern Wildcats, former Northwestern Wildcat All-American middle linebacker; known as "Fitz" to students</b></h5>
<p dir="ltr">If you know nothing else about this football team, know Pat Fitzgerald. Fitz is so cool. You can tailgate at "Fitzerland." Fitz is the coolest (read on for more). He's young, he's a former player (one of the best NU has seen in a while), and he was a captain on the 1995 team that went to the ROSE BOWL. The Rose Bowl is basically one of the biggest, most well-known bowl games in college football, if you're new to this whole football thing. And he led this school — your school — to that promised land. He's a fiery leader, he loves his fans, and he <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzFT4Kw6RY8" target="_blank">sometimes coaches in shorts</a>. Frat life Fitz.</p>
<h5><b>2. They're lovable losers</b></h5>
<p dir="ltr"><b></b>There's even a verb — "Northwesterning."</p>
<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/id4ult4ggwB2BVFdcqwqeDRSeRqI779z6iLLFb4almfpoyPpsY6NW_XwkxQvk_kU9zowJpsd-Td_QD6T1HF5nb51S_K19SG37iFe5qRQYaycBPfu_QePfX24Z0Qau-KWlUD0smI" width="624px;" height="353px;" alt="Screen Shot 2015-09-10 at 11.01.49 PM.png"></p>
<p dir="ltr"><i>(Thanks, Urban Dictionary! Also, shoutout to user TimBeckmanLOUDNOISES, he might have to <a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2015/8/28/9222411/university-of-illinois-athletics-are-a-dumpster-fire-tim-beckman-fired">change his name</a> soon though.)</i></p>
<p dir="ltr">They'll come all the way back and then lose by one. They'll blow huge leads (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Michigan_State_vs._Northwestern_football_game" style="background-color: #ffffff;">the biggest lead ever</a>, in fact.) They'll <a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2014/11/8/7179079/trevor-siemian-slips-on-2-pt-try-to-win" style="background-color: #ffffff;">slip on a game-winning two-point conversion.</a> They'll <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzk73TltziM" style="background-color: #ffffff;">lose on a Hail Mary.</a> Northwestern football will find a way to break your heart. But they're YOUR lovable losers.</p>
<h5><b>3 BUT THEY ALSO WIN SOMETIMES, AND WHEN THEY DO IT'S GREAT</b></h5>
<p dir="ltr"><b></b>Last year, we got to do this:</p>
<p><span><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ICixgndYSxE" height="315" width="560"></iframe></span></p>
<p dir="ltr">And if you travelled to the Notre Dame game, <a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2014/11/15/7227269/celebrations-from-northwesterns-win-over-notre-dame/in/6989148" target="_blank">you got to do this</a>.</p>
<p dir="ltr">And, like, I know you're thinking, "Oh boy, I'm going to the nerdiest Big Ten school" and "The only team I can brag about is women's lacrosse."</p>
<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/YsEBNS3LO8eu16uF5iwIt_hrrv5fn2Vy1a77fWpWkzMXFhSZWx7h4ojpkBny_Mp-4687gxQkprD0aBvftatIzjtA3gNLRgN1wXZvizyk3b5QYTUqUy2jHyS6p1xV1evpJkpoQIA" width="624px;" height="299px;" alt="Screen Shot 2015-09-10 at 11.32.15 PM.png"></p>
<p dir="ltr"><i>(Thanks, Wikipedia!)</i></p>
<p dir="ltr">But really, the Wildcats are already 1-0 on this young season, beating Stanford (<a href="https://twitter.com/insidenu/status/639909719662964736" target="_blank">take that, nerds</a>). Northwestern has been just okay the past two seasons, but in 2012 the Wildcats won 10 games. Out of 13. That's better than most of my test grades. They also won the Gator Bowl, beating Mississippi State, which was really cool considering it proves Big Ten geniuses can beat, well, you can imagine what Mississippi State's academic rigors are.</p>
<p dir="ltr">And you're coming at the right time. Quarterback Clayton Thorson is a redshirt freshman. Running back Justin Jackson is just a sophomore. See below so you make sure to know these guys. They are going to be beasts while you're rocking the purple at Ryan Field. There's a ton of young talent on this team.</p>
<h5><b>4. Put Your Hands Up In The Air</b></h5>
<p dir="ltr">Every home game at the start of the fourth quarter, someone, probably famous — but only if you're from the Chicagoland area — will appear on the JumboTron and say, "It's the fourth quarter, it's time to put your hands in the air." Or something along those lines. Then <a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2015/4/7/8361529/northwestern-football-traditions-put-your-hands-up-in-the-air" target="_blank">a cheesy song from 2005 made by some Belgian guy (Danzel)</a> will start playing over the entire stadium. These adorable little kids will give you a general idea:</p>
<p dir="ltr"><span><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fjpehffNOBM" height="315" width="560"></iframe></span></p>
<p dir="ltr">Your arms will hurt, which will make you realize that you definitely never achieved that summer bod from getting to the gym, but, hey, it's something.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2015/4/20/8458479/put-your-hands-up-in-the-air-daily-northwestern-response" target="_blank">Some people (they shall remain nameless) hate this "tradition" with a burning passion</a> while most other people are just simply indifferent to it. I put tradition in quotes because this was started in 2010, so it's not exactly a long standing thing. Anyway, just have fun with it, it's dumb, but it's our dumb.</p>
<h5><b>5. The fight song</b></h5>
<p dir="ltr">You'll learn it at Wildcat Welcome (and then forget it shortly thereafter), don't worry.</p>
<h5><b>6. Keys and moving the chains</b></h5>
<p dir="ltr">Before every kickoff, all the students take out their keys and shake them at the field for, well, debated reasons. It's pretty dumb, but just do it.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Also after every first down somebody will yell "What time is it?" and the proper response is "It's time to move the chains, <i>Whoosh</i>." At that point you move your arm in the direction the team is going. Try not to get the direction wrong, you'll look dumb. It happens to the best of us though.</p>
<h5><b>7. Northwestern won the 1949 Rose Bowl</b></h5>
<p dir="ltr">Yes, that was a long time ago, and yes, you should still care. Other than maybe the 2013 Gator Bowl win and the Rose Bowl appearance in 1996, this is the pinnacle of achievement for Northwestern Football. The Wildcats defeated the University of California 20-14 as PeeWee Day (solid name) intercepted a Cal pass in the final minute to seal the deal for Northwestern. They'll probably show the highlights from this game at Ryan Field at some point; they did last year. Ask your grandpa about it.</p>
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<h5><b>8. Go to the games early</b></h5>
<p dir="ltr">Here's an inside tip, if you arrive at a football game about 30-45 minutes before kickoff, you can sit where ever you want. You can just walk right up to the front of the student section (yes even as a freshman) and get on national television, or probably BTN but whatever, it's TV. Then, not only did you have a great time at the football game, but you've got a brand new profile picture too. And your parents knew you were having a great time too (though, depending on the extent of your pregame activities, you might not want that.</p>
<p dir="ltr">There's also one more reason to go to the games early...</p>
<h5><b>9. Fitz brings you food... Sometimes</b></h5>
<p dir="ltr">You have to go a little bit earlier to get food, about an hour or so, but it's worth it because, you know, you get food. Also Fitz brings you that food, and then thanks you for coming to the game. It's pretty cool and did I mention that you get free food? YOU WANT FREE FOOD FROM FITZ. FITZ'S FREE FOOD. F***ING FANTASTIC.</p>
<h5><b>10. Justin Jackson is number 21</b></h5>
<p dir="ltr">He is the running back. He is very good. He will be very good for the next three years.</p>
<h5><b>11. Clayton Thorson is number 18</b></h5>
<p dir="ltr">He is the quarterback. Quarterbacks are important. And while he's not great yet, he could be very good for the next <i>four</i> years.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Come on don't roll your eyes. Points 10 and 11 are important. If you already know this then great, good for you, but a lot of people don't. Case in point, at the Stanford game, somebody behind me yelled "Go Justin Jackson!" really loud, about one second before the PA announced "4 yard rush from Warren Long." It was very comical, but don't be that guy (or girl). Also not knowing the players is a dead giveaway that you're a freshman, so if you want to impress everybody,<a href="http://www.nusports.com/roster.aspx?roster=179&path=football"> study up on the roster.</a></p>
<h5><b>12. Northwestern beat Notre Dame last year</b></h5>
<p dir="ltr">You're going to be hearing a lot about this throughout the year, especially from people who actually went to the game. Just smile and nod your head if somebody brings it up. Or better yet, <a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2014/11/15/7227903/northwestern-beats-notre-dame-win/in/6989148" target="_blank">read about it</a> and go <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goyvxUl8Amo">watch the highlights</a>, they're pretty swell.</p>
<h5><b>13. Northwestern is really good at upsetting good teams... for some reason</b></h5>
<p dir="ltr">Directly related to the Notre Dame win is that the Wildcats are oddly good at winning against teams that are supposed to be better than them. Wisconsin, Penn State and Notre Dame last year, and now Stanford. Northwestern steps up when it counts.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Unfortunately, they also lose some pretty dumb games, like against both Northern Illinois and Illinois last year. So as you'll soon learn, it's a give and take with this team. But let's focus on the positives.</p>
<h5><b>14. You're allowed to have fun</b></h5>
<p>Here's the thing. Sometimes football games can be really fun. Other times they can be not so fun. But your level of enjoyment directly correlates with how many fellow students (or fans in general) you have around you. The more students, the better the atmosphere, the more fun. It's simple.</p>
<p>So please just go to games. Far too few students actually care about the sports teams here, and it's a shame. The games are a blast, especially when the team is playing well. Just go, even if it's just once, I swear you won't regret it (as long as the game isn't <a target="_blank" href="http://www.everydayshouldbesaturday.com/2015/7/17/8954419/erase-this-game-michigan-10-northwestern-9">against Michigan</a>). If football's not your thing, that's fine, but just go for the atmosphere. It's college, you can stay out late, you can have fun with friends, and you can do all that and more at the football games. I MEAN, YOU GET IN FOR FREE. (Actually, the games are included in your tuition so you should definitely go now.)</p>
<p>Anyway, just enjoy your freshman year. It goes by fast. From all of us at Inside NU, we hope you have an awesome freshman year, and we hope to see you filling the stands and cheering on your school. Go 'Cats!</p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2015/9/11/9309439/northwestern-football-freshman-guide-wildcat-welcome-pat-fitzgeraldZach PerelesIan McCafferty2015-09-11T10:04:49-05:002015-09-11T10:04:49-05:00Every Week Is Hate Week: EIU and Pretty Boy QBs
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<p><em>When you step back and take a look at it, college football is full of odd and comical minutiae. That's what makes it great. Every program has quirks that make it unique and also laughable to the outside world.</em></p>
<p><em>So each week during the 2015 season, Ben Goren will explore the weird ticks of Northwestern's opponents. Because... well, because Every Week is Hate Week.</em></p>
<p>In Week 2 of our series, Goren proves that pretty boy quarterbacks — the only thing that EIU football has ever produced — don't, or perhaps can't, win you football games.</p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2015/9/11/9310761/northwestern-eastern-illinois-football-week-2-every-week-is-hate-weekBen GorenJosh RosenblatHenry Bushnell2015-09-10T17:03:18-05:002015-09-10T17:03:18-05:00Cameron Dickerson, Eric Olson out for Week 2
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<p>This week's list is more lengthy than last week's</p> <p>Northwestern released its Week 2 injury report, and Northwestern's offense will be once again without senior wide receiver Cameron Dickerson. Dickerson is listed as out for the Wildcats' game against Eastern Illinois.</p>
<p>The report also had more bad news for the Northwestern offense, especially along the line. Eric Olson, listed as starting right tackle on the <a href="http://www.insidenu.com/2015/9/7/9272717/northwestern-week-2-depth-chart-vs-eiu" target="_blank">Week 2 depth chart</a>, is out. According to the depth chart, it will be Blake Hance getting the call in Olson's absence.</p>
<p>The other surprising news is that both starting center Brad North and starting wide receiver Miles Shuler are listed as questionable. North missed a portion of the game against Stanford with an injury, but returned to the game in the second half. Should North be unable to go, Ian Park could slide over to center like he did last week when North went out, and Connor Mahoney would step in at left guard. The other option could be keeping Park at left guard and having J.B. Butler, the second-string center, start.</p>
<p>As for Shuler, who had two catches last week, including one for a <a target="_blank" href="http://www.insidenu.com/2015/9/9/9274671/clayton-thorson-miles-shuler-pass-northwestern-stanford">big third-down conversion</a>, the news is a big concerning the injury bug he's battled in the past. Should he be unable to play, Mike McHugh, a new addition to the two-deep depth chart this week, will see snaps in his place, as could a host of other players, including Jelani Roberts, Flynn Nagel, Macan Wilson and Stephen Buckley.</p>
<p>On the defensive side, reserve safety Jared McGee is out after being injured on special teams against Stanford. But the big news is that Greg Kuhar, who tore is ACL against Notre Dame last year, is not listed on the report, meaning he could be in line to see playing time for the first time since the Wildcats upset the Irish in South Bend.</p>
<p>Park — Northwestern's starting left guard — is listed as probable.</p>
<p>Matt Frazier remains out indefinitely after a staph infection over the summer.</p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2015/9/10/9308053/northwestern-injury-report-cameron-dickerson-eric-olson-eastern-illinoisZach Pereles2015-09-10T14:53:15-05:002015-09-10T14:53:15-05:00PODCAST: EIU preview, prop bets, Big Ten talk
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<p><i>Ben Goren and Henry Bushnell preview Northwestern-Eastern Illinois... well, to the extent that one can talk about a game against an FCS team without driving themselves insane. </i></p>
<p><i>More importantly... prop bets! Over/under 16.5 carries for Justin Jackson? Over/under 1.5 tumbles taken by freshmen when they run on the field? Plus, Goren and Bushnell have an ingenious scheduling idea that they plan to propose to the Big Ten.</i></p>
<p><i>Listen below, or </i><a target="_blank" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-nus-pound-talk-wnur/id1019007360">subscribe and listen on iTunes.</a></p>
<p><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/223273766&color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false"></iframe></p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2015/9/10/9306101/northwestern-football-podcast-eiu-preview-prop-bets-big-ten-scheduling-ideaInside NU Archives2015-09-10T13:20:23-05:002015-09-10T13:20:23-05:00Why Northwestern will/won't beat Eastern Illinois
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<p>Envisioning the scenarios in which Northwestern wins or loses on Saturday.</p> <p><i>Every Thursday during football season, we'll be presenting reasons why Northwestern will or won't come away from its Saturday game victorious. It's not so much an argument for or against either result as it is envisioning the scenarios in which the Wildcats come away from the game with a win or a loss.</i></p>
<p><i>This week, Eastern Illinois comes to Ryan Field. EIU — known for producing NFL quarterbacks Tony Romo and Jimmy Garoppolo — is 0-1 so far in 2015, having lost 33-5 to Western Illinois last Thursday. So Saturday shouldn't be too treacherous for NU. But hey, there's a non-zero chance that the Wildcats slip up. So aside from the fact that Northwestern has more talent and depth at pretty much every single position than the Panthers do, here are the reasons NU will or won't win on Saturday.</i></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><i>***</i></p>
<h4><b>Why Northwestern will lose to Eastern Illinois</b></h4>
<h5><b>1. EIU has a capable quarterback</b></h5>
<p>Let's start off from the negative perspective. Although the Panthers are coming off a blowout loss to Western Illinois —which Northwestern beat 24-7 in 2014 — they have some talented skill-position players, namely quarterback Jalen Whitlow. Whitlow, a Kentucky transfer, threw three interceptions against WIU, but is a major running threat. Northwestern shut Stanford's Kevin Hogan down in Week 1, but he's not nearly as mobile as Whitlow, whose speed could present the Wildcats' defense with some problems. If he can limit his mistakes and get NU's defense out of step with his speed, the Panthers could have some success.</p>
<h5>2. EIU also has D-1 talent at other skill positions</h5>
<p>When you lose 33-5 to an FCS school in Western Illinois, there aren't many positives to say on either offense or defense. However, the Panthers have some versatile backs and receivers that could chew up yardage with ease. Devin Church, an Illinois transfer and former top recruit from Michigan, is a quick running back who has experience catching passes out of the backfield.Top receiver Isaiah Nelson, a JUCO transfer, caught three passes for 69 yards against WIU in Week 1. The Panthers obviously aren't loaded with elite athletes at every position, but if the offensive line can give Whitlow enough time to either run or get the ball to Church and Nelson, EIU could move the ball more effectively than Stanford did (though that's not saying much).</p>
<h5>3. College football is really, really weird.</h5>
<p>Usually not this weird though. So let's move onto the more realistic scenario...</p>
<h4><b>Why Northwestern will beat Eastern Illinois</b></h4>
<h5>1. Northwestern's dominant defense</h5>
<p>There is much more reason to be optimistic for Northwestern's chances on Saturday than there are to be pessimistic, and that all starts with the Wildcats' defense. Against an NFL prospect in Hogan and explosive running back Christian McCaffrey, Northwestern allowed just two field goals while forcing two turnovers. Many — including <a target="_blank" href="http://www.insidenu.com/2015/9/5/9267617/people-picked-stanford-to-go-to-the-college-football-playoff">Desmond Howard and Mike Golic</a> — thought the Cardinal were a potential Playoff team, and the Wildcats completely shut them down on offense. They should be able to do the same — and maybe pick off more passes or force more fumbles — against an EIU team that committed five turnovers against Western Illinois.</p>
<h5>2. Clayton Thorson</h5>
<p>Clayton Thorson looked a little shaky in his first college game — which is to be expected — but he managed to not turn the ball over, and managed the offense well enough for a win over a ranked opponent. Of course, a <a target="_blank" href="http://www.insidenu.com/2015/9/7/9271305/clayton-thorson-touchdown-rushing-stanford-highlight-film-breakdown">42-yard touchdown run</a> doesn't hurt either. So, it would make sense that against a lesser opponent, with a full game under his belt, Thorson will play a lot better against Eastern Illinois than he did against Stanford. That would mean crisper passes to his multiple targets, quicker reads of the defense, and possibly more quarterback runs when the situation calls for it. We know Thorson can run, so if he can throw the ball effectively down the field, this game might be over by halftime.</p>
<h5>3. Justin Jackson</h5>
<p>Jackson should be able to eat this EIU defense alive. He ran for 134 yards in NU's season-opening win, and was able to consistently find holes in a Stanford defense that had a lot of talent. Jackson was also able to do that his <a target="_blank" href="http://www.insidenu.com/2015/8/21/9181141/justin-jackson-northwestern-highlights-film-analysis?_ga=1.97694684.277783140.1441845121">entire freshman season</a>.</p>
<p>Eastern Illinois' run defense was actually pretty good against the Leathernecks, holding their cross-state rival to just 77 yards on 44 attempts (average of 1.8 yards per carry). But, Jackson is on a different level. Northwestern should control the line of scrimmage as well, and the threat of Jackson could also open things up for Thorson and the rest of the offense.</p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2015/9/10/9299835/northwestern-eastern-illinois-preview-wildcats-win-upsetJosh Burton2015-09-07T15:04:13-05:002015-09-07T15:04:13-05:00VIDEO: Fitz, players at Monday press conference
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<p>Pat Fitzgerald, Miles Shuler, Shane Mertz, Godwin Igwebuike and Kyle Queiro all met the media today at Northwestern football's weekly press conference. Here is video, courtesy of <a target="_blank" href="http://www.nusports.com/index.aspx">Northwestern Athletics</a>:</p>
<h3>Fitzgerald</h3>
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<h3>Shuler and Mertz</h3>
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<h3>Igwebuike and Queiro</h3>
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https://www.insidenu.com/2015/9/7/9273331/pat-fitzgerald-northwestern-stanford-press-conference-video-shuler-mertz-godwin-igwebuike-queiroHenry Bushnell2015-09-07T14:54:09-05:002015-09-07T14:54:09-05:00Fitz: We were "very average" on Saturday
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<p>Fitzgerald was particularly frustrated with the offense.</p> <p>EVANSTON — Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald labelled his team's performance "very average" in the Wildcats' upset of No. 21 Stanford Saturday.</p>
<p>Speaking Monday at his <a target="_blank" href="http://www.insidenu.com/2015/9/7/9273331/pat-fitzgerald-northwestern-stanford-press-conference-video-shuler-mertz-godwin-igwebuike-queiro">weekly press conference</a>, Fitzgerald sounded frustrated, perhaps even exasperated, despite winning as a 12-point underdog.</p>
<p>"After watching the video, there aren't too many big heads around here right now," Fitzgerald said. "The eye in the sky doesn't lie. </p>
<div class="pullquote">"I'm tired of being average."<span>- Pat Fitzgerald</span>
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<p>"I'm tired of being average. And average comes from being inconsistent. I thought we had a very average performance as a football team on Saturday. I think we can be much better in all three phases."</p>
<p>Fitzgerald was especially displeased with the offense. "We've got a long way to go," he said. "We've got a long, long way to go offensively.</p>
<p>"I thought we had too many one-man breakdowns that left a lot of yards and a lot of opportunity out there."</p>
<p class="p1">The biggest issues, according to Fitzgerald, were on the offensive line. "They were very average," he said of the unit. "We've got a long way to go there. Very inconsistent. I thought our body language at times was very poor."</p>
<p class="p1">"When we started going with some tempo, the last group to get lined up was the o-line. The last group to make a call was the o-line. The last group to do what was right was the o-line. That's not acceptable. They've got a lot of work to do. They are far, far from being a finished product."</p>
<p class="p1">Fitzgerald said he and offensive line coach Adam Cushing came into the game with a plan to rotate offensive linemen in and out, but didn't stick to that plan. And Fitzgerald regrets it.</p>
<p class="p1">"We didn't play enough guys," he said. "Right now, we don't have a consistent five, we're not there yet. We're not even close to being there yet. So a lot of work for that group. A lot of work...That was the group I was probably most disappointed with."</p>
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<p class="p1">Fitzgerald also singled out the center position, which was manned by Brad North and, when North went down with an injury, Ian Park. He was particularly frustrated with the several high snaps.</p>
<p class="p1">"It’s unacceptable," Fitzgerald said. "You can’t snap the ball, you can’t play. Unacceptable. Cannot happen. Cannot happen."</p>
<p>With loads of sarcasm in his voice, Fitzgerald said, "we're going to have an <i>awesome</i> week of practice. It is going to be a <i>joy</i>."</p>
<p>It wasn't just the offensive line though. Fitzgerald called out the offense as a whole. Superbacks Dan Vitale and Garrett Dickerson, in his mind, were "not very good," and "really had no impact on the game."</p>
<p>Fitzgerald also downplayed Clayton Thorson's performance. "He walked out of the film room today going, 'Whoa! I got away with some... I better not do that again,'" Fitzgerald said. "He didn’t walk in this morning [saying] 'wow, I’ve arrived.' He walked in [saying] "wow, I’ve got a lot of work to do."</p>
<p>Fitzgerald was even somewhat critical of Jack Mitchell, who nailed a clutch 49-yard field goal to put the Wildcats up 16-6 in the 4th quarter.</p>
<p>One area in which the Wildcats had problems was the red zone. "Our inability to run the ball, 1st-and-goal at the 5. Some decision making with the ball in the red zone at the quarterback position. Those are things that will get you beat," Fitzgerald lamented. "We were fortunate on some of those plays." </p>
<div class="pullquote">"I'm ecstatic that we won. I'll never be upset about a victory. But when you see what we potentially could be... I'm done with potential. I want to see production. Period. Production." <span>- Pat Fitzgerald</span>
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<p>That Fitzgerald was unhappy with the offense was no surprise. After all, the Wildcats averaged just 4.18 yards per play, not a good mark. But at the same time, they did move the ball <i>enough </i>against what many expect to be a very good Stanford defense.</p>
<p class="p1">Using phrases like "we've just got to move on and move forward," Fitzgerald appeared to be challenging his team to not get caught up in the positive end result. Players like Miles Shuler and Shane Mertz confirmed that Fitzgerald's message to the team was the same as his message to the media.</p>
<p class="p1">Coaches have a tendency to downplay both success and a lack thereof. After a loss, when most are critical, they tend to be more positive, and after a win, vice versa. After a win, from a public relations perspective, they can afford to be critical. But Fitzgerald's words Monday seemed at least somewhat genuine. He was not happy.</p>
<p>"We're just not there yet," he said. "I love the attitude, and I love the energy, and obviously defensively, if we hold people to six points, we're going to win a lot of football games. But to think we're going to do that every week...we'd be sadly mistaken.</p>
<p>"I'm ecstatic that we won. I'll never be upset about a victory. But when you see what we potentially could be... I'm done with potential. I want to see production. Period. Production. If you can't produce, you are going to be replaced."</p>
https://www.insidenu.com/2015/9/7/9272977/pat-fitzgerald-northwestern-stanford-unhappy-very-averageHenry Bushnell