Northwestern University Athletics
Camp Kenosha Day Five
8/15/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 15, 2005
KENOSHA, Wis.-- Following an off-day on Sunday, Northwestern returned to preseason practice Monday morning at UW-Parkside for Day Five of Camp Kenosha.
The Wildcats are enduring their second two-a-day session today, with a lighter practice scheduled for later this afternoon.
Following the morning session, NUsports.com caught up with senior quarterback Brett Basanez (Arlington Heights, Ill./St. Viator) to talk about the recent player losses and the 2005 offense.
NUsports.com: The team lost a couple of starters during the summer and then a couple more last week. How have these losses impacted the team?
Basanez: We definitely lost some key guys. But there are players behind them that are just as good, if not better. We have some guys that want to step in and show they can play. What people don't realize is some of the people who left were hurt and might not have played anyway. Practice has been great and the guys that are here keep getting better.
NUsports.com: Give us an update on the three freshmen quarterbacks as well as C.J.(Bacher).
Basanez: C.J. has really been coming along. He's not just out there winging the ball around, he's paid attention, he knows the playbook, he's playing smarter and making better reads. The young guys have stepped in and started to learn the system, they just need to keep improving and you'll notice the difference in their play by the end of camp.
NUsports.com: Your offensive line is being rebuilt around Zach Strief this year. How are the younger players doing?
Basanez: Zach is a great leader. He's been around the program and he knows what to expect. He's just trying to bring the younger guys with him. He watches film with them, goes through drills with them. Dylan (Thiry), Ryan (Keenan) have really stepped it up and become solid players at this level. Adam (Crum), Joel (Belding) and Austin (Matthews) have been coming along. They're not perfect, but they keep getting better.
NUsports.com: How does this year's set of receivers compare to the groups you've had the past three years?
Basanez: This is the best receiving corps I've had since I've been here. I've played with some of these guys for two, three, four years, and we definitely know what to expect from each other. Shaun (Herbert) is so consistent, Kim (Thompson) and Jonathan (Fields) are really explosive, and Mark (Philmore) is one of the best outside receivers in the Big Ten.
NUsports.com: What can we expect to see from the running back position now that Terrell Jordan is out for an extended period?
Basanez: (Brandon) Roberson has stepped in and done a great job. He's been around and knows the system well. He played big-time high school football in Texas, so he knows what to expect of playing in the Big Ten. Tyrell (Sutton) and Omar (Conteh) keep learning and improving one day at a time. (Running back coach) Kevin Johns has done a great job with those guys.
CAMP NOTES
Cornerback Herschel Henderson, who is being counted on to help fill the void left by the departure of Jeff Backes, turned in a sensational interception Monday morning, picking off a screen pass intended for freshman Tyrell Sutton ... The Wildcats will have a shorter practice Monday afternoon (4:45 p.m.) in shells ... Northwestern closed its afternoon practice with the offense working on the two-minute drill. On a fourth-down play, wide receiver Kim Thompson made a sensational grab in the end zone, hauling in a 24-yard pass from Brett Basanez.
