Northwestern University Athletics
Camp Kenosha: Day Seven
8/17/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 17, 2004
KENOSHA, Wis. -- Northwestern's football team has reached the midway point of its 14-day stay at Wisconsin-Parkside, and one thing is becoming more and more apparent with the 2004 Wildcats -- this year's club could be the best defensive unit to hit Ryan Field since the Big Ten champion teams of 1995 and 1996.
Whether or not this year's team can match the play of those stellar defensive clubs of the '90s remains to be seen, but one thing is certain -- the Wildcat defense is headed in the right direction.
On Tuesday, the Wildcats held just one practice, a two-hour morning session at nearby Carthage College. In the afternoon, the 'Cats spent an hour in an NCAA officials' rules seminar.
For several periods on Tuesday, the Wildcats practiced situational plays -- third downs, red-zone, goal-line, etc. -- and the defense held the upper-hand much of the time.
One of those players who will have a key role with the 2004 Wildcats is senior safety Dominique Price (Louisville, Ky./DuPont Manual). NUsports.com caught up with Price after practice to talk about the NU defense.
NUsports.com: You've been a part of a defense that continues to improve each year. Where do you see this group going in 2004?
Price: I think we're going to take some big steps this year. We know this defense and we have some experienced players. But maybe more importantly, we're playing with an attitude -- an attitude that we should dominate teams. We didn't have that a couple years ago.
NUsports.com How do you view your role with the defense this year?
Price: I'm a senior and this is my last go-around, so I'm expected to be a leader out there. It's a role that I'm excited about having. We have a lot of guys like me who've been in the program for three or four years now, so we shouldn't be lacking on leadership.
NUsports.com Individually, what part of the game have you been working on improving the most?
Price: I've been working on my footwork and man-to-man technique. I've been known as a physical safety that can come down and run-support, but I want to make my game more versatile and do a better job in defending the pass.
NUsports.com: You've developed a reputation as a hard-hitting safety -- do you have a favorite hit or play?
Price: Probably my sophomore year, at home against Ohio State on ESPN. I had a big hit on Maurice Clarett that forced him to fumble. That play got a lot of exposure, so I think that one stands out the most. I still have a lot of people asking me about that play.
NUsports.com: What are the goals of the secondary this year?
Price: Our goal in the secondary is to dominate games. We're well aware of the passing yards we allowed last year and we want to reduce those figures significantly. But we understand that if the entire defense plays well, we'll have a greater chance to succeed.
CAMP KENOSHA NOTES
The Wildcats return to UW-Parkside for a pair of practices Wednesday -- 8 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. NU has one practice Thursday and then its annual preseason scrimmage at 8 p.m. Friday (at Carthage College) ... Junior linebacker Tim McGarigle was all over the field on Tuesday, intercepting a pass after tipping it in the air twice. He also deflected another pass ... Senior Frank Bass caught a 35-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Chris Malleo while playing with the "twos."
